a decent conversation with Rise & Bloom.

With two successful London sites, you could say Rise & Bloom have really ‘bloomed.’ We had a conversation with Jay, owner/operator about it all. Grab one of their moreish pastries and read ahead!

How did you get the name Rise & Bloom?

We wanted a name that sums up our offering (bread rises & flowers bloom) and also its effect on our customers. To wake (rise) and have a great coffee served by lovely people, in a welcoming environment and get on about your day - that’s to bloom!

What inspired you to start Rise & Bloom?

I had spent 20 years working in hospitality, in restaurants and bars. I started as a cocktail bartender travelling the world and winning some competitions with it along the way. I was working as the General Manager at Loungelover when I met Gosia. Gosia worked in  more fine dining (Caprice) and also as a florist. Together, we opened our first site in East Dulwich six years ago, and our second site in Shoreditch this past year.  

We love that you use decent packaging products, what made you decide to use sustainable packaging?

We always used compostable cups but they were so ugly and impractical. decent is another level. Now that we use them, we could never go back! 

Go-to coffee order?

Double espresso - when the coffee is good, why over-complicate it?

Favourite pastry on your menu? 

Pain Kimchi. Made using the most moreish artisanal kimchi in East London!

How do you spend your time outside of work?

Family time is the most important. We work really hard but we are lucky to have two beautiful children that keep us busy and allow us to have the perfect balance.

What’s your favourite thing about working with decent packaging? 

Great people. Great service. Fun and funky product.

How do you support sustainability in your coffee shop? 

We tried since day one (even when it wasn’t trendy) to make sure we are plastic free, manage our waste responsibly and only use local, independent, like-minded suppliers. We have consistently stuck to this across both our sites and something we really try to never compromise on.

What advice do you have for small business owners or coffee shops trying to implement sustainability initiatives?

Stick to your principles. It’s not always the cheaper option but it’s what makes all the difference.

Find Rise & Bloom on Instagram here.