Explore every episode of the podcast Experience Good Coffee Podcast

Grab your favourite mug and settle in—this week’s CLO Club catch-up is brewed to perfection with our brand-new Easter Blend (equally glorious as a silky flat white or a crisp filter, depending on your vibe).

Nick’s been doing some light reading… and by light, we mean existential. He walks us through the unmistakable signs you might be getting older—though the timing is impeccable, given his totally unrelated recent foray into hair dye. We’re saying nothing. (We’re saying everything.)

Meanwhile, Dave steps onto the red carpet to give us his take on this year’s Oscars—snubs, surprises, and whether anyone actually saw all the Best Picture nominees. Josh brings the music fresh from his latest gig, plus over-the-top excitement about a band no one can remember the name of coming to Leeds this summer. Tom rounds things off with a dive into the latest sporting controversy—because what’s sport without a bit of drama? Although 2 months later is probably a bit late to go changing your mind about the tournament rules.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a CLO Club chat without plenty of tangents, questionable detours, half-finished stories, and laughs that go on just a bit too long.

Good coffee. Good chat. Mild chaos. Just how we like it.

It’s nearly Friday, and this week on CLO Club Live we’re pressing pause — literally. Over a much-needed midweek cup of coffee, we chat about the art of slowing down in the middle of a busy week. Not quitting. Not spiralling. Just taking a breath, reclaiming five minutes, and remembering we’re humans, not productivity machines.

Naturally, we then pivot to the important stuff. Fashion first: are quarter-zips officially dad-wear? Have they crossed into cool? Or are we all just one fleece away from becoming our fathers? We unpack the rise of “dad fashion,” comfort-core, and whether we’re resisting it or fully leaning in. Then it’s onto middle-class car buying trends — because nothing says grown-up like discussing BMWs vs Volvos and the ‘TEMU’ Range Rover!

And of course, we debrief the cultural moments of the week: The iconic chaos and sparkle of the Brit Awards — where Olivia Dean reigned supreme (she’s the queen, and that’s final). Plus the glamour and gravitas of the BAFTAs — red carpet hits, cinematic brilliance, and our completely unqualified but passionate takes.

It’s reflective. It’s lightly chaotic. It’s culturally informed (ish). And it’s all wrapped up in the warm, familiar energy of friends catching up midweek before the final push to Friday.

Pop the kettle on. Take a breath. Come sit with us.

We hit pause on the chaos of Wednesday mornings to do what we do best on CLO Club Live: grab a coffee and catch up. This week, Nick dives into his latest reading rabbit holes, from the sneaky realities of shrinkflation to the sacred art of early-morning routines (yes, coffee plays a starring role). Dave comes through with fresh film recommendations to add straight to your watchlist, while Josh, Tom and Nick share the music they’ve had on repeat lately — perfect for upgrading your commute or workday soundtrack. And just when you thought it couldn’t get sweeter, we bring back a fan favourite: strawberry coffee, returning from last summer just in time for Valentine’s Day. Consider this episode your midweek reset — relaxed, recommendation-filled, and best enjoyed with a warm mug in hand.

This week on CLO Club Live, we press pause on a hectic schedule, pull up some chairs, and catch up the best way we know how — over coffee. It’s a laid-back, free-flowing chat that wanders from cup to culture and everywhere in between.

We kick things off deep in coffee territory, talking Guatemala beans, brewing methods, and what makes a really good cup worth slowing down for. From there, the conversation takes a thoughtful turn as we ask the big question: is the vegan revolution losing steam, or just evolving? Expect honest takes, a few tangents, and plenty of curiosity.

Things get practical in the kitchen as we swap notes on foods you can and can’t freeze (some of these might surprise you), before diving headfirst into arts and entertainment. Dave shares his top film picks, including Hamnet, while Josh and Tom round things off with music recommendations to soundtrack your week — with a special shoutout to Buffalo Traffic Jam.

Unfiltered, unhurried, and full of the kind of conversation that happens when you take a moment to breathe — this episode is less about agendas and more about enjoying the chat.

CLO Club Live is back! After a summer of slinging espressos and flat whites at festivals up and down the UK, we’re back behind the mics—and we’ve brought plenty to chat about. We’re kicking things off with something exciting—our brand-new coffee blend, Jacob’s Well. It’s bold, full-bodied, and packed with nutty flavours, the perfect brew to sip while you listen in.

