We have an epic range of Fresh Ground Coffee for every taste: Energising Colombian, Super Blend, Bright-Eyed Brazilian and Swiss-Water Decaf. Today, we're diving into the wonderful world of Ground Coffee and all the ways to brew it. Our Ground Coffees are all "omnigrind coffee", so you can make them in heaps of different ways! So, grab your favourite mug, and let's get to it!     What’s "Omnigrind Coffee" Anyway? Omnigrind coffee is like the Swiss Army knife of coffee grounds. It's ground to a medium size, making it perfect for a variety of brewing methods. Whether you're in the mood for a quick cup or a slow, luxurious brew, omnigrind coffee has you sorted. So, what can I make? Let's dive in to some recipes.. AeroPress: The Quick and Versatile Champion The AeroPress is a fantastic little gadget that brews up a delicious, smooth cup of coffee in just a couple of minutes. Just add your ground coffee, pour in hot water, give it a good stir, and press down—voilà! It’s perfect for those mornings when you need a tasty cup ASAP! What You Need: AeroPress Omnigrind coffee Hot water (around 93°C) Stirrer (we use the humble teaspoon!) Instructions: Prep Your AeroPress: Place a paper filter in the cap and rinse with hot water. Assemble: Put the AeroPress on your mug. Add Coffee: Use 1-2 scoops (about 15-20 grams or 3-4 tablespoons) of your TrueStart ground of choice.  Add Water: Pour hot water up to the top of the AeroPress. Stir and Steep: Stir for about 10 seconds, then let it steep for 30 seconds. Plunge: Slowly press down the plunger. Enjoy! Delicious and ready to go!  French Press: The Classic and Bold A French press, or cafetiére, makes a robust and full-bodied brew. It takes a little more time, but the reward for your patience is totally worth the wait!  What You Need: French Press Fresh Ground Coffee Hot water (around 93°C) Stirrer (...a good ol’ spoon!) Instructions: Prep Your French Press: Rinse with hot water to warm it up. Add Coffee: Use 1:15 coffee to water ratio (about 30 grams or 3 heaped tablespoons of coffee for 450 ml of water). Add Water: Pour hot water over the coffee grounds. Stir and Steep: Stir gently, then place the lid on with the plunger pulled up. Let it steep for 4 minutes. Plunge: Slowly press down the plunger. Serve and Savor! Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy! Drip Coffee: The Everyday Hero The drip coffee maker is a favourite in many homes and businesses. It’s straightforward, reliable, and makes a whole pot in one go.  What You Need: Drip Coffee Machine/Filter Coffee Machine TrueStart Ground Coffee Filter Instructions: Prep Your Machine: Place a filter in the basket. Add Coffee: Use 1-2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 180ml of water (or per cup). Add Water: Fill the reservoir with water. Brew: Turn on the machine and let it do its thing. Pour and Enjoy! When it’s ready, grab yourself a nice big cup. Pour Over: The Artisanal Brew The pour-over method is all about precision and patience, resulting in a clean, complex cup of coffee. What You Need: Pour Over Dripper (like a V60) Filter TrueStart Ground Coffee Hot water (around 93°C) Top Tip: If you want to push the boat out, use a gooseneck kettle for precision Instructions: Prep Your Dripper: Place a filter in the dripper and rinse with hot water. Add Coffee: Use 1:16 coffee to water ratio (about 25 grams of coffee for 400 ml of water). Bloom: Pour a small amount of hot water over the coffee to bloom (let it sit for 30 seconds). Pour: Slowly pour the remaining water in a circular motion. Wait: Let all the water drip through. Sip and Enjoy: Pour into a mug and enjoy the nuanced flavors. Cold Brew: The Cool and Refreshing If you haven’t tried our fantastic Cold Brew range yet, you’re missing out! But if you're up for a DIY adventure and have a bit of time to spare, making your own cold brew at home is a fun way to enjoy a smooth, slightly sweet coffee that's perfect for hot summer days. What You Need: Large jar or pitcher Omnigrind coffee Cold water Fine mesh strainer or coffee filter Instructions: Combine: Add 1 cup of TrueStart Fresh Ground Coffee to 4 cups of cold water. Stir and Steep: Stir well and let it steep in the fridge for 12-24 hours. Strain: Strain the coffee through a fine mesh strainer or coffee filter. Serve: Pour over ice and enjoy your refreshing cold brew. Whether you're in the mood for a quick AeroPress brew or a slow, luxurious French press, our Fresh Ground Coffee Range has got you covered. Have fun experimenting with these methods and discover your perfect cup. Happy brewing! ☕  

