Let's face it. Instant coffee is our saviour right now. It has a time and a place, and it turns out that time is pretty much ALL the time and that place is lockdown. As the Official Coffee of Working From Home, it's our pleasure to bring you 6 fancy drinks made with TrueStart Barista Grade Instant Coffee - the perfect excuse for a(nother) coffee break. Your tastebuds are going to need some preppin', believe us.   1 - The TrueStart Dalgona   This is a genuine lockdown gamechanger and has got to be first on the list. First, combine two tablespoons of TrueStart Barista Grade Instant Coffee, two tablespoons of granulated sugar, and two tablespoons of hot water in a small mixing bowl. Use a whisk (or fork) to beat the mixture until it gets really thick, and turns a golden-brown colour. Next, pour the milk of your choice into a glass with a few ice cubes. Scoop the mixture out of the bowl and place it on top of the cold milk. And that's it! Very simple for something that both looks and tastes absolutely INSANE! 2 - Easy Iced Coffee No faffing needed on this one. TrueStart Barista Grade Instant Coffee mixes really well with cold water as well as hot, so you can even make this Iced Coffee if you don't have any ice! Get yourself a glass and bang some water in from the tap. Adding ice will make it super chilled for extra vibes. Add milk if you want, and get fancy with flavoured syrups. 3 - Sweet Vietnamese Latte Apologies in advance for the addictive nature of this one, it's a super simple sweet treat and we're obsessed.  It's as simple as this - make yourself a nice double-teaspooner TrueStart Barista Grade Instant Coffee. Add the magic ingredient - sweetened condensed milk!! As much or as little as you want, have a play. It is amazing hot and also over ice on a hot day. It looks cool in a glass too. Thank me later! 4 - Magic Mocha (aka Nutella Latte) This is the gateway drug to cake for breakfast. You have been warned.  Plop a massive scoop of nutella into your mug. Add 2 teaspoons of TrueStart Barista Grade Instant Coffee followed by hot water. Whisk - a fork is fine if you don't have a whisk (why don't you have a whisk?) - until you're looking at the promised land of melted chocolatey coffee. Add milk, hot milk if you're feeling extra fancy, drink and try not to cry with happiness. Oh, and there's nothing wrong with bringing squirty cream and mini mallows to the party here! 5 - Dirty Chai There are two ways of doing this. One is to get yourself some black peppercorns, cardamom pods, star anise, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves and toast them in a pan, before adding them to a pan of milk with two teaspoons of TrueStart Barista Grade Instant Coffee to make a delicious warming spice concoction. The other is to find yourself an awesome chai mix (we like the Drink Me Chai), add your TrueStart to it and enjoy in seconds! 6- Cheat's Cappuccino Hankering after your daily cappuccino but don't have the froth skills? Don't worry. Find yourself a cocktail shaker (or just anything with a lid, like a protein shaker), make yourself a TrueStart Barista Grade Instant Coffee, heat your milk on the hob and take it off the heat just when it starts to bubble.  Pour your warm milk into your shaker (ideally so it is less than half full) and shake the hell out of it for about 30 seconds (obviously you might need gloves / oven gloves / a tea towel if your shaker is metal, we don't want you burning your hands!). Now pour your milk into your coffee and spoon the froth on top. Bonus points for a sprinkling of cocoa, cinnamon or nutmeg on top! Tag us @truestartcoffee in your pics and videos on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok - they always make our day! 

