More Than Just a Cup of Coffee
More Than Just a Cup of Coffee: Meet Our Coffee Partners & Barista
There’s a lot that goes into making a really good cup of coffee. It starts with great coffee, of course. But from there, it’s all about the people — the training, the technique, the attention to detail and, perhaps most importantly, the willingness to keep learning.
At Johns, coffee is a big part of what we do. Whether it’s the first coffee of the morning, a takeaway before a walk along the Tarka Trail or a leisurely latte alongside breakfast, we want every cup to be something you genuinely look forward to. That’s why we’re proud to serve Roastworks coffee and why we put so much emphasis on barista training across our teams.
Meet Roastworks
Our coffee comes from Roastworks, an independent coffee roaster based in Cullompton, Devon. Working with a Devon-based roaster is something we particularly love. We’re all about building relationships with great local and regional suppliers, and Roastworks fits beautifully into that ethos.
Coffee is a product where the details really matter. The beans, the roast, the grind, the extraction and the way the milk is steamed can all make a noticeable difference to what ends up in your cup. And that’s where the skill of the barista comes in.
Coffee isn’t just pressing a button
It can be tempting to think that making coffee is simply a case of putting a cup underneath a machine and pressing a button. Anyone who has watched a good barista at work knows that’s not quite the case! At Johns, our teams receive barista training, learning the skills and techniques needed to make consistently good coffee. That includes understanding the coffee itself, getting the grind and extraction right, steaming milk correctly and learning how different drinks should look, feel and taste. We also have our own Johns standards to follow — including using two shots of espresso as standard in our coffees. Because whether you order a latte in Instow or a cappuccino in Appledore, we want you to know what to expect.
Training happens in the shops
Our coffee training isn’t something that simply happens once and gets ticked off a training sheet. A lot of the learning happens in store, where our team can practise on the machines they actually use every day, make real drinks and get immediate feedback. That practical experience is incredibly important.
There’s a big difference between being told how to steam milk and actually standing behind the machine trying to create that silky, glossy texture for yourself! It takes practice. Sometimes lots of practice. And that’s where Eva comes in…
Meet Eva – Our In-House Barista Maestro
Every team needs that one person who can explain something for the tenth time without losing patience. At Johns, that person is Eva.
Our in-house barista maestro, Eva has the patience of a saint and the skills of a… well, let’s just say she knows her way around a coffee machine!
Whether someone is learning the basics, trying to perfect their milk steaming or simply needs a little reminder about getting that extraction just right, Eva is always happy to jump in. And she’s brilliant at making people feel comfortable while they’re learning. Because let’s be honest — nobody produces perfect latte art on their first attempt.
Or their second.
Or sometimes their tenth!
Coffee is a skill, and building confidence behind the machine takes time. Eva’s role is as much about teaching and encouraging as it is about making a great cup herself.
From the espresso to the milk
There are lots of little details that make a difference to a Johns coffee. Our teams learn how to dial in the coffee and understand the importance of extraction. They practise steaming milk to the right texture and temperature and learn how that changes depending on the drink they’re making.
A cappuccino shouldn’t simply be a latte with more foam. A flat white shouldn’t be a tiny latte. And a great espresso should be able to stand proudly on its own.
These details might seem small, but together they’re what makes a good coffee experience.
Why training matters to us
For us, training isn’t just about making sure everyone knows how to use the coffee machine. It’s about confidence, consistency and pride. We want our team to understand what they’re serving and to feel confident talking to customers about it. We want someone ordering their usual coffee to know that the person making it cares about getting it right. And we want our team to have the opportunity to develop their skills. Because making coffee can be a proper craft.
Coffee is part of the Johns experience
Our cafés are about much more than coffee, but coffee is certainly a big part of the experience.
- It’s the smell when you walk through the door.
- It’s the first drink of the morning.
- It’s catching up with a friend.
- It’s a takeaway before heading onto the beach.
- It’s a flat white alongside breakfast.
- It’s a latte and a slice of cake.
And it’s those little everyday moments that make a café special. So next time you order a coffee at Johns, take a moment to appreciate what’s gone into it.
Behind that cup is a Devon coffee roaster, carefully selected beans, a properly dialled-in machine, trained hands — and quite possibly Eva reminding someone, for the fifteenth time, “slow down with that milk!” Because great coffee doesn’t happen by accident.
Great coffee takes great coffee, great equipment, great training and people who care.
And we’re pretty lucky to have all four. ☕🤎
Roastworks coffee. Johns baristas. Made with care.