We are buzzing to announce our partnership with Mental Health Swims! We've admired the work this incredible community does and to be able to be a part of it is an honour. A huge thank you to Rachel and her team for having us involved; we can't wait to see the impact our support has and, of course, seeing the dippers enjoying their TrueStart by the water. Who are Mental Health Swims and what do they do? It can be really intimidating joining a new group, especially when you are experiencing mental health issues. This was certainly true for founder of Mental Health Swims, Rachel Ashe. In 2019 after a period of mental ill health Rachel was looking for ways to connect with others. When she couldn't find what she was looking for she started an outdoor dipping group in Swansea where she lives. This one small group turned into the nationwide social enterprise that Mental Health Swims is today.  How do they create safe & welcoming spaces for people living with mental illness?  Mental Health Swims was created with this in mind. We try to make joining our swim groups a gentle experience. We do this by having wonderful volunteers facilitate the sessions so that you will always receive a friendly welcome.  Our volunteers have all completed our volunteer training which includes cold water safety, mental health awareness, risk assessment and how to create safe and welcoming spaces for people experiencing mental health issues. Lived experience is really important to us. Everyone, including board members, the core team, volunteers and participants have lived experience of mental health issues, either personally or through supporting someone close to us. This means that everyone in our organisation really understands what it is to struggle.  Since we started in 2019 to now, we have trained over 400 volunteers and have a network of groups all across the UK and beyond.  What are you planning for 2024? This is an exciting year for us because we have a new project called "Swim Together" which takes our peer support model indoors. We hope this will make mental health peer support swimming groups more accessible to a wider range of people.  We are thrilled to be working with TrueStart coffee whose beliefs align with ours. It means a lot to have their support on our mission to share our love of swimming with more people.  Check out their website to find out more..

LAST SWIM OF 2024: Friday 20th December / 7.30 - 9am / Clevedon Marine Lake  We've been carrying out our Monthly TrueStart Dips for almost two years now and those Friday mornings are some of our very favourites. We bring our truck Sunny to the lakeside car park and hand out free delicious coffees for the brave dippers, bringing along cosy red changing robes for anyone who needs one! But, why do we do it? What are the benefits of cold water swimming? Why do our community come along? Let's dive into exactly why we love our cold water dips for both our minds + our bodies, and we think you would too.. Boosts Your Immune System: Cold water swimming has long been associated with strengthening the immune system. The shock of cold water on the body stimulates the production of white blood cells, which are essential for fighting off infections. Regular exposure to cold water may help make your immune system more resilient, potentially reducing the frequency of colds and other illnesses. Enhances Blood Circulation: The cold water causes blood vessels to constrict, which in turn improves circulation. This increased circulation can benefit overall cardiovascular health, aiding in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs. It's Magic on Stress & Anxiety: There's something uniquely calming about immersing yourself in cold water. The shock to the system triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural mood lifters, leading to a sense of euphoria and relaxation, especially after you're out. Cold water swimming has been linked to reduced levels of stress and anxiety and we're here to make you happier & healthier. Improves Your Mental Resilience: Stepping into cold water requires a certain level of mental fortitude. Over time, regular exposure to the discomfort of cold water can help build mental resilience and discipline. It teaches you to embrace discomfort, adapt to challenging situations, and emerge stronger on the other side, both in and out of the water - our team have certainly noticed the benefits both at home & at work. Promotes Muscle Recovery: Athletes have long used cold water immersion as a means of aiding recovery after intense workouts - just check out how many athletes use ice baths like LUMI. The cold water helps reduce inflammation in muscles and joints, providing relief from soreness and speeding up the recovery process.  Increases Metabolism: Cold water swimming activates brown fat, a type of fat tissue that generates heat to keep your body warm, hence why you have to warm up your body with hot coffee / tea afterwards. But as your body works to maintain its core temperature in cold water, it burns more calories improving your metabolic function over time. Brings You Back to Nature: There's a profound sense of connection that comes from immersing yourself in nature, whether that's woods, mountains parks, or in this case; in bodies of water. Cold water swimming offers an opportunity to disconnect from the hustle & bustle of daily life and reconnect with the natural world. We're incredibly lucky to be able to access a marine lake just 20 minutes outside of the city but any body of cold water outside will have that similar feeling of connection. Whether you're swimming in a lake / river / ocean, dipping in an ice bath or even popping cold shower each immersion becomes a chance to appreciate the beauty of the environment around you. Plus, Andrew Huberman (prof of Neurobiology) notes that if you have a coffee / other source of caffeine, before immersing yourself in cold water your dopamine receptors will increase. In simple terms, you will feel the effects of the "happy hormone" more intensely & for longer and we all love to feel happier! We know cold water dipping may not be for everyone and accessing spots can be tricky depending on where you live & physical ability but perhaps starting with a cold shower will be your gateway. The mental & physical benefits of cold water swimming extend far beyond the initial shock of the cold, especially when you're heading to our truck Sunny for a hot coffee afterwards..  If you're interested in joining us at Clevedon Marine Lake but want to have a chat about anything before hand or have any questions please email India (india@truestartcoffee.com) and she'd love to help! We can't wait to be diving in with you soon :)