Did you know coffee can make you feel awesome inside AND out?! If you want to save money, fancy going naturally epic with your skincare, are worried about micro beads in your exfoliator, or simply want to cut down on waste, you are going to love this energising, detoxifying coffee scrub recipe. And the best news? It is stupidly simple to make, so you can spend more time enjoying using it! Used coffee grounds make an awesome body scrub. The incredible exfoliating properties which will remove dead skin cells and make your skin look and feel super refreshed. Used externally, caffeine has been shown to improve circulation and tighten blood vessels in your skin, smoothing the top layers and making them more elastic. Caffeine is also widely used to reduce the appearance of cellulite and will wake you up too!  Your skin will also benefit from the anti-ageing antioxidants in your espresso grounds, so what's not to love?! This recipe is my personal favourite. I add essential oils which you can get really creative with, they all have their own benefits from fighting exhaustion and fatigue, to energising your mind and body. There are many that are wonderful for your skin and of course, they smell incredible. Feel free to add your own twist and make sure you tell me about it in the comments! You will need... 1/2 cup of used coffee grounds 1/3 cup of oil (coconut smells amazing and has a ton of skin benefits) A container (I use a mini mason jar) Optional: 8 drops of essential oil (I LOVE the extra-energising and skin boosting properties of lemongrass or orange, black pepper is also ace for warming, circulation and achey muscles) How to make your coffee scrub... Combine the ingredients You're done... Wait - what? That's it?! Yes! I told you it was simple. Top tips include heating the coconut oil first to liquify it, and don't make big batches as this scrub is best used FRESH. I keep mine in the fridge (if I remember...) and try to use it up in a few days. You can also freeze the mixture into ice cubes which can be used straight on your body. I would recommend using a finer espresso grind if you want to use this as a face exfoliator, the type generally used in a french press can be a little coarse (better for your body and especially for your feet!) If you've got some time, I highly recommend using this in the bath rather than the shower. You can soak in a giant cup of coffee and seriously live the dream! So there you have it. Energising, natural, fresh, good enough to eat and easy on your wallet.

Found yourself at home with (or without) your kids and need something fun and creative to pass the time and bring a moment of calm to your life?  Help yourself to these fun and totally free colouring in sheets! Just right-click and download them, go wild and show us your creations by tagging us @TrueStartCoffee Huge thanks to the extremely talented Nathaniel Hall for producing these relaxing beauties!

The only way to attract YOUR people is to be yourself. If you pretend to be someone else, your tribe won't have vibes at all!  Well they will, just someone else's. YOUR TRIBE GETS YOU. THEY JUST DO. So be vibey ☀️ Whatever that means for you 🌈❤ We're showcasing a variety of brilliant women and their tribes - to prove that anyone can build an ace tribe of people that they love being around, by putting out a vibe that resonates and is true to them. We asked them: In your own words, what is your vibe?  Helena Hills | Co-Founder of TrueStart  "I'm a persistently optimistic person, combined with serious graft. I love giving things a go and prodding that flutter of restlessness in people. I have a ton of energy and love to give, which I like to think spills over to the people around me. I want to prove that you can have an impact and make a change, by building a genuinely feel good coffee brand that pushes the industry forward but doesn't compromise on ethics. I hope that being transparent about our journey encourages people to do their own thing, and also encourages people to be respectful of each other's journey's through life, because we're all in it together ultimately!"  Lucy Greenwood | Co-Founder of Lucy & Yak    “I’m not a perfectionist, I love raw reality! I also believe that things just ‘happen’ to us, life moves forward every second without us controlling it, and the more you let things happen the more beautiful life is. As humans we love to try and control our surroundings, but in reality we can’t, we just think we can, as soon as you realise this, that is when the magic happens! I embrace change, I love waking up not knowing where the day will take me, and without expectations it’s impossible for things to go ‘wrong’. I also believe kindness is the only thing we should strive for, be kind to everyone, even someone that you think doesn’t deserve it, because let’s face it, you don’t know their story, and we all have a story! Your vibe really does attract your tribe, all of our customers, team and suppliers are some of the kindest humans I have ever met, and our tribe is growing every single day!"   Beth Noy |  Founder of Plastic Freedom "I am a ‘normal’ person and I love to prove that anyone can make a difference when you put your mind to it! I want everyone to know how strong they are and how much power they have as an individual! I will continue to fight and inspire with happiness and positivity showing the good days, the hard days and all the highs and lows of running a business/fighting for a cause to encourage everyone to keep going!"

