Bridge Street in Chester was buzzing early on Saturday morning as a queue formed for the opening of new coffee shop 200 Degrees.
The independent coffee roaster has been building quite a following since it started in 2012, and its 19th shop attracted a queue of over 100 people before the doors opened.
At 9 AM, the first 50 people to walk through the door nabbed a specially designed Chester-themed tote bag stuffed with discount vouchers and free gifts. One lucky winner claimed the grand prize, walking away with a Sage Barista Express Machine, worth over £500, while two others were rewarded for their early start with a free barista school experience and a free three-month coffee subscription.
Visitors also got the opportunity to explore 200 Degree’s brand-new Barista School situated within the shop and get some tips from experienced staff. Customers were impressed by the set-up featuring state-of-the-art Victoria Arduino coffee machines which allowed them to make a coffee on a professional espresso machine, texturize the milk to the perfect level of froth and have a go at some latte art. They also had a chance to try a smell kit, training their noses to identify different notes, like chocolate, hazelnut, apple, and honey.
Head of Coffee Graham Hepburn was enthusiastic about the response the opening received. “Chester’s a beautiful city and the shop is in a fantastic location. I was really struck by the customers who came to talk to me and check out our Barista School on the day – there’s a real enthusiasm for coffee and more than anything, a desire to learn. We can’t wait to help the people of Chester drink better coffee.”
The independent roaster’s latest barista school also doubles as a high-spec meeting room available for anyone to book – perfect for team-building events, company catch-ups or brainstorming sessions away from the office.
Chester won’t be the newest 200 Degrees coffee shop for long – the company have also just announced the location of their 20th shop. West Bridgford in the company’s home city of Nottingham will welcome its first customers later this summer.
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