Two years ago, we decided to take an industry-first step in understanding our carbon emissions. From what we could understand, no one had done it before for instant coffee, which is a core product line for us. There was no template to follow, but we’re always up for a challenge! We partnered up with Ecofye - an Earthshot Prize nominated environmental consultancy - to carry out a 3-phase process;   Phase 1 - Calculation Of our scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.  Scope 1 includes all carbon emissions from our direct energy use (gas, fuel), Scope 2 includes all carbon emissions from our indirect energy use (electricity, steam), and Scope 3 includes EVERYTHING ELSE! That could be the amount of carbon created on the rainy days we drive into the office, the amount we use delivering coffee to you, all the way to the paper we use to write you guys welcome notes. This phase was lengthy as it involved a lot of data collection from our supply chain - from farm to cup. Phase 2 - Reduction & Improvements  Asking ourselves with this new knowledge, where could we immediately have an impact? This was where we made a decision to upgrade our instant coffee large tub packaging to fully recyclable aluminium, for example. Carbon emissions are now thoroughly considered as a routine part of our considerations for any product or process decisions (existing and improvements, as well as new).  Phase 3 - Investment In selected social and environmental projects that remove, sequester, avoid and offset 120% of the carbon that we emitted in that previous year. Each year, we re-select these projects. For 2022, we financially supported four Verra-certified projects in the nations from which we buy our coffee; Forestry Project - Colombia 🇨🇴 This one is super special as it’s the heartland for our coffee & where Helena used to live. As a carbon removal project it actually takes CO2 out of the atmosphere & this one supports local farmers, restores biodiversity & improves fresh water supply. It provides financial and technical support to local farmers, enabling them to adopt new, sustainable farming practices.  Hydroelectric Energy Project - Honduras 🇭🇳 This project is carbon avoidance focused, meaning it contributes to climate action by preventing carbon that would otherwise have been released into the atmosphere. It provides renewable energy which in turn reduces dependency on fuel wood, relieving deforestation pressures & improving access to electricity for local communities. Renewable Energy Project - Brazil 🇧🇷 Another carbon avoidance project this has switched the fuel used in a factory from illegal sources to residues. Improving income and working conditions in local communities & avoiding nearly 133,000tons of CO2e. Biomass Power Project - India 🇮🇳 Our final carbon avoidance project uses rice husks from local communities to make electricity, then the money generated provides a First Aid Health Center which provides education and a hand pump to Tada village. Following our 2023 calculations, we are financially supporting two fantastic projects, including continuing support for the Chinchina Watershed project in Colombia, and adding support for: Hydro Power Project - Indonesia (Bengkulu) 🇮🇩 This project has been running since 2006 and generates enough electricity to supply 700,000 Indonesians a week. It has created 50 workplaces in the area and the project re-invests part of the revenue into new income streams for the local community (eg. a new marketplace, farmers benefit from improved infrastructure access land/rice paddies). The project also offers free training for locals on composting and organic fertilisers. It has built a primary school, orphanage and mosque, and has its own reforestation programme. Proudly Becoming Carbon Negative Once we had completed this process, we set about the task of working out the best way to communicate our carbon-conscious approach to our customers! We chose ‘Carbon Negative’, which we were super happy with! It felt simple but accurate - the International Energy Agency states that “becoming carbon negative requires a company, sector or country to remove more CO2 from the atmosphere than it emits” (accurate at the time of writing - March 2024).  By investing in projects that remove, sequester, avoid and offset 120% of the carbon that we emitted in that previous year, this made TrueStart eligible to proudly claim ‘Carbon Negative’ status! We took a lot of time to consider this language, because language is important. We thought about options such as ‘Carbon Neutral’ and ‘Planet Positive’, but felt that they were inaccurate or unclear.  Social Impact In addition to our support of carbon-related environmental and social projects, TrueStart works with Magic Breakfast to provide nutritious, healthy meals to children at risk of hunger across the UK. We also donate coffee to food banks, community centres and Fareshare whenever we can. Finally, we are extremely passionate about improving education - on better health (including neurodiversity awareness) and better business. From working with schools and universities to teach students about ethical and sustainable business, to public speaking on my own personal journey from an ADHD diagnosis aged 7, we believe it is our job to inspire the next generation to make a splash.  Continuous Progress Simon and I have always made decisions that we believe in our hearts are the best decisions for both people and planet.  As a certified B Corp, we’re committed to continuous improvement and progress.  Carbon is complex, and our priorities are to help our customers understand what we do, whilst also fighting against greenwashing. Over the past year, we’ve come to realise that there is some confusion around certain terminology, such as ‘Carbon Negative’, ‘Carbon Neutral’, and what it means to be ‘Net Zero’. It’s also become clear that there are companies out there offsetting destructive, unnecessarily high emissions - emissions around which there is no reduction strategy or thought process in place - in order to claim Carbon Neutral or Carbon Negative status. This is greenwashing. TrueStart is an inherently carbon-conscious company, always looking for ways to do better. This goes back to how Simon and I have always made decisions in the business - for example, using sea and road rather than air-freight to transport both our coffee and packaging. We want to ensure that TrueStart remains crystal clear in our communication, and do not wish to use terminology that could be considered confusing for any of our customers. New Packaging Call Outs - Our Commitment We are currently reviewing the best way to update the ‘Carbon Negative’ claim on our packaging. Whilst it remains technically correct, we want to find an even clearer way to share our approach with our customers and do not want to be associated with confusing terminology. TrueStart will continue to financially support environmental and social projects that remove, sequester and avoid carbon across the world.  This year for the first time, we will be looking for a UK-based biodiversity, forestry or rewilding project to support - one that we feel excited about as a team! This is alongside the continued support of the Chinchina Watershed Forestry & Biodiversity project in Colombia, which is the primary source of our coffee. So how do we best communicate this approach to our customers on our packaging? At the moment, we’re thinking of updating our ‘Carbon Negative Coffee’ stamp to read simply ‘Supports Biodiversity Projects’. This feels very clear and factual, and will be backed up as always by more detailed information here, at truestartcoffee.com. Due to the time and investment required to make these changes across all our products, we will be making the changes one product/range at a time, with a target completion date of December 2025.  We hope to have made a decision on what exactly the packaging update will be by July 2024. We Need You! To help us to use the clearest possible language on our packaging, to communicate our approach, and the work we do. Please do get in touch if you have any thoughts or suggestions! Click below to go to a form where you can let us know in just 10 seconds what words you'd like to see on pack to replace 'Carbon Negative Coffee'.. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9rtlCLDkOMsQUoIFRAygwIhAr8oEWlPSBmMgUTFaE8Ecvfg/viewform?usp=sf_link This really is a team effort, we’re all learning together about how we can make the world a better place! 💙