Nick has returned with more of his trademark articles, this time trying to convince us that cassettes are making a comeback (we’ll let you decide if he’s right). Dave is putting our film knowledge to the test with a quiz, while Josh and Tom bring fresh music and gig recommendations to keep your playlists buzzing. And, of course, there’s plenty to celebrate: Josh has just turned 18, and Tom is newly engaged!

So take a moment in your busy week, pour yourself a coffee, and join us at the CLO Club—it’s good to be back.

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

The CLO Club is brewing up a storm this week! Join us for your weekly catch-up, slow down, and—of course—a coffee (or three). We're cupping LIVE and trying out some brand-new beans, including a wild Colombian strawberry infusion that sparks quite the reaction from Dave. 

Festival season is just around the corner, and we’re nearly road-ready—find out how you can try these coffees IRL this summer! Plus, we somehow manage to dive into another round of VAT chat with Nick... before getting completely sidetracked (as usual).

And don’t miss our take on all things F1—from high-speed drama on the track to the latest cinematic thrills.

Tune in, sip along, and enjoy the ride.

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

Slow down, grab a coffee (yes, that’s definitely a morning routine do), and join us for another cozy, chaotic, and caffeinated week of CLO Club LIVE!

This week, we dive into the do's and don’ts of morning routines—spoiler alert: hitting snooze and skipping breakfast might land you in the don’t column. We also say a nostalgic farewell to Wimbledon’s line judges, replaced by the all-seeing eye of Hawkeye… but can tech really be trusted to call the shots?

Meanwhile, Glastonbury brought the goods with unforgettable moments and surprise guests galore. Which got us wondering—if YOU were headlining, who would you bring out for your big moment? (We have opinions.)

And as always, Dave’s got the latest cinema picks you won’t want to miss—plus a few storytelling detours that only he can deliver.

It's coffee, conversation, culture, and a bit of chaos—just the way we like it. Press play and join the club!

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

The CLO Club is back live and buzzing—caffeinated and slightly chaotic as ever! This episode, we’re joined by special guests Kara and Bess, who add extra sparkle to our usual brew of banter.

Nick shares some business wisdom via Richard Branson—something about “protecting the downside” (don’t worry, we’re still figuring that one out too), whilst Kara helps us decode the mysterious language of Gen Alpha—turns out we might be old.

Dave takes us to the movies with a breakdown of “28 Years Later”, and the vibes are apocalyptic in the best way. Plus, we take a peek at what’s coming up at Glastonbury, and yes, there are plenty of tangents, anecdotes, and general podcast mayhem.

Grab your coffee and tune in—because no one does structured chaos quite like the CLO Club.

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

This week’s episode is all about slowing down to savor the moment—because even in a packed week, there’s always time for a good coffee and great company.

We’re catching up with Linda, who just returned from an incredible journey through Guatemala—think vibrant markets, lush landscapes, and stories that’ll make you want to book a flight ASAP!

Meanwhile, Nick has been diving deep into some fascinating articles—spoiler alert: the secret to anti-aging might be in your morning cup of coffee (science says yes, we say pour another!).

And to top it off, Josh & Tom are serving up their latest music picks—perfect for your next chill-out session or road trip playlist.

So brew a fresh cup, plug in, and come hang with the crew. It’s the cozy, curious, caffeine-fueled catch-up you didn’t know you needed.

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

In this week’s episode of CLO Club Live, Nick & Dave kick things off with a blast from the past, channeling their inner Alas Smith and Jones in a sketch that’s either comedy gold or a very enthusiastic cry for help—jury’s still out.

We dive into our caffeine-fueled recap of the London Coffee Festival, where the team sampled brews, spotted trends, and decided that doughnuts are definitely the answer to everything from now on. From espresso highs to pastry delights, it’s all here.

Nick’s articles return with a triple-shot of hot takes: dark chocolate biscuits (elite snack or just fancy cardboard?), Teslas (are they still cool?), and the world’s most inappropriate flight abbreviations (seriously, who approved these?).

In this week’s Roastery Recommends, Dave dons his usual film critic hat (and scarf?) to review the latest movies you may or may not have heard of, while Josh & Tom spill the beans on what’s currently spinning on their playlists—no surprises it’s more guitar bands.

All that plus more in our usual weekly coffee catch-up: a pause for good coffee, good company, and a few too many off-topic tangents (because what’s a podcast without those?).

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

It was anything but a regular episode of the CLO Club Live podcast this time (if we have such thing as regular?!). With no Nick in the house (which meant no deep dives into articles this week — we know, we know), the vibe was suitably spontaneous, and delightfully chaotic in all the right ways.