Hello!! Helena here! Yesterday was a different day. After 8 weeks of full-on chaos and relentless hard work, I was sitting in our closed coffee shop yesterday afternoon reading through TrueStart's Trustpilot reviews and suddenly, I just started crying my eyes out. I made this little video message while I was there.. Reading your words has blown my mind. It makes me so happy and proud that we've been able to deliver all these smiles to your door. It is literally the two of us packing up orders ourselves from TrueStart's deserted Energy Hub whilst juggling (not literally) our two babies with no childcare & our ace team reluctantly furloughed as nearly all our trade customers have been massively impacted.Somehow, over the past 8 weeks we've shipped hundreds of Front Line Hero treat boxes, created new partnerships with loads of fantastic independent retailers and launched TrueStart Barista Grade Instant Coffee in two sizes, which thousands of people across the UK are already enjoying at home! This is so tough for so many people. Honestly, I'm absolutely knackered and fed up with being stuck in our little flat with no garden trying to entertain Leo and Arthur AND stay sane. And I miss my Mum.But at least today, I've stopped for a minute and seen the wood for the trees. I do feel really proud. And that is thanks to you, for taking the time to write and tell us how your TrueStart has been making you feel. We will all come out the other side of this, better than ever as a society. Big thanks to you for shopping small and supporting small business.All our love and good vibes,Helena and Simon x

Simon and I believe in being a brand that makes people feel wild for life, without compromising on ethics - that means both people and the planet.  Our approach is pretty simple - we don't judge at TrueStart's success simply by our bottom line. We look at our impact on people and the planet, in every single part of the business.  Your vibe attracts your tribe. From supply chain to our own team, we work with people who put people first.  Morals and ethics are ultimately subjective and we want to encourage people to make positive changes and be kind to each other and the planet. It makes us sad to see the amount of negativity out there, such as people scrutinising individuals or small organisations that are trying to do the right thing, but are not doing it perfectly. We are determined to give people the energy and confidence to make their own difference. There is no such thing as perfect. And we don’t need a handful of people doing things perfectly - whether it's sustainability or anything else. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly, always looking at sustainable improvements to their daily habits. Always being conscious. And always choosing kind. Bags of Good We are extremely proud to be making a genuine difference to the lives of a community of women in Chilomoni, Malawi, which is one of the poorest communities in the world.  Click here to find out more about our beautiful up-cycled hessian coffee sack bags, created by talented female tailors who benefit from a stable income, good working conditions, pensions, holiday pay and sick pay as a result.  This is a non-profit initiative that makes a real difference to real people and makes us warm inside. Click here to treat yourself to a feel-good shopper or duffel bag now! 

These simple TrueStart cocktails will get your night started with a kick! Proudly in collaboration with Patron Tequila and Grey Goose Vodka. The O.G. 2 Simple ingredients. 1 Epic drink. No nonsense. 50ml Patron XO Cafe Tequila 1x can TrueStart Original Black Cold Brew Shake can lightly & pour into a high ball glass over ice. Garnish with a lemon twist. El Pablo Mexican heart. Colombian head. 25ml Patron XO Cafe Tequila 25ml Patron Silver Tequila 1x can TrueStart Chilli Chocolate Cold Brew Shake can lightly & pour into a high ball glass over ice. Garnish with a lemon twist. Le Francois A smooth operator with a French twist. 