You may have noticed that we talk about the "Specialty Coffee Association" in all our descriptions for our Beans & Ground range.  But what is specialty grade coffee and why do you want to drink it? What is specialty grade coffee? Specialty-grade coffee is the highest quality coffee available and can only exist if everyone in the coffee supply chain from farmer down to the roaster is focused on quality. Specialty grade coffee can technically only be "whole bean" coffee however regardless of what TrueStart product you buy, you can be sure it is made with specialty grade beans. The coffee is grown in ideal conditions, ours in Huila in Colombia, with perfect weather and rich soil. Then it is carefully processed and sent to our roastery where the coffee is air-roasted to perfection. The result? Your delicious cup of TrueStart Coffee.  Why should I drink it? 1. Taste This is maybe the most obvious one, coffee that is of higher quality from bean to cup is naturally going to taste better. Think of it like your strawberries from your local farm shop versus supermarket bought ones. 2. Caffeine The quality of the bean itself is better than other grades of coffee - meaning that it produces a more stable caffeine content, something we test for independently too! 3. Health Coffee is naturally super rich in antioxidants - see Helena's blog on that here! Although it's not something that the SCA grades you on, there have been studies to show that the antioxidant content in specialty grade coffee is far superior to non-specialty coffee. 4. Ethics Specialty coffee itself is harvested only when it's perfect, not just when it "has to be" to fill demand for mass consumption and it is traceable whereas commodity grade coffee is not. Furthermore, it gives the farmers better options for their profit as they are connecting with like-minded coffee buyers / brands who are willing to pay more for a better product. 5. Variety The best part? Every coffee growing country produces it's own signature flavour and we offer varieties of specialty grade coffee from the three of top five producing countries; Brazil, Colombia and Vietnam. There's more.. On top of that, we independently lab test all of our coffee to check it's free from mould (mycotoxins) and other nasties and rich in coffee's natural antioxidants. TrueStart has more antioxidants in a cup than in a cup of green tea - mindblown.   SHOP SPECIALTY GRADE COFFEE NOW

