Kirkcaldy coffee shop launches new online delivery service

Mike Lowe, co-owner of Cupcake Coffee Box, is hoping to have the new service up and running by next week.

The High Street coffee shop is just one of a number of businesses which are finding new ways to continue operating during the coronavirus lockdown.

The new blacknbrewed speciality coffee roasting website provides all the information on how locals can select their own pre-roasted coffee, and have their choice of beans blended and delivered to their door.

Mike explained: “The website is called www.blacknbrewed.com and basically it allows you to order a pre-blended roast, including my own blend which I use at Cupcake Coffee Box, as well as some other roasts we have pre-blended, to be delivered to your door.

“You can have them ground for filter, expresso or cafetiere, whole bean or if anyone is feeling adventurous, they can select beans, have them roasted together, then name it so they can have their own unique blend roasted.

“We are trying to diversify to have some money coming in while the coffee shop is closed. I am hoping to go live with that this week or early into next week so we will see how it goes.”

Mike has successfully applied for a £10,000 government grant which he has used to pay his staff’s wages.

“I paid all the wages myself in the hope the grant would come through as soon as possible and now it has. Fortunately I had some reserves because I wanted to make sure all my local suppliers were paid up.”

He said he looked at offering a takeaway service but in the end decided against it.

“It is very labour intensive and you would need a lot of orders to keep it going. I have done competitions offering the odd free coffee, but in all honesty for a

cup of coffee and a piece of cake you would need a lot of deliveries to make it viable.”

He added: “I have some savings to keep me going until I re-open, and the online service will also help keep money flowing through just now.”

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspapers; the Fife Free Press, Fife Herald, St Andrews Citizen, East Fife Mail and Glenrothes Gazette.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

The support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with your community during this time. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this, and your continued support of our newspapers across Fife will help to protect their viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press