But who needs Nick when you’ve got Rafi the dog making guest appearances and a surprise cameo from the delivery man? We’re talking unfiltered podcast gold here.

In lieu of academia, we stirred things up with a latte art competition, naturally. Now latte art being typically a visual thing you may want to check out Instagram to judge for yourself, but see if you can work out the winner audibly first!

Of course, we couldn’t resist singing the praises of the ever-popular Solomon’s Porch blend — warm, rich, and absolutely the reason some of us show up. We unpacked why it’s so beloved, both by us and the wider CLO club.

As always, Dave delivered his signature film chat, while Josh and Tom kept the vibes going strong with their music talk, covering everything from soul-stirring tracks, the latest gigs, and must-watch (or must-not!) films.

And in a moment of regional pride, we made sure to raise a mug to Leeds — Champions! A well-earned shoutout that got us all briefly distracted by the football - who’d have though eh? #ALAW #MOT 

In short: no script, lots of laughs, and just the right amount of coffee-fuelled chaos. Same time next week? Hit the pause button and have a coffee with us!

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

This week on CLO Club Live, we’re embracing the art of slowing down. With the week in full swing and everyone buzzing around, we took a collective pause to do what we do best—share a coffee and a good chat. There’s something special about carving out that little moment of calm, and we made the most of it with laughs, stories, and great coffee.

The sunshine showed up too, and we’re definitely not mad about it. With the sun out, the knees followed suit, and the good vibes were flowing as we soaked up some well-earned warmth and talked about all the things that make life that little bit sweeter.

For the coffee lovers among us (even Dave?!), we dove into the world of V60 filter brewing—what it is, why it’s magic, and how to master it without needing a science degree or a hipster apron.

Of course, it wouldn’t be CLO Club without a few tangents. We took a detour into the wild world of marketing blunders—those cringe-worthy moments where brand meets disaster—and had a good laugh over what not to say when trying to sell something.

As always, Tom brought us up to speed with his latest gig reviews, Dave gave us his signature lowdown on what’s worth watching, and Bess makes a guest appearance!

All in all, it was another episode filled with community, connection, and the kind of coffee-fuelled joy that makes even the busiest week feel a little lighter. Whether you’re walking the dog, commuting, or just curled up with your brew, grab a ‘cloffee’ and join the CLO Club.

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

This week on CLO Club LIVE, we’re hitting pause, grabbing our coffee, and diving headfirst into another round up of the week!

Dave’s been perfecting his latte art—but is he painting masterpieces or just making milky messes? Meanwhile, we tackle one of life’s biggest questions: does your dog actually love you, or are you just their snack dispenser? 

Ever wondered about the economics of marshmallows? No? Well, too bad—we’re taking a lightning-fast tour through the world of cakes, biscuits, and unexpected financial wisdom. Plus, is robusta coffee about to stage a global takeover? We investigate whether these beans are brewing up a revolution on the coffee scene.

Music fans, rejoice! Josh is here with his Wombats gig review, giving us the lowdown on their latest show. And for movie lovers, Dave’s got fresh recommendations—including a surprising new entry in the top five highest-grossing films of all time.

And, of course, no episode is complete without hilarious interruptions, unexpected green coffee deliveries, and a special guest appearance from the real star of the show: Rafi the dog! 

So, grab a coffee, take a moment, and get ready for another entertaining episode of CLO Club LIVE!

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

This week on CLO Club Live, we’re hitting pause on the chaos, grabbing a cup of something delicious, and soaking in the moment—because what’s better than coffee and good company? Speaking of, we’ve got a fantastic new Nicaraguan filter coffee that’ll be online from April, and you need to hear about it.

Nick’s weekly articles take us on a wild ride, from a surprise discovery in Japanese miso soup (trust us, you won’t see this one coming) to the ultimate question: how much is too much for a croissant? Debate starts now.

We’re also diving into Netflix’s latest buzzworthy release, Adolescence, with some top-tier insights from film buff Dave—expect hot takes and deep dives. Plus, Josh’s gig picks are here to fill up your live music calendar.

All this and more, straight from the CLO Club — so take a moment with us, grab your coffee and let’s get into it! 

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

This week, we’re LIVE from the legendary Hammersmith Apollo!!! Okay, fine… just down t’road - serving up four glorious filter coffees for a conference. Meanwhile, back in Leeds, we’re sample roasting some new beans and probably making a mess.

