2024 Wrapped
We’ve had an incredibly exciting year at KIN+ILK, filled with events, origin trips, new products, and so much more. In this blog, we’re looking back at some of the year’s highlights. But first, we want to take a moment to thank you—our amazing customers. Whether you’re a regular or joined us just once, we really appreciate your support!
Kicking Off 2024 with El Salvador
We started 2024 strong with our annual trip to El Salvador alongside Clifton Coffee. This is always a highlight of our year, as it offers a chance to visit our incredible producer at the El Corozo farm. Witnessing the journey of our coffee—from the cherries on the plants to the drying beds and final packaging—is truly special. We got the chance to interview Fernando, which you can read about here.
Good Friday Latte Art Competition
In April, we hosted a latte art competition, pitting the KIN+ILK team against Boss & Brew and Rhostio. It was a fantastic evening of coffee, drinks, and community, all in support of the incredible charity BEAT. Why BEAT? Earlier in the year, our director Haydn completed a walk from Newport to Southampton to raise awareness for their essential work. All proceeds from the drinks sold during the competition were donated to BEAT, supporting their cause.
London Coffee Festival
In May, we headed to the annual London Coffee Festival. For those who’ve attended, you’ll know it’s an amazing event featuring live cuppings, innovative small roasters, and plenty of delicious coffee. It’s also a valuable opportunity for us at KIN+ILK to network with other coffee companies and explore new services—like our online loyalty app, Embargo!
Summer Specials & Charity Collaboration
As summer arrived, so did our refreshing summer drinks menu. This year’s standout? Our Dark Chocolate Horchata, inspired by the horchatas we enjoy during our visits to El Salvador. Proceeds from this drink were donated to City Hospice, a wonderful organisation providing essential care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses.
Cuppings, Tastings, and Ritual Coffee
Throughout the year, we held a range of cuppings and tastings, giving us the chance to explore the unique flavors of different coffees. We teamed up with Ritual Coffee Roasters to highlight two of their featured coffees during a two-month period, with a tasting event at St. David’s. Later, Clifton Coffee joined us for another cupping session to share some of their latest coffees (they were delicious).
Fresh Packaging and El Corozo Geisha
Our Finca El Corozo coffee got a glow-up this year with new packaging! The minimalist design reflects the aesthetic of our stores while telling the story of our direct trade relationship with our producers - check out the bags here.
In March, we had the privilege of tasting the highly anticipated El Corozo Geisha—a year in the making! We designed a unique pill bottle package for this exceptional coffee, which arrived in November and is now available at Pontcanna, St. David’s, and online. Learn more about this special coffee here.
KIN+ILK X CO.LAB
At the end of September, we were invited by Lone Design Club to join their CO.LAB space, an exciting pop-up in St. David’s focused on community and experience. CO.LAB brought together a variety of amazing small businesses showcasing unique clothes, skincare & more. We were thrilled to be part of this space for a month and loved seeing KIN+ILK in such a beautiful setting!
Refill Cup Scheme Launch
In October, we joined the Refill Cup Scheme, launched by City to Sea in partnership with FOR Cardiff. Originally piloted in Bristol, this initiative makes it easy for customers to borrow and return reusable cups. Since its launch in Cardiff, over 2,500 cups have been returned and refilled across the city! Haven’t tried it yet? Download the Refill App and start using a reusable cup today.
Celebrating the Corozo Crop
In December, we held our annual Corozo Crop Event, complete with a latte art competition showcasing the incredible talent in Cardiff’s coffee scene. Partnering with Clifton Coffee, the evening was filled with complimentary drinks, amazing prizes, and plenty of artistic pours. Proceeds from drinks featuring our homemade KIN spice syrup (think pumpkin spice, but better) were donated to Llamau, our chosen Christmas charity supporting vulnerable individuals. Learn more about their impactful work [here](insert link).
Thank you to everyone who visited us, engaged with us online, or joined us at events this year. We couldn’t do it without you, and we can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store. Cheers to another amazing year at KIN+ILK!