We’re back with another instalment of our Coffee Spotlight series, a place where we go behind the scenes with a business we supply, and find out how The Roasting Party coffee works for them.
This time we sat down with Rob Good from Kudos Coffee, whose duo of friendly Hampshire cafes are all about bringing people together over coffee and food.
What’s the concept?
We wanted to sell great tasting speciality coffee in a welcoming environment that’s accessible to everyone, including dogs. Quite often, we felt that some shops in the speciality world could be overwhelming and perhaps a little intimidating if you didn’t know what everything was. We wanted to create a space where people would feel comfortable, asking if they weren’t sure what a certain drink was, a place for people to experience great quality coffee outside of the large cities and to create an extension of our living room where everyone felt welcome and comfortable.
Who’s involved?
Myself and my wife, Jen, started the business, with Connor as our other full timer and Niamh and Eddie and our part time weekend staff. Connor is still with us, Niamh is now with us full time after finishing uni and Eddie is currently at Uni and working with The Roasting Party at Party at Pavilion. Last year we took on my long-term friend Stu as Operations Director. Stu and I have worked together on a couple of projects and played rugby together for many years, so I knew he’d be a great fit for the business. We also have seven other full-time members and 17 part-time team members across the two shops.
Where did it all start, and where are you heading?
The business started back in 2017 with our first shop in Whitchurch, Hampshire, where we had to use all our savings and a lot of favours from friends to help fit out the shop. I was bored of the 9-5 corporate world and had always wanted my own business, but I just didn’t know what to do. A couple of years before this I had really started to get into my coffee and was playing around a lot with my home set up and went on some home barista courses, and that’s when I decided that running a coffee shop could be something I could try.
I was a bit hesitant, but after some encouragement from Jen and deciding that it would be better to give it a go and fail, rather than always be left wondering what could have been, Kudos was born.
We opened our second in Stockbridge, Hampshire in late 2020 during Covid, whilst also having our first baby, Jonah, which made things interesting! The building in Stockbridge is one I always dreamed of having, so despite the timing not being ideal, we had to go for it and thankfully it’s going well. We are always looking at other potential sites, so who knows, we may have a third shop in the next year or two.
How did you find out about The Roasting Party coffee?
I met Head of Coffee Wes years back when they were supplying and helping out with Black, White, Red in Winchester. A friend and I would take the half hour journey to Winchester just to get coffee and got chatting to him fairly regularly about how I’d like to have a coffee shop. He had me come in to the roastery to try some cupping and I’ve been a fan ever since.
How long have you been serving it?
From day one – five years.
Do you have any tips or trade secrets on how to make the perfect cup?
Listen to your roasters guidance as they should know what the best recipe is for their roasts. Keep practising to learn about your machines, and don’t steam your milk too hot!
What do your customers say about your coffee?
They love it. We’re getting great feedback from people in Stockbridge, with lots saying they’ve been told to come to us for the best coffee around, just like what happened in Whitchurch when we opened there.
What’s your own go-to coffee order?
Always a flat white, ideally with The Captain blend. It’s the perfect milk to coffee ratio for me.
Kudos Coffee Stockbridge
High St, Stockbridge SO20 6HF