We’ll be tackling some of your questions from the CLO Club—like, can Dave really call himself a film buff? Someone has put him to the test! Tom’s also got the team talking about sports, bringing an article of his own for a change! Which leads us to ask: Have you ever been mistaken for a sports star or celebrity? (Spoiler: Dave is in fact famous…he just doesn’t know it yet!). And, of course, the never-ending debate rages on… what’s the ultimate bedtime snack combo? Biscuit + drink = perfection… but which ones? And is it dunk-able!?

Expect all the usual chaos—dodgy sound, sketchy internet, and five people in two different places just trying to take a moment to slow down, sip some great coffee, and have a laugh. Join us!

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

This week on CLO Club LIVE, we’re taking a moment again to slow down and enjoy time together —starting with the simple joy of pausing for a coffee at the start of a busy day. With our brand-new Easter Blend on the menu, we’re pairing it with chocolate Easter eggs and asking: what’s everyone’s favorite Easter treat?

We’re also diving into the world of late-night snacking—what’s good, what’s bad, and how it all affects your sleep. Should you really be reaching for that midnight snack, or is it best to leave the fridge alone before bed?

On a lighter note, we’re sharing heartwarming stories of generosity and kindness, from celebrities giving back to small but meaningful random acts of kindness that make the world a better place.

And as always, Dave and Tom are here with their latest film and music recommendations, so if you’re looking for something new to watch or listen to, we’ve got you covered.

So grab a coffee, take a break, and join us for this week’s episode!

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

Grab a coffee and join us for a fun-filled episode packed with snacks, slip-ups, and star-studded moments!

First up, we’re tackling the big question: are ‘healthy’ snacks actually healthy? From sneaky labels to misleading marketing, we uncover whether your go-to guilt-free treat is as good as it seems—or if it’s just a cleverly disguised sugar bomb.

Then, get ready to cringe (and laugh) as we dive into awkward and hilarious email mishaps—from funny typos to messages sent to the wrong person. If you’ve ever hit ‘reply all’ by mistake, you’ll feel seen.

Next, it’s time for the ultimate tea challenge: Tom’s Tea Test! Can he correctly identify the true Yorkshire brew, or will he fall for an imposter? The stakes are high, the tea is hot, and the results may surprise you!

And of course, we couldn’t let awards season pass without a proper BRITS & Oscars round-up. We’re dishing out our takes on the highlights, the unexpected wins (and snubs), and the must-watch films and music from this year’s nominees.

All this while taking a moment to pause, sip, and enjoy some great coffee together. So, grab your mug, tune in, and join the CLO Club.

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

In this episode, we’re hitting pause, and chatting over some excellent filter coffee — though, fair warning, it's a bit chaotic! We're streaming live from Harrogate and from home, so the sound quality might get a little dodgy at times, but it all adds to the hilarity.

We kick things off with a discussion about the latest Marvel film—our thoughts, reactions, and whether it's living up to the hype. Tom then shares his latest gig recommendation for anyone looking to catch some live music, while Nick updates us on his latest articles, including speculations on who could be the next James Bond. And of course, it wouldn't be a true coffee break without talking about how to brew that perfect cup of filter coffee - great for home brews or church conversations!

We also dive into a few hilarious airline stories that are sure to leave you laughing, before wrapping up with more random anecdotes, a few tangents, and the occasional technical hiccup.

Brew, pause, take a moment, and join the CLO Club.

Need a coffee whilst you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

This week, we’re serving up another fresh blend of caffeine, culture, and conversation. Nick breaks down his latest articles, covering everything from current events to quirky deep dives. We take a look at the rising (and sometimes ridiculous) prices of second-hand cars—is there still a bargain to be found?

On the tea front, it’s a battle of the brews as we settle the debate: Yorkshire Tea vs. the rest—who truly deserves the top spot? Speaking of brews, we also share tips on making the perfect cafetière coffee for those who love a rich, smooth cup.

In film, Dave delivers his BAFTA Awards review, sharing highlights, surprises, and snubs, plus his latest must-watch movie pick. And to round things off, Josh & Tom bring their top music recommendations, sharing the albums and tracks that are worth your time this week.

Pause, grab a coffee, press play, and join the CLO Club!

