> on this one, Adam answered the questions, while Paul posed for the picture. they know each other for so long they consider themselves as one!
– Can you please introduce yourself in a few words.
Adam Craig, born in Sydney, currently living in Amsterdam, Netherlands
– What’s your story in the coffee industry?
I started 3 coffee bars in NY, Variety Coffee in Williamsburg, the 2nd in Greenpoint and Culture Espresso in Manhattan.
I opened a coffee roastery / espresso bar in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in 2013 as well as 2 coffee bars in Amsterdam.
– When did Lot Sixty One open and what is the story behind? 2013
I wanted to gain more knowledge about coffee. I decided the next step was to start a roasting business but did not know where. I travelled for 6 months to find a great city that I would like to live and importantly a city that would be a fun place to bring up my Daughter who was 6 months at the time.
– What’s your specialty and what makes you different?
Having a busy espresso bar in a roastery is a challenge, always on show, answering question. training accounts. etc
It becomes a unique experience for both customers and staff. Good coffee, good people good times, sounds simple but we do it well.
– What was your first coffee experience?
My first vivid memory of specialty coffee was drinking a triple ristretto at 9th street espresso, walking 2 blocks away and still that espresso was lingering into my subconscious.
– What was your best coffee experience?
On a trip to far North Queensland i stopped off into a coffee farm, I got the royal treatment, shown around the farm and lucky enough they had there own roastery so drank some good coffee in a special part of the world.
– Do you prepare coffee at home ? If yes, what method do you use?
I brew coffee each day for my wife. Monday to friday when im running of to work its a clever dripper. On the week end its a french press.
– How do you like your coffee? Black, sugar and milk, iced, vietnamese style,…?
I enjoy drip,black each day I walk into the roastery.
– How would you qualify yourself as coffee drinker (occasional, heavy, addict…)?
Its more about tasting for me. `Each and every day.
– Have you always been into the coffee industry? If not, what was your previous job?
My back ground is food and beverage, when it was time to open my own place coffee was the one thing i could do at a level I desired.
– Do you have another passion or a hobby besides coffee?
I make leather sandals with my wife.
– What other place would you recommend, anywhere in the world (coffee or not)?
Catching a wave in Waikiki
– What is/are your favourite website(s) to get information about coffee?
http://smudgeeats.com.au/
– What would you say to people who don’t know much about coffee?
find a local specialty coffee spot where the staff are open to suggest a range of different coffees for you to try. Allot of the flavours will be new and unfamiliar so its handy to have a pro around to talk you through them