Crafting a great cuppa

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This article was published 17/02/2017 (3413 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Having spent the last 30 years building his cycle business, Tim Woodcock is now adding a good cup of coffee into the mix.

Woodcock, the owner of Woodcock Cycle Works, recently opened the Yellow Derny Café inside his business, which is located 433 St. Mary’s Rd. in the heart of Old. St. Vital.

“I’ve wanted to do this for many years, and I’ve been prepping for the café for over two years,” Woodcock said.

“I’ve been researching equipment to produce the best coffee, and on top of that, searching out the best coffee, as I’m pretty particular.”

And whether it’s a medium Italian roast or a third-wave variety, to name but two, the Lockport resident has been heavily researching the market “because everyone has their own preferences, so it’s nice to have different choices.” As well as the coffee, he also sells grinders and other items to suit the needs of the discerning coffee connoisseur, but also caters to tea-lovers, too.

While he currently brings in some of his coffee from Portland, Ore., Woodcock is now dealing with local suppliers including Black Pearl, Dogwood and De Luca’s.  

Based on his experiences in Europe, Woodcock has found there in a close connection between cycling and coffee, and he wants to taste-test the theory in his own front yard.

“I lived in Europe for two-and-half years, in Barcelona, when I bike-raced in a team and was sponsored there,” Woodcock said.

“The trend in Europe is coffee, and some cyclists like to enjoy an espresso before they start and have another one midway through or after. That concept has always interested me. I’ve had the shop for 30 years, and I wanted to try something new. I think the idea of the café complements the business idea, as it’s a meeting place for people.”

“In this geographical area, we’re told there’s not very much good coffee around, so the goal is to welcome the community in. For me, I want to be able to have a cup of coffee that when it gets cold, it still tastes good and not bitter,” he added.

The sense of community inside Woodcock’s shop is transmitted to the visitor in many ways, not least through the countless vintage bicycle licence plates that adorn the walls or the old cycling-themed photographs that each capture a moment in cycle racing history.

This year, Woodcock is celebrating his 30th year in business, and plans to celebrate the landmark birthday with various events as the year progresses.

The Woodcock Cycle Works Ride Club is also popular among with members of the local cycling community.   

           
Go online at www.woodcockcycle.com for more information.

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com

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