Need a coffee as you listen? Order now at clocoffee.com

In this episode, we dive into a mix of caffeine, culture, and conversation. Nick shares insights from his latest articles, exploring everything from deep-dive journalism to quirky observations. We debate the popularity of long blacks and flat whites—which one reigns supreme? Plus, we tackle the age-old question: how often should we really be washing our clothes? (Spoiler: opinions vary wildly.) Dave brings us his film of the week, breaking down what’s worth watching and what’s not. Meanwhile, Josh & Tom serve up their recommended listening, sharing the tracks and albums they can’t get enough of. And for the coffee lovers, we geek out on brewing the perfect espresso—from beans to crema. Grab a cup, press play, and let’s get into it!

Jo Enright is very funny. We wanted to know the person behind the TV characters and what inspired Jo to get into the comedy circuit.

Jo speaks honestly about her route into comedy via a childhood passion in acting and the moment a tutor introduced her to stand up and some of the most iconic stand up comedians who used comedy not only to make but to communicate a message.

This fascinating chat with Jo shows us how she juggles TV work with The Job Lot, After Life and Phoenix Nights, with the Stand up circuit. How she is inspiring her son to find his voice and we discuss the serious mental health benefits of knitting.

“I was surprised I would enjoy performing stand up Comedy and I was surprised someone would pay me for it” Jo Enright

Jo discusses how she loves to find a script with a new character that she can portray on TV, but also her love of writing her own material and her voice in the stand up arena.

Catch Jo on tour this Autumn including at the Constitutional in Farsley (Leeds) on Sat 1 Oct 2022 @theconstitutionalfarsley on Insta.

Follow Jo at https://www.joenright.com

“I believe you don’t need a stage to impact others, you can start right now impacting the lives of others”

Nick & Linda are joined by Tim Schurrer in this Podcast where he discusses his new book ‘The Secret Society of Success’ and gives us the tools to redefine what success looks like in our life.

It’s a game changer.

There’s a message getting a lot of airtime these days. It says to be successful, you have to step into the spotlight, climb the ladder, become the boss, or chase whatever version of success that’s been dangled in front of you.

But what if there’s another way? What if fame, money, and power aren’t all that we should be chasing?

In The Secret Society of Success, Tim Schurrer invites you to reevaluate your definition of success and learn a new, freer way to go about achieving it.

Simon Thomas, TV Presenter (Blue Peter & Sky Sports), has been through quite a journey in his life, from dealing with anxiety and panic attacks whilst working, and then losing his first wife very suddenly to a rare blood cancer.

“We went from [my wife’s] diagnosis at the start of the week to dying on the Friday” TV Presenter, Simon Thomas talks openly about how he and his son got through losing his first wife to acute myeloid leukaemia; a rare form of blood cancer. Navigating grief, and finding hope.

Simon made a big impact on our lives through his book; ‘Love, Interrupted’, his social media video blogs in the midst of some of the hardest times of his life, and his ‘Life, Interrupted’ Podcasts.

We wanted to discuss with Simon, what inspired him to share his struggles and story so early on, which has been such a lifeline to so many following his open and honest story.

Its a privilege to hear Simon talk honestly about his journey again and what motivates him each day to find hope, recovery and happiness.

If you want to hear more, tune into Simon’s Podcast “Life, Interrupted”. And you can buy his book ‘Love, interrupted; navigating grief, finding hope’ at all good bookshops.

Wetherspoons, Bastille, La La Land and Ubermilk. It can only be the experience good coffee podcast is back.

Today we chat to Theoneste Ndagijimana from Rwanda about his life, and how he connected us to the incredible coffee from Twongerekawa Coko Washing Station.

Also Phil Schluter - a guru in the coffee world, and a joy to have join us to tell this story of the challenges and realities of commerciality alongside social impact vision.

Nick and Linda, co-founders of CLO Coffee host.

Dan from Incredible Edible joins us for today’s episode to tell us how this game-changing community project began in Leeds. Nick and Linda also chat about new BBC drama ‘Us’.

The Washing Station is opening up trade channels for many of the smallholder farmers in the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda.

Nick & Linda Castle of CLO Coffee went to Uganda to visit the people who grow speciality coffee which we import and roast. The washing station was started just 3 years ago as a way of connecting small holding farmers to the biggest exporter of coffee in Uganda. Ensuring that with good processing the would get paid a good price.

In 2019 Nick & Linda Castle of CLO Coffee visited the coffee farmers who are growing the coffee they roast in the uk at their roastery in Leeds. The Kisinga Washing Station in the Rwenzori Mountains, was established only 2-3 years ago. Generations of people have been growing high altitude arabica coffee throughout the Rwenzori mountains. So the coffee is high quality speciality, but until recently wasn’t being sold for a high premium due.

