Coffee People: Bryan Serwatka

Coffee people.
The Better Coffee Standard defines it precisely: everyone whose life and work are bound to coffee, at every stage of the coffee circle — including those working under coercion, economic dependency, or without pay. Their families. Those who keep them standing.

The industry never stops talking about coffee. It rarely stops to talk about the people behind it. Red Ink Coffee exists, in part, to change that.

Coffee People is a series of portraits. Four questions — their voices.

Who are you and what do you do in coffee?

I'm Bryan and I'm the On-Trade Marketing and Partnerships Manager for Minor Figures. I'm lucky enough to have worked in coffee for 13 years across many roles: Barista, cafe manager, barista trainer / account manager for a roastery and now in marketing and events.

Tell us about a moment in your work with coffee that you're genuinely proud of.

I booked a stand for Minor Figures at the Swiss Coffee Festival and we had Andrea from Trevo Coffee brewing with us. He mentioned that Yancy from Finca La Senda - the producer whose coffee we were serving - was in attendance and wanted to join us on stand. Oat milk may exist on the fringe of the coffee industry, but to be able to platform both an incredible roaster and an amazing producer meant we had the full supply chain in one spot and were serving phenomenal coffees.

What's one problem you see in your part of the coffee world — and why does it matter to you personally?

Most immediate in the UK is the deep frustration and hopelessness we're seeing in the hospitality industry due to high VAT and various rising operating costs. Lots of larger groups are weathering the storm and growing, but it's so sad to see the closures of many smaller indie sites in the past couple years who don't have comparable business foundations or backing.

What would you change if you could — and what would better look like for you?

I don't feel we as an industry have a forum to address concerns and frustrations in a productive and actually intersectional way. Where brands or people from brands are involved - admittedly myself included - unavoidable bias follows which colours how issues are discussed or even approached. Message boards and group chats connect but can be a toxic minefield, panels can platform but usually only a snapshot from the persons present, and ultimately there are just a handful of companies and sponsors with their own agendas in charge of both the global coffee festivals and media outlets where we meet and get information. The status quo upholds itself to the point where even people who speak out on topics such as discrimination or poor treatment from employers are quickly shushed.

I know these things require capital to exist, but it would be amazing to facilitate this from outside of the industry so we can eliminate bias or an incentive to perpetuate the status quo. As it stands, the bulk of the meaningful and perceivably controversial conversations I've had with people in the industry have had to happen in private.

PS. Huge thanks to Violet Xanthe Bennett for the photo.

You are coffee people. Tell us.

Four questions. Any language. Any format.

1. Who are you and what do you do in coffee?
2. A moment you're genuinely proud of.
3. One problem in your part of the coffee world — and why it matters to you.
4. What would you change — and what would better look like?

Include a short bio and a photo from your work environment. Send your answers to redinkcoffee@thebettercoffee.org