25ml Grey Goose Vodka 25ml Patron Silver Tequila 1x can TrueStart Vanilla Coconut Cold Brew Shake can lightly & pour into a high ball glass over ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Recently, Simon and I proudly opened TrueStart’s first permanent café bar, a wild for life eatery in the heart of Bristol’s city centre, known as The TrueStart Energy Hub. This is part of an exciting collaboration with the fantastic new startup co-working space, Runway East. This is a dream come true for us, and hopefully the first of many. But how did it come about? That’s a good question and the answer lies in what happened in a whirlwind 7 days in 2018, which will go down in history as one of the craziest weeks at TrueStart HQ to date. And that’s saying something! As members of Runway East, we’ve been really excited about their brand new co-working space here in Bristol. They have a community vibe that startups thrive within, and we’ve been extra excited as we’re their official coffee supplier. Exactly one week before opening, Runway East offered us the opportunity to own and run the café within this new space. In typical TrueStart style, Simon and I decided to dive in – with baby Leo overseeing the whole thing! Simon getting Leo up to speed on how the till works... David Foreman, GM at Runway East Bristol said “TrueStart Coffee first joined Runway East Bristol as members and as we try to support our startups any way we can, naturally we instantly switched all the free coffee we provide for our members to TrueStart Coffee. When we recently needed to find a new operator of the cafeteria, we were absolutely delighted when TrueStart Coffee jumped at the opportunity. For us we could not think of anything better than having a Runway East member play such an important role in running the central hub in our community here and Simon and Helena pulled out all the stops to not only open on time, but do an EPIC job of it.”  You know when something feels right, and there was something Simon and I found strangely calming about making The TrueStart Energy Hub happen. I think it’s because we’ve always had a vision of what this would look like and be like, we’ve just never had the opportunity to actually do it. Once we’d made the decision, fitting the place out was a piece of cake (avocado and courgette cake, since you ask). And with the whole Runway East team behind us, it was also really, really fun. The Energy Hub is a game-changer and shows what can happen if you take every opportunity that you are offered. We’re now on both sides of the table as a retailer and a supplier and have a direct line to our customers all day, every day. We’re so proud to be bringing our healthy, hyper-sustainable coffee brand into our own space, building on the success of a vibrant young brand that is now available in local shops and healthy food stores both nationwide and internationally. So, what’s on the menu at the TrueStart Energy Hub? Obviously Cold Brew and Specialty Coffee, supported by a rainbow of vegan superfood lattes that include bright orange turmeric, green spirulina and pink pitaya. Those with a sweet tooth are in syrup heaven thanks to the Bristol Syrup Co.   We have a range of stunning organic loose leaf specialty teas, sourced by my very own Mum and tea expert extraordinaire, Pippa Simmons. My favourites include Fruits of the Forest, Rooibos and Bourbon Vanilla, Lemon Peel + Lemongrass Black Tea and Chinese Rose Congou. We’ve teamed up with The Wilde Kitchen to offer beautiful, mostly organic, locally sourced nutritionist-backed food that is fresh, healthy and seriously yummy. One of our lunch platters before it was completely devoured! The food menu is primarily plant-based, with lunches like Asian Noodle Satay Salad with Ginger Tofu and seasonal options such as ‘Go Fig’ – our Fig and Beetroot Salad Bowl. Organic Coconut & Chia Overnight Oats & Vanilla Coconut Cold Brew #matchmadeinheaven We're integrating a sustainable way of working from the start, with biodegradable plant-derived packaging everywhere possible, and recycling where it's not. Our used coffee grounds are being bagged up for members to take home free of charge - to use however they like! Used coffee grounds make a great fertiliser and I love using them as an ingredient in body scubs. One of the things I’m most looking forward to is discovering other cool new food and drink brands and showcasing them in our space. Once the Bristol café has established itself successfully, Simon and I look forward to taking the TrueStart Energy Hub across the country! You'll be able to see what's on at the TrueStart Energy Hub by following @truestartcoffee on Instagram. If you’re in Bristol’s city centre and want to pop in and say hi, let us know! The café is for members of Runway East but we would be delighted to welcome you as a guest. If you’re nowhere near, look out for TrueStart’s wild for life coffee in a quality shop, café, bar or restaurant near you – and if you can’t find it, ask your favourite local stockist to look us up at truestartcoffee.com!