The main reason the coffee wasn’t yielding a high premium was because all the coffee is being grown in really small lots (back gardens) of all the people living around the mountains. The coffee drying and processing in small lots in their gardens meant the consistency of the quality of the coffees brought together wasn’t as high as it should be. 

The coffee in the area was known historically known as Drugar. Which was all because of this poor access to processing high grade coffee. 

When the Kisinga Washing Station opened by Jonny Rowland and a group of local people connected in Kisinga, they saw the potential of the coffee with a good processing facility. They talked with the biggest exporter of coffee in Uganda, and agreed that if they buy and process the coffee from hundreds farmers in the area, they will export it all through their channels. 

Three years on, and the quality of the coffee is consistently mid 80s (speciality grade) and farmers are being paid more than ever before, in cash when they pick their crop.

After running coffee houses for over 10 years, Nick and Linda continue to spend time remembering some amusing stories of interaction with different customers. To finish they do some quick questions with a former barista, Sally.

Living and working in a community public space means coming into contact with many different people from a variety of walks of life. One of the delights of humankind is our diversity. Too often we celebrate similarities and uniformity. However there is something occasionally amusing when we come together in a mutual space such as a cafe.

With hundreds of mums and Dads who frequented CLO coffee houses in Leeds, there was only one Messy Mum. For some reason, even though there were so many parents hanging out, one mum would come in regularly and hang out with her son, and no matter how little food she had, there would always be a trail of food around the seat, table, floor and probably crumbs leading up to the door. The funny thing was that whenever you mention messy Mum to other staff, everyone would know exactly who we were talking about.

Then there was Holiday Dad. The terrible assumption that because a Dad came in on his own with his two girls, would mean that his story would follow that of Jude’s Law’s character in the Holiday movie. We all assumed he was a widow, and that he brought his girls into the cafe to treat them to the simple things, and put a smile on their faces. Naturally his working wife appeared after about 6 months down the line but he still remains holiday dad 10 years on.

After running coffee houses for over 10 years, Nick and Linda spend time remembering some amusing stories of interaction with different customers and some bare neighbours. To finish they do some quick questions with our current duty manager Christina.

Guests (customers) are the heart of every cafe on every local high street. It is the reason cafe exist and why they are so endearing. The fact that you can get people of all walks of life, sitting sometimes at the same table (Wagamama helped pave the way for this to be more acceptable for us more private Brits). Its fascinating as the cage manager to watch interactions and the generally different characters in one local community.

Nick & Linda Castle, have been running CLO (Cielo) cafes for over 10 years in and around Leeds. Because it can be inappropriate or invasive to find out customer names, the staff team naturally default to describing a regular customer by their drink. “Nutmeg cappuccino”, “skinny, wet, mint mocha”, and “Dry cappuccino” are all genuine customers, which most staff would know when discussed.

Some customers went beyond their drink - Wee customer (not because she was small), was the affectionate name of an elderly lady who used to come in for her small latte and unfortunately more often than not would leave a wet patch behind, which we took in turns to clean up. It was always more bearable knowing she had really appreciated her visit to the cafe, and seen chatted with whoever she saw.

One morning, on opening, the shop was quiet and our manager happened to say “look at the window in that building opposite”. In hindsight I wished he hadn’t said it. There in front of us was the bare frontal of a large woman stood right up to the bedroom window, staring across the road. Fascinatingly she just did not move. It was one of those memorable moments in the ‘running a cafe’ life which you can’t unsee but wish you could. We never saw her again… fortunately she were saved the awkwardness of her ever turning up to order a latte.

Christina, a Duty Manager at CLO, also tells a story of when we had an issue with a wasp that wouldn’t go away, one hot summer’s afternoon. Working with so many staff and volunteers, you are never short of a laugh, but on this occasion, it was a fine line. Of course, the wasp was pretty annoying and some customers were a bit concerned, so one of our volunteers decided they would take the situation into their own hands. No, they didn’t reach for the glass and paper method, or the fly swat. They decided it would be a good idea to spray it with our table cleaner spray. However they also didn’t think about the fact that the wasp was in our cafe, and Christina looked up at the moment that the volunteer squeezed the trigger of the spray. Aiming at the wasp, they actually sprayed the entire face of one of our regular customers. No exaggeration. It went all over them. Fortunately the customer was fine and saw the funny side (after an initial awkward situation).