Josh Clarke

Cultivating the Living Room Experience Coaltown Coffee Roasters in Wales redefines the specialty coffee space by treating its espresso bar as a "living room." This philosophy rejects the intimidating complexity often found in high-end cafes. Instead, they present a streamlined menu of seasonal espressos and locally sourced cakes. The goal remains simple: provide a meaningful, unpretentious experience that fosters community. By maintaining a transparent layout, patrons can view the production floor directly from their tables, bridging the gap between the morning cup and the industrial craft behind it. The Roasting Engine: Modern Tech Meets Steampunk Tradition The roastery operates through a fascinating juxtaposition of machinery. On one side, the Probat P3 represents the cutting edge, functioning with the precision of a modern car. It offers variable drum speeds and integrated profile tracking. Opposite this sits the "Joffrey," a vintage Probat G75 from the 1950s. While Joffrey requires manual gas adjustments and a "steampunk" hands-on approach, Josh Clarke ensures consistency by connecting even this legacy machine to Cropster. This digital integration allows the team to monitor environmental temperatures and rate of rise with scientific accuracy. Quality Control and Social Purpose For Coaltown, roasting serves a higher purpose than just flavor. The business deliberately operates in post-industrial towns to provide sustainable employment. Their commitment to quality is managed through a rigorous in-house traffic light system. Every production day involves daily cupping sessions in a dedicated Quality Control area. Here, the team compares each batch against a master profile, ensuring that the final product shipped to customers matches their exacting standards. This relentless focus on technique and social impact transforms a simple commodity into a tool for regional revitalization.