Coffee is a magical elixir. It has been shown to help fight depression and make you happier, and there are several observational studies showing that coffee drinkers even live longer! However indulgent, sugary coffees have become the mainstream, so the idea that coffee is healthy has got lost.. 🗺 What makes TrueStart different? Since 2015, TrueStart's approach to coffee has focused on clean, antioxidant and mineral-rich products with consistent caffeine content, taps into the broader scientific narrative that coffee can be a highly beneficial part of a healthy lifestyle. By emphasising quality control, such as mycotoxin testing, and consistent caffeine levels, TrueStart not only enhances the intrinsic health benefits of coffee but also ensures these benefits are delivered in the most effective and enjoyable way possible. In other words.. it is absolutely DELICIOUS! Other coffees can have an inconsistent caffeine content which really impacts on how you feel. Ever had a crash or jitters after a coffee? It all started with caffeine TrueStart is a true challenger and the original healthy coffee - we started out in the sports market 9 years ago, after Simon and I first had the idea for a clean, healthy coffee that not only tastes amazing but also makes you feel amazing. We were doing a lot of triathlon training and drinking loads of coffee before training, I know it’s strange for someone who has a coffee business - but I’m sensitive to caffeine. I was noticing that sometimes after a coffee, I would be getting heart palpitations. And other times, I felt nothing! It felt like every time we had a coffee (which was often!) we felt different. Big highs, and big lows.  We were really into nutrition as part of our training, and we started to look into what coffee and caffeine actually does to our brains and bodies, and how much of it we should be drinking. There are so many benefits to drinking coffee, but we discovered something mindblowing - that the caffeine level in coffee varies wildly. This has a real impact on how you feel when you drink it.  You never really know what you’re drinking and we were very surprised - imagine having a glass of wine and not knowing if it 4% or 40%! Well that’s what’s happening with caffeine in coffee. So we thought - surely we’re not the only people in the world who think a reliably caffeinated coffee that makes you feel great every time is a great idea! So we spent a year developing a hyper-selective sourcing process and rigorous testing process, and we launched the first ever coffee on the market to have a naturally consistent, tested level of caffeine, so you feel fantastic every time with no crash or jitters. When you drink a TrueStart you're getting all the health benefits and a full flavour because our specialty grade beans are freeze dried to lock in all this goodness! Antioxidants and minerals As well as the kick from our signature stable caffeine dose, our Barista Grade Instant Coffee is packed with naturally occurring antioxidants and minerals - winner! A cup of TrueStart contains more antioxidants than a cup of green tea - and we think it's tastier too! These include; Cafestol – anti-inflammatory, memory booster Trigonelline – anti-bacterial, vitamin B3 Chlorogenic Acid – metabolism & insulin booster § Melanoidins – anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial Quinine – antioxidant Caffeine – fat burner, energiser, focus improver § Hydrocinnamic Acid – neutralise free radicals  TrueStart Coffee also contains small amounts of these essential minerals: Vitamin B6 Vitamin B12 Vitamin E Thiamin Riboflavin Niacin Folate Biotin Pantothenate Calcium Phosphorus Iron Magnesium Zinc Iodine What about mycotoxins? Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by certain moulds (fungi) and can be found in food. It's interesting to know that these moulds grow on a variety of different crops and foodstuffs including cereals, nuts, spices, dried fruits, apples and coffee beans, often under warm and humid conditions. At TrueStart, mycotoxin levels are something that we proactively measure as part of our hyper-selective sourcing and production process as well as other moulds, yeasts and pesticides. Not all coffees do this! We have very strict quality control processes and as part of our internal procedures, we run analysis to measure the Ochratoxin A (OTA) to make sure we exceed EU requirements. TrueStart Coffee consistently contains less than 6.0ppb as per our certifications which is incredibly low. This means an average person would have to drink a whopping 7 million cups of TrueStart to reach the proven 'intolerable' level of mycotoxins!! Despite increasing consumer awareness, it is very rare for coffee companies to publish their mycotoxin levels publicly, but we do it because have nothing to hide. Is TrueStart Certified Organic? Our coffee is not certified organic because it is cost-prohibitive for such a high-quality coffee; we use exceptional specialty-grade coffee. If we were to add the high costs of organic certification, then the coffee would become too expensive for most customers. Most widely available / accessibly priced organic coffees are of lower quality for that reason (and it shows in the taste). TrueStart is known for quality, sustainability and rigorous testing that ensures no chemicals, heavy metals or mycotoxins are present in your cup. Our coffee is sourced from smallholder farmers who have strict restrictions around pesticide and synthetic fertiliser use. Talk to me about Cold Brew.. The mass-available coffee industry is dominated by mega corporations