10 things we’ve learned since launching two sides. A letter to us.
Everybody needs good neighbours. And you are blessed with a village full.
No one is you and that is your superpower. Be yourself, be kind and people will keep coming back.
Coffee stains. Don’t wear white trainers to work.
Don’t overcomplicate things, it’s just coffee and cake at the end of the day.
Mick’s Bakes x Mary Berry’s Cookbook= a force to be reckoned with.
Betsy is and will always be the real boss.
Remember to eat breakfast before dialling in the coffee machine.
Latte art is harder than it looks and can be hidden behind a lid if needed.
Clean as you go, a clean Otis is a happy Otis.
You’ve come so far already, be proud of what you’ve achieved.
Sustainability at two sides
Sustainability at two sides.
Sustainability is important to us here at two sides. That’s why all of our packaging is made fully compostable. Although our takeaway cups are made to be earth sensitive by commercial composting, we do encourage customers to bring their own reusable cups with them to reduce waste. Our go to reusable is the Huskee Cup. We love the design and they’re actually made from recycled coffee husk. As well as saving on landfill waste, you will also save a bit of money too, with 20p discount on your drink with a reusable cup (yours or ours).
Our coffee beans, which are supplied by Hard Lines Coffee Roasters, have been sourced sustainably. Their aim is to build long-lasting relationships with their points of origin. We also want to encourage plant-based choices to become part of our everyday routine. That’s why there’s no extra charge for non-dairy milk alternatives, unlike most other coffee shops. We decided to make sacrifices in other areas of the business, in order to subsidise the more costly expense of our non-dairy milks.
Away from coffee we have taken other sustainability considerations too. Our clothing collection has been organically sourced with Earth Positive Clothing, a climate neutral clothing brand. In addition, most of the materials used in and around the van have been up-cycled. Items from our cafe furniture to Otis’s car parts have been purchased second hand and given a new life.
With all this in mind, we acknowledge that our VW camper doesn’t run as sustainable as we’d like at the moment. That’s why we’re reducing our travel distances and sourcing produce from local, sustainable farmers. In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint.
As our start up business becomes more successful, we’d love to switch to a fully electric vehicle. But for now we are making small, sustainable choices that we know will have a positive impact.
But first, coffee
But first, coffee
Me and Angharad have always had a shared love for coffee. It was actually in a little coffee shop in Nottingham where we first met. Despite her drink of choice being a green tea, which later materialised into a hot milk and vanilla, going out for a coffee became our new hobby outside of football. Fast forward 7 years, we are happily married and hoping to turn our passion into a successful business project.
‘Going for a coffee’ has always been more than a quick caffeine fix for us. Often it actually has the reverse effect. Our local coffee shops have been a place of comfort and reflection and a chance to slow down. Especially during times of high pressure throughout the course of the season.
We try to find new independent coffee shops in cities that we visit. Through football, we have been lucky enough to travel to some amazing places. Angharad is the planner, she is usually the one on Instagram researching our routes. Most of the time we coincide a coffee with a dog walk so we have a soft spot for dog friendly cafes. Betsy, our little cockapoo, loves coming out for a puppuccino too. As well as being dog friendly, we love coffee shops that have a bit of character. Our favourites are those little gems that go against the grain. Finally and probably most importantly, our favourite coffee shops are the ones that make you feel most at home. Coffee shops that feel too pretentious or judgemental are not our vibe.
These influences have helped us create the framework for two sides. Our vision for Otis, the campervan, was based around a coffee shop we would love, in the hope that others would love it too.