  This January we are going back to our roots and celebrating TrueStart's unrivalled health benefits. Since 2015 we've been crafting delicious healthy coffee and last year we launched the first of it's kind.. a Lightly Caffeinated Instant Coffee! What is Lightly Caffeinated? As with all of our range, it's a super clean coffee made with specialty grade beans, a delicious blend of Colombian & Brazilian coffee that has been independently lab tested to ensure it is packed with antioxidants and minerals. It has more antioxidants than a cup of green tea and is monitored to have a light caffeine content, only 35mg which is enough to gently elevate you whilst still being a full-flavoured coffee. People have been calling it their "afternoon coffee" or their "last task of the day coffee" but it's also for anyone who is trying to moderate their caffeine intake whether that be for health or personal reasons. So go for it, dive in to healthier coffee! 💦

Simon, our co-founder, wrote a brilliant summary of 2023 on LinkedIn but we thought it was so good that it should be plastered here, so you can all see the impact you're making! So dive in to Simon's 2023 Wrap Up.. 2023 has been one to remember..   Community 🌈 Donated coffee to Fareshare South West & donated 367 breakfasts to school children across the UK through the Magic Breakfast Charity. Re certified as Carbon Negative coffee Did the South West locals proud as the official coffee of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. Promoted fellow local B Corps during B Corp Month by shining a light on their offices with Sunny the Truck. Continued to make parkrunners up and down the South West feel amazing with our free De'Longhi hot coffees after their run. 🫶 Customers 🫶  We have big news with Co-op to come in the New Year.. after a year of outperforming many of the established brands and driving massive category value. Launched into Morrisons in the South West with our Instant, Ground & Coffee Bags! Tripled our range in Booths Supermarket & tripled our rate of sale there. Launched the brand internationally with Spinneys in the UAE. Started supplying some very prestigious banks & offices across the UK. 🚀 Products 🚀  Launched category-first innovation with our Lightly Caffeinated & Super Blend Instant Coffees because of customer feedback. Launched Loose Coffee Bags, with More Taste & Less Waste! Launched The World's Smallest Coffee Machine (your favourite teaspoon!) 🥄 Switched to fully recyclable packaging for our Beans & Ground Coffee ♻️ We've got an exciting pipeline of new products & packaging refreshes in the New Year. We launched True Coffee ice cream with local B Corp, Marshfield Farm! TrueStart is now used as an ingredient in 4 awesome products ranging from mushroom coffees to RTD Cocktails.. with more to come in 2024! 😃 Team 😃  We grew the team from 3 to 5 & had some fantastic social events together. Welcome to the team Rachel & Jess! Thank you all for being a big part of this journey! India was promoted to Brand Manager after really putting TrueStart on the map this year! Huge congratulations 💥 And Helena, my co-founder and wife, inspires me every day! 📈 Business 📈  We've built this business by doing the right things (even when nobody is watching) and good things have happened. It's not been easy but we've doubled the size of the business and that's down to you, our customers! It's incredibly difficult to wake up every day as a massive underdog in all aspects of business, but we are passionate fighters, on a mission to make people feel happier and healthier with TrueStart Coffee and show that there is a better way. Every cup switched to TrueStart by you is another small step forward. It's our ingrained core values, beliefs & relentless positive energy that drive us all forward. Together we are Team TrueStart and we aren't going anywhere! 💥 See you all in 2024 for another chapter of this wild rollercoaster,Simon 😊 For more crazy 2023 stats check out TrueStart Wrapped..  