who do not care about our health, and this is also true of iced/cold coffees. Ready-to-drink (RTD) cold coffees tend to be jam packed with milk and sugar, turning what could be the perfect healthy energy drink into a dessert in a drink! That's fine from time to time, but it's important to have a healthy option too. So we created one. TrueStart's gorgeously refreshing cold brew coffee contains no milk (great coffee tastes great black!) and no sugar. It's keto friendly, vegan friendly and craft brewed in small batches here in the South West. We've used a small amount of natural flavouring to create a range of options including Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Salted Caramel, as well as Original Black. By brewing our premium roasted coffee in cold, purified water overnight, we retain the natural health-boosting properties of the coffee and the taste is very smooth and not bitter at all, with a texture that is lighter than hot coffee, so it makes a really refreshing energy drink.  All TrueStart products contain no sugar or calories, are dairy free and 100% natural. So go for it, dive in to healthy coffee! 💦 What are the benefits of drinking TrueStart Coffee? Coffee is the original energy drink! Not only is it the densest source of antioxidants in the Western diet, but drinking clean coffee like TrueStart offers a range of cognitive and physiological benefits. Since 2015, TrueStart has focused on purity and optimal caffeine content.  So, how can clean coffee can be a healthy addition to your lifestyle?Cognitive Benefits1. Enhanced Focus and Alertness: Caffeine, the primary active ingredient in coffee, is a powerful stimulant. Research has shown that it can significantly improve mental alertness and concentration. A study published in the "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease" found that caffeine can help sustain attention and enhance cognitive function (Eskelinen MH, Kivipelto M. 2010).2. Improved Memory: Moderate caffeine consumption has been linked to improved memory and cognitive function. A study by the University of California found that caffeine enhances certain memories for at least up to 24 hours after it is consumed (Borota D et al., 2014).3. Mood Elevation: Caffeine has been shown to stimulate the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which can improve mood and reduce the risk of depression. A study published in the "World Journal of Biological Psychiatry" suggests that caffeine consumption is inversely associated with depression risk (Lucas M et al., 2011).Physiological Benefits1. Increased Metabolism: Coffee is known to boost metabolic rate by increasing thermogenesis (heat and energy production in the body), thus helping in weight management. According to a study in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," caffeine can increase the metabolic rate by 3-11% (Astrup A et al., 1990).2. Enhanced Physical Performance: Caffeine increases adrenaline levels in the blood, preparing your body for intense physical exertion. It also breaks down body fat, making free fatty acids available as fuel. A comprehensive review in the "Journal of Sports Medicine" highlighted caffeine's ability to improve physical performance by 11-12% on average (Graham TE, 2001).3. Antioxidant Properties: Coffee is rich in antioxidants, which can neutralize harmful free radicals in the body and reduce oxidative stress. Antioxidants in coffee, such as chlorogenic acid, have been studied for their health benefits, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases (Farah A et al., 2008).4. Reduced Risk of Certain Diseases: Regular consumption of coffee has been linked to a lower risk of several diseases, including Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver disease. A review in the "Journal of Nutrition" highlighted the inverse relationship between coffee consumption and the risk of Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer (van Dam RM, Hu FB, 2005).It's important to note that the benefits of clean coffee hinge on consuming it in moderation and opting for high-quality, toxin-free beans, as offered by brands like TrueStart. Overconsumption or consuming coffee with added sugars and unhealthy fats can negate these health benefits. As with anything to do with our diets, coffee and caffeine is highly personal. Listen to your body and learn what works best for you. References- Eskelinen MH, Kivipelto M. Caffeine as a protective factor in dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 2010.- Borota D et al. Post-study caffeine administration enhances memory consolidation in humans. Nature Neuroscience. 2014.- Lucas M et al. Coffee, caffeine, and risk of depression among women. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry. 2011.- Astrup A et al. Caffeine: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of its thermogenic, metabolic, and cardiovascular effects in healthy volunteers. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1990.- Graham TE. Caffeine and exercise: metabolism, endurance and performance. Sports Medicine. 2001.- Farah A et al. Chlorogenic acids and lactones in regular and water-decaffeinated arabica coffees. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2008.- van Dam RM, Hu FB. Coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2005.By incorporating TrueStart into your routine, you can enjoy these cognitive and physiological benefits while indulging in a delicious, high-quality brew. To summarise... it's how we source, roast & test that makes TrueStart the healthiest, tastiest coffee in the world! 

