Crikey, it feels like a while since I’ve had a chance to blog properly. The day job has been getting in the way a fair bit, but don’t worry, I’ve not forgotten you all. In fact, I’ve got a hot new venue for you – New Ground Coffee are about to open a roastery and coffee bar in Headington.
Most of you probably know we already have a cracking coffee scene in Oxford and the ‘shire – Jericho Coffee, Missing Bean, Ue and Horsebox to name a few – and some of you may have discovered New Ground Coffee. But now, they’re about to open their very own venue and it’s clearly going to be cool AF.
The coffee company, run by Joel and Dickon (L & R above), has been run out of their kitchens and other friendly coffee roasteries since they launched, but they already supply the likes of Soho Farmhouse (serious celeb hangout), Oxford Kitchen, Oxford University, G&D Cafes and Burford Garden Centre.
Following in the footsteps of likeminded Tap Social, New Ground Coffee is a social enterprise, offering training and work opportunities for ex-offenders across the Thames Valley. They also have a strong ethical and sustainable focus to provide a variety of exciting coffees:
We buy quality and ethical green beans and roast them to bring out the unique characteristics of each coffee. We work with small-scale farmers who produce the best coffees around the world, and ensure that these farmers are paid fairly and their communities are positively impacted. We work hard to get the most out of each coffee, and so each one is roasted differently to fully develop all the flavours, and to showcase what makes them distinct. The resulting cup should be clean and clear – but we’ll let you be the judge of that.
What To Expect
The new venue, which is tucked behind Adria Pizzeria and Regency Dry Cleaners on Windmill Road, is set to open next Monday. Half price coffees will be on offer all next week for the launch, and the plan is to serve Dutch Boy Waffles along with locally produced pastries when they’re settled in.
Coffees served will be espresso-based, with the addition of a manual brew bar with brewing options like V60, Kalita and Aeropress on weekly rotation. Huskee reusable coffee cups have been stocked up, for drinking in and for purchase, made from coffee husks. It also comes with a lid made out of the same material, is light as anything and feels lovely to hold. They look good too (see below).
If you take in your own reusable coffee cup (or one you buy from the cafe), you’ll get 20p off every hot drink.
The building is a small industrial unit, with a high vaulted metal ceiling and large windows above, whitewashed walls to the side. The giant roasting machine sits at the back of the room, with counter and customer seating at the front. The main bar will have bar seats surrounding the far end, by the manual pur area, making it feel more immersive and communal.
It may not be visible from the main road, but I think once local coffee lovers discover this place, it’ll fill up nicely.
** COMPETITION NOW CLOSED **
Win Guest Tickets to the Launch Party 🎟🎫
Bitten will be at the launch party in the evening on 1st October, and I have two guest tickets to give away to lucky Bitten readers. Want to be there? Just comment below telling us how important coffee is to you!
Easy as that. Competition closes at midnight on Sunday 22nd September, look forward to seeing two of you there! I’ll choose my favourite two answers and email the winners directly.
New Ground Coffee
Simon House, Workshop R/O, 2 Windmill Rd, Oxford OX3 7BU
www.newgroundcoffee.com
Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri 07:00-15:00
Sat 08:00-15:00
Ben McKeown says
Just look at my Instagram feed… Coffee is so big in my life it’s a full time hobby. I’ve bought coffee in every corner of the globe and drank it back here in Oxford. Anyone who doesn’t like coffee is doing it wrong…
Always support local independent business especially the coffee scene in Oxford which is really thriving. Great to see a new company starting to grow and can’t wait to try some of their stuff.
Holly Davis says
If you asked one of my friends to describe what my interests are, coffee would come out top. I have been known to travel miles to try out a new coffee place. I even have a coffee app I’m a self confessed coffee snob and would love to win these tickets
Anita Smith says
No better way to start the day than with a frothy coffee in bed I also love it before or after a swim, before and definitely after a long bike ride and I always run faster after a shot of coffee ☕️
Rosie says
We can’t get out of the front door without it. It’s the best rocket fuel for life!
David Read says
Whether tasting the beans from different roasters or writing about and rating coffee shops for Instagram, this little brown bean is a serious part of my life @oxfordcoffeelife
Simon says
I have a four and a six year old who like to wake early. If I could not drink coffee I’d have an angry boss and an even angrier wife! ;oP
Jacqui Thorndyke says
Well we can’t have that, can we?! Congratulations Simon, you win the other guest ticket! I’ll email with more info, Jacqui
Amelie says
My partner moved from France two years ago to Headington. He is a coffee lover to a point that you can’t talk to him in the morning until he has a coffee in his hands.
Although he is happy to be in Oxford, he always gets back to the point of how much he misses a place for good coffee nearby. He is not a fan of coffee chains so he basically has nothing around.
With Brexit just around the corner, he has mentioned several times that it might be the time to leave, plus (he always adds) there is not good coffee around.
Yesterday somebody gave me the New Ground Coffee flier and I was almost jumping of joy!
This new local coffee bar might safe my relationship!!
Jacqui Thorndyke says
Congratulations Amelie, how could I not give you a ticket! You win one of the guest spaces, I’ll email you with more details, Jacqui