– Can you please introduce yourself in a few words.
Sarah Flanagan from New Zealand.
– What’s your story in the coffee industry?
A couple of weeks after arriving in Berlin I got a job working with The Barn in its very early days. I continued to work with them for the following three years as they grew and developed into a roastery, before leaving town for six months to travel through India. After that, I decided to return to Berlin and open my own place. Immediately back in Berlin I work with Five Elephant for about 15 months while I worked on setting up/opening the cafe.
– When did Home Café open and what is the story behind?
Home was conceived after I sat down one day and wrote a list of all the aspects of life that I found fulfilling…. Eating, drinking, communing, breaking bread together, inviting people into my home, cooking for people, connecting with people, community and so forth. Thats what gets my up in the morning. Sure I appreciate a good coffee and wouldn’t sell or make a product that I am not proud but what really motivates me is creating a space where people feel at home. Where the coffee is good, the food is real and the environment is authentic.
– What’s your specialty and what makes you different?
Good coffee, good food, warm, comfortable environment.
– What was your first coffee experience?
Hard to say, coming from New Zealand most people have either made coffee or at least spent plenty of time drinking it. I remember working in one espresso bar years ago and being sent off for a day to a larger city for coffee training. I suppose that would be considered my first experience in working with coffee.
– How/when have you discovered about specialty coffee?
I discovered speciality coffee when I started working with The Barn in 2011.
– What was your best coffee experience?
Not sure if there is just one? In general it is nice to visit other coffee shops/cities etc with the knowledge I have developed. In general it makes the experience more interesting.
– Do you prepare coffee at home ? If yes, what method do you use?
Not really, I used to use an Aeropress but these days I don’t spend too much time at home.
– How do you like your coffee? Black, sugar and milk, iced, vietnamese style,…?
Generally black, a filter but I can’t go past a mid morning creamy cappuccino (if fresh milk is on the menu).
– How would you qualify yourself as coffee drinker (occasional, heavy, addict…)?
I drink coffee everyday.
– Have you always been into the coffee industry? If not, what was your previous job?
No. Prior to moving to Berlin I was a graphic designer and earlier had studied fine art.
– Do you have another passion or a hobby besides coffee?
Food, the food I offer is as important to me as the coffee. Home made, fresh and local. I also really enjoy cooking and eating out in general.
– What other place would you recommend, anywhere in the world (coffee or not)?
Keith, a damn fine and friendly whiskey bar nearby.
– What is/are your favorite website(s) to get information about coffee?
sprudge.com dearcoffeeiloveyou.com
– What would you say to people who don’t know much about coffee?
There is no right or wrong way to enjoy coffee.