We believe you can feel on top of the world while doing good for the world, and that's why we partnered with Cycle of Good to turn our waste into beautiful things that help end poverty in one of the poorest communities in the world. Hessian coffee sacks are beautiful. That's right. They come in all sorts of prints and are super strong, so it seems like such a waste to use them just once and send them to landfill. So instead, Cycle of Good take our old coffee sacks to Malawi, where they employ 12 Malawian tailors full time, paying above national living wage and offering full employment rights such as paid holiday and pensions. These talented tailors transform our sacks (plus old bicycle inner tubes and stunning locally printed cloth) into incredible, functional bags. All of the Cycle of Good team in Malawi live in the township of Chilomoni where the workshop is situated. Thanks to the inspiring work the team do, over 2000 women (and the occasional man!) have all completed a two year diploma in Tailoring and Design, using old sewing machines donated from the UK to learn all of the techniques necessary for dressmaking. Since then, they have completed further training focused on accessories production, offered by international volunteers. Regular, reliable employment is essential (although hard to come by) in Malawi. With no welfare state, if you cannot work, you cannot support your family. Agnes is a widow who has two children, she says “Working with COG has seriously changed my life in a way that I have acquired some skills for example in sewing, and I can say that on my own I am an expert in my career. And talking about the salary, I am now able to support my family”. Big thanks to Cycle of Good UK Manager George and Product Designer Sarah, for their work to make this happen. During George and Sarah's two week training trip, Sarah delivered training in 6 new products; in addition to the coffee sack bags, she worked with the tailors on tablet cases, a wash bag, buckles and messenger bags. The Chilomoni tailors loved learning new techniques and using the fantastic new material, and they were rightly proud of their resulting work. It was Sarah’s first ever trip to Malawi, she quickly adapted to teaching with Chichewa translation and the irregularity of power supply to the machines. She tasted her first nsima and spotted a few hippos. The women must have loved working with Sarah too, on her final day they presented her with a beautiful Chitenge dress and sang a farewell song in Chichewa. They’re totally recycled and they’re transforming lives in Malawi through the provision of long term, sustainable and meaningful employment. The best news is, the more coffee you drink, the more sacks we can send to these women to work their magic on! What’s not to love about these beautiful bags of good?!

Coffee is just about the world's most popular drink. Did you know it's the world's second most highly traded commodity, after oil? Amazing really. What's more amazing, is that the coffee plant produces two other absolutely incredible drinks which not only taste great, but have many health benefits to boot. These drinks are both technically teas, and we think it's incredible that no one really knows about them. Good quality versions are rare and the plant is otherwise discarded, which seems a massive waste! 1.COFFEE CHERRY TEA (CASCARA) What is Cascara? In Spanish, the word cascara means skin or peel and that is exactly what this tea is made from. Did you know coffee seeds (or beans) are found inside a small piece of fruit known as a cherry (sometimes called berries).  Usually, this fruit is removed and discarded, but for centuries it has been used to make a drink popular in certain coffee-producing nations such as Bolivia. What does Cascara look like? Imagine dried red berry skins and you've got a pretty good idea! Once brewed, Cascara makes a beautiful red tea. How do you make it? Just like a normal loose leaf tea. General brewing guidelines are 5g for a large 240ml cup. The longer the brew the deeper the colour and flavour - at least 4 minutes is recommended. Cascara is also fantastic chilled as a unique alternative to regular iced tea. A secret is to add 50% sparkling water for a very special, completely natural sweet soft drink. What does Cascara taste like? Cascara is very flavourful, and very different to coffee. It has a very fruity flavour, mostly of red berries with a little honey and citrus. The taste evolves as it cools too, and tastes especially sweet with the addition of sparkling water. Is Cascara good for you? Yes. Cascara is naturally high in anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. It's also naturally low in caffeine for when you don't need the boost.  2.COFFEE LEAF TEA What is Coffee Leaf Tea? Coffee Leaf Tea is exactly what it sounds like; tea made from the leaves of the coffee plant. It is not only delicious, but has the added benefits of enabling farmers to earn an income year-round, as coffee leaves are harvested during the off season. What does Coffee Leaf Tea look like? Imagine chopped up, dried green leaves. Not dissimilar in appearance to Yerba Mate. When brewed, Coffee Leaf Tea makes a delicate light, yellow-ish drink. How do you make it? Just like a normal cup of tea, and of course you can have it iced if you fancy. What does Coffee Leaf Tea taste like? Coffee Leaf Tea has a very fresh, clean flavour. It's slightly smoky (think Lapsang Souchong) a slightly citrus-y (think Earl Grey or Darjeeling). Is Coffee Leaf Tea good for you? Absolutely. Just like Cascara, Coffee Leaf Tea is naturally high in anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties (whilst also being naturally low in caffeine).  Coffee Leaf Tea also contains a high level of a natural polyphenol called Mangeferin, which several studies have shown to demonstrate analgesic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and properties as well as improve memory and inhibit cancerogenesis and growth of cancer cells. Have you tried Cascara or Coffee Leaf Tea? What do you think? If you haven't, do you like the idea of it? Let us know in the comments!

