Introducing Miller's Koffi Club

The journey began in 2014. At the time, I was living in London, fresh from University where I'd studied Media Arts and was now trying to carve my path in the TV & Film industry. But something didn't feel right. London. With all of its hustle and bustle, it never felt like home. So, after spending just under a year there, I made a bold decision and moved back to Cornwall.

During my time in London, I unexpectedly found a love for coffee. I'd spent my time there working for a coffee shop that helped me learn that coffee isn't just a morning ritual. I found there was a culture, process and artistry behind every cup. I trained as a Barista where I visited different roasteries, learning the ins and outs of brewing and developing a deep respect for the craft. The more coffee I tried, the further I wanted to go with learning about it.

After returning to Cornwall, I wasn’t quite ready to give up on my coffee journey. I continued to immerse myself in the world of coffee, and continued to work with it. I could now appreciate the whole process, from bean to cup, and I began to see coffee not just as a drink, but as an experience.

In Cornwall, I started meeting other people who shared this passion. It wasn’t long before I began to dream of something bigger that would allow me to combine my love for coffee, my connection to Cornwall, and the skills I had developed over the years. That’s when the idea for Miller’s Koffi Club began to take shape.

In 2018, I decided to take the plunge. I had the name Miller's Koffi, and the dream of starting my own business. The idea of having a coffee company was exciting, but the cost of a full coffee roasting setup was a huge barrier. The investment was substantial, and at the time, I simply couldn’t commit to such a big step. So, I put the dream on hold for a while.

Then, in 2021, as we came to the end of the last lockdown, I found myself reflecting on everything I’d learned about coffee over the years. I kept coming back to that same idea — Miller’s Koffi was there for a reason, and it was time to make it happen. With new inspiration and the world starting to open up again, I decided to start roasting coffee at home.

I bought a small coffee roaster, one I could use on my gas hob, and began roasting mini batches of beans in my kitchen. It was a humble start, but I was finally doing what I loved. I sold small bags of freshly roasted coffee to friends, family, and locals. It was a slow but steady process. And before long, I upgraded to a one-kilo electric roaster. It allowed me to scale up and offer even more coffee to the growing demand.

In 2022, my girlfriend and I found out we were expecting our first child. Our daughter was born, and naturally, I had to put the coffee dream on hold for a little while to focus on family life. Then just as I was settling into fatherhood, we welcomed our second daughter 17 months later. Now, with one daughter three years old and the other just one, I found myself reflecting on the future.

I decided that this year, it was time to get Miller’s Koffi back on track. But this time, I wanted to do things differently. I rebranded the business to Miller’s Koffi Club, and I knew it needed to be something bigger than just selling coffee. It needed to be an experience.

Miller’s Koffi Club is about building a community, not just for coffee lovers, but for the coffee community as a whole. While we continue to offer our own Miller’s Koffi, we're going to introduce a subscription model and special Koffi Boxes that will feature guest coffees and roasters. This way, we’re not just sharing our brew, but elevating and celebrating the diversity of coffee from other passionate roasters.

Though it’s early days for Miller’s Koffi Club, and I’m juggling it alongside a full-time job, the vision is clear: I want to bring this to life on a bigger scale. One day, I’d love to be able to dedicate myself fully to Miller’s Koffi Club, but for now, I’m grateful for the support I have and excited about the journey ahead.

Now, as I continue to grow Miller’s Koffi Club, I’m at a stage where I’m taking another leap of faith. I’m launching a Kickstarter campaign to help take my passion to the next level. It’s a bit scary, but I believe in what I’m building, and with the support of the amazing people around me, I know I can make it happen.