Maybe you have seen the mellow yellow camper van on Goldsmith Avenue next to Johnson Paints on your travels to work, school drop off or train commute. If you haven’t then look out for the cool VW coffee van called Bay Coffee waiting to serve you some seriously tempting artisan coffee.
Having driven past every day since term began, and seen the queue of people eagerly waiting for their coffee of the day, I decided to drop by and catch up with the owner.
Coffee in the Making
Dave grew up in Portsmouth but then moved to Australia for a new life. After spending 7 years there, absorbing the laid-back lifestyle, the one thing that grabbed the VW camper lover was the coffee culture out there. When the Italian migrants arrived in the 50’s, they took their espresso with them. Italian espresso bars popped up everywhere but then moved into more casual chilled cafes where Aussies could linger longer than a quick cup to kickstart the system, and along came the arrival of speciality coffee. The feeling of wanting good quality coffee spread all across the major cities of oz and brought the culture it has today.
Talking of his time in Australia, Dave said it was a cool place but that it really did make him appreciate all the history and the rich cultural island he had always known back home which really drew him back to his home city.
Moving back to the UK 4 years ago and working in a job that didn’t fulfil him anymore, Dave kept looking at his 1979 camper called Ernie and came up with an idea. Having bought it a year ago, he decided to take a leap of faith and use it as a coffee van.
New Adventure
Starting out at Beach Dubbin in August was a perfect time for Bay Coffee to experiment with an audience. It was a chance to see how its coffee would be received and engage with the local community. The response was so good the coffee entrepreneur decided to set up home on Goldsmith Avenue 7 weeks ago.
There is a real warmth to the camper van with local indie stickers on, and nice baskets offering bakery delights. The yellow colour of the VW is a pale palette that brings a sense of fun, and adventure to your first coffee in the morning. Opening at 6am allows Dave to see all his regular commuters heading off on the train to work.
Let’s Talk Coffee
Speaking of the coffee roaster he likes to work with, Dave said that Trading Post fitted the bill with their views on sustainability and the hand-roasted, organic coffee they produce in Sussex.
Opting for Green Monkey which has a note of chocolate and hazelnut means it has been blended with a combination of South American and Asian coffee beans and has become a huge hit with passers-by.
No Caffeine? No problem, as the Mountain Water coffee process is a natural and environmentally friendly method for removing caffeine from the beans. Using this process preserves the incredible flavour of the coffee beans. The result means that all Bay Coffee decaf drinks taste just like regular artisan coffee. Offering a chemical-free option means you don’t miss out on taste and don’t get a headache from the chemical process that can sometimes happen with removing the caffeine.
Bay Coffee also make Nitro Cold Brew coffee using a single Rwandan coffee and is served from the stout tap at the back of the van. Now you might ask what exactly is Nitro? Well if you imagine how a Guinness is poured and the end result in texture, this is kind of the same thing. Nitro cold brew coffee is regular cold brew coffee that is infused with nitrogen as it is poured and it results in a sweeter flavour. It also brings a creamy texture and velvety feeling with every mouthful so if you haven’t had a Nitro coffee before, now is your chance to go grab one!
Masala Chai Latte was on the board so I tried that and found it very mooreish. It made me think I might stop by a few times on my way home from the school run! Now we are heading into cooler months, Bay Coffee are doing Matcha and Pumpkin Spiced Latte to warm you up on your travels.
Make sure to pop by and support Dave and of course Ernie on their newfound journey.
Open 6am till 12pm Mon-Fri