We've teamed up with SuperCamps, a leading kids camp provider in the UK, to bring you the ULTIMATE Holiday Guide to energise busy parents!  We both understand that family life can be a bit overwhelming at times and we want to help – whether that’s through providing superb childcare or delicious energising coffee. So this guide is packed full of ways to make the holidays that bit easier and more fun for everyone. Whether it's ways to keep the kids entertained to delicious show-stopping dessert and present ideas for coffee lovers. Let's sweeten the deal.. To make it even easier to create the Hazelnut Christmas Latte, for the whole of December we're gifting one free syrup with every order. Simply add the 250ml Sugar Free syrup of your choice to cart with the rest of your coffee order and it will show up as free! Or simply type FREESYRUP into the code section. Give us a shout if you have any issues but in the meantime.. DIVE IN!

We're turning "Black Friday" yellow! Every year your inbox fills up with "99% OFF" deals and this year will be no different. But, as always, we won't be one of those companies and instead we want to use this week to do something that can make a real change in our communities that need it most. Last year we teamed up with Fareshare and raised money to feed people around the UK. This year? We've teamed up with Magic Breakfast. A charity that offers breakfast and wrap around support for children across the UK at risk of hunger in disadvantaged areas. How? For every order placed between the 20th - 30th November we'll donate a Magic Breakfast. Simple. Want to learn more about the partnership? Click on the video below to see why we chose to work with Magic Breakfast and what your support means.. WATCH NOW THE RESULTS? We were able to donate 357 Breakfasts to children around the UK!

Welcome to TrueStart's Dive In Series! Our third guest is long time friend of TrueStart, Ben Pritchard. Ben is a Paralympian, multi-time World Record holder & all round awe inspiring being. We talk about his journey from being a triathlete & top cyclist to a Paralympic Rower where he has won a Bronze Medal and nabbed a World Record. Moreover, we chat about how he is weaving fatherhood into his sports life and the mental pressures & joys of being at the pinnacle of high performance sport. Let's Dive In.. Or click here to listen 🎧 Ben's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminpritch1/?hl=en Ben's Website: https://www.iambenpritchard.com/ Subtitle Version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtzI1We9xic

Helena recently was a guest on the Good Journeys Podcast with Second Mountain Communications.  Ben, a TrueStart customer & founder of Second Mountain Comms, and Helena had a big chat about all elements of TrueStart's journey but a key part of it was Helena's relationship with her ADHD. Check out this little clip where Helena talks about how she lives with ADHD and if you like it then go and check out the whole podcast here.

Welcome to the second episode of our Dive In Series! This series is all about our community and the voices & stories they bring to the world. We want to use our platform to give members of the TrueStart community a place to have their stories heard. This series aims to inspire, educate & break everyday inertia by listening to all sorts of lived experiences. Our second guest is Maria Wood, a climate activist and energy analyst who we first met after a talk on corporate activism at Purposefest in Bristol. Maria is an inspirational speaker and has campaigned for lots of different organisations to push for change. We talk about her journey into climate activism, what needs to change and how, protest methods, how to deal with climate anxiety and how to continue to have hope. Let's Dive Into Maria's story...