Well, we guess we could never have thought that we’d be in this situation. It’s like what we would imagine seeing on a Netflix show has turned into a reality, and a harsh one at that.
Over the past several weeks of lockdown, we have been amazed at the resilience the coffee industry has shown, and how it has been able to find ways to adapt, especially during these incredibly difficult circumstances. From creating new web shops, brand new takeaway and delivery services to providing online brewing and baking videos for those stuck at home- the coffee industry and our local coffee community, has been doing it’s upmost to support itself, and everyone within its wider community at this time.
At Bailies Coffee Roasters, we’re still here, roasting away, by providing the best direct trade coffee to you at home. Whilst our team and their locales has shifted slightly, our focus has not. Our Engineering team are still operational, fully kitted out, and here to lend support and a helping hand to our coffee community. If you would like to avail of some support at this time, please do get in touch with us as there are procedures we can support with during this lockdown to keep your machinery intact.
Machine Start Up
Before you head straight back in, the engineering team have put together a quick step-by-step guide for turning your machine back on:
- Ensure water supply is on at your store.
- Switch on machine.
- Press "constant run" on all groups for 60 seconds.
- Fully heat coffee machine and give it time to warm up.
- Initiate hot water dispense and draw 10 litres from the machine.
- Open steam valves for 30 seconds.
- Test hot water dispensed for both clarity and taste.
- Dial in espresso using fresh beans and extract paying attention to extraction time and volume.
We’ve also been asked what does coffee service look like when we return?
It looks like social distancing and increased hygiene are here to stay. Take-away and delivery services will become the norm, meaning a whole new set of rules, set by Government. You can read more below.
At Bailies we can already see the following happening and can recommend these steps in the interim:
- Establish a cleaning rota and publish it, stick to it
- Only one person per machine at any time
- Clean your machines on the hour, every hour
- Keep wearing protective gloves throughout the service
- Deep clean premises more often
- Disinfectant wipes for bean to cup machines and keep cups
- Perspex screens for staff and countertops
- Contactless payments
- Reassurance to customers on cleanliness by publishing rules
- Distancing tape and posters, as seen in your local supermarket
Additional resources can be found here for UK customers:
Guidance for businesses selling food (updated FSA and HACCP Processes) - within this link, you will find invaluable information on current measures that need to be enforced to ensure safe business practice for both staff and patrons. Please pay special attention to the section entitled ‘Social Distancing’.
Advice on additional signage:
- PHE have official posters as part of their ongoing public awareness campaigns that are available to view and download HERE.
Floor Markers:
- There are many companies supplying adhesive tape to clearly mark out the required 2m distance between people, for example HERE and HERE.
Additional resources for those customers based in Ireland:
Business Continuity Planning – Checklist of preparatory actions in responding to Covid-19
Within this link, you will find invaluable information from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. They provide a checklist of some of the key risks to the continuity of your business activities during the outbreak. Please pay special attention to Page Six, entitled ‘Responding to Workplace Risks due to COVID-19’. Covid-19: An Employers Guide. Within this link, you will find invaluable information from the Government of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.
Or visit the Gov.ie website. This has advice on additional signage. The HSE have official posters as part of their ongoing public awareness campaigns that are available to view and download HERE. There are many companies supplying adhesive tape to clearly mark out the required 2m distance between people, for example HERE and HERE.
Therefore, as in industry, we’re going to have to work hard to win back the trust of our loyal consumers.
These measures are already in place within our roastery and we work hard to maintain cleanliness even though coffee production is deemed a low risk manufacturing process.
Give us a call to relocate machinery, or if there are any problems during start up, offer greater retail products for home brewing or even if you just want a chat.
For those with La Marzocco coffee machines – the company has published two advice documents- advice for Irish customers and partners along with advice for UK customers. Both documents are available via email on the address below.
We hope these are of use and are relatable to any coffee shop with practical advice by region.
We’re normally all over Instagram, email info@bailiescoffee.com and can be reached on 028 90 771535.