Hey, I'm Helena - Co-Founder here at TrueStart Coffee! It's ace to meet you. My husband Simon and I originally had the idea for TrueStart 8 years ago, when we were triathlon training and on the road a lot with work. We were drinking loads of coffee to keep us going, and it just wasn't doing the job! I'm quite sensitive to caffeine, and sometimes I would get heart palpitations or even feel sick after a cuppa, when other times I felt like it didn't give me a boost at all. We discovered something pretty mindblowing - that the caffeine level in coffee varies massively! This totally explained how we were feeling, and we thought - surely we're not the only people in the world who think a reliably caffeinated, super clean coffee would be AWESOME. A coffee that makes you feel great every time, with no crash and no jitters. Coffee that is super clean, and doesn't need filling with milk and sugar... So we set out to create a coffee that is better for you, and TrueStart was born! We launched our first product in 2015 - our now legendary Barista Grade Instant Coffee. We developed the first coffee in the world to provide a boost with no crash thanks to a reliable, stable caffeine content.  Our coffee is sourced from where I used to live in Colombia - it's super clean and tastes amazing black or white, hot or cold.  The original healthy coffee.. Looking back, our original packaging was hilariously basic, but it didn't matter. We were on a relentless mission from day one: spread massive positive energy. We dished out shots of TrueStart to runners, cyclists and triathletes across the UK. People were feeling the positive energy straight away and we grew our community through hundreds of events and amazing word of mouth. Our first event.. I'll never forget our first ever event. We rocked up to a tiny running event in a field near Taunton, where we found about twenty freezing cold, unhappy-looking runners standing around in the rain. We put smiles on their faces with a barrage of positive energy and plenty of shots of TrueStart Coffee. They were transformed into energised, happy people who ran their race and came back to us to tell us about their PBs before skipping off back to their cars! That day, we saw first hand the genuine, meaningful impact you can have on someone's day with true positive energy. We have no doubt that those runners went on to spread that joy to others, and that's why we exist - to spread massive positive energy and make people feel like they can take on the world.  To make your mark, you need to feel good.. Positive energy is how we unlock our creative brains, our potential, our true selves.  We firmly believe that every individual has something uniquely awesome to bring to the party, and TrueStart exists to help unlock that incredible collective potential.  We've been making TrueStarters across the globe feel able to take on anything with this natural energy. And the family continues to grow.. Since TrueStart was born, we've had two of our own children and are even more determined to show them that they don't have to be slaves to the status quo. I never want the next generation to believe that it's "just the way things are", and we hope that TrueStart gives every generation the positive energy needed to face the big challenges in our world today.   Helena & Baby Leo having fun at our London office roadshow More products have joined the TrueStart family, too.. We have a masterbrand approach to our healthy, clean coffee - we want you to feel amazing wherever, whenever and whyever you need a positive energy boost. Cold Brew Coffee: Our delicious, naturally energising drinks joined the family in 2020 and are the only flavoured chilled coffees in the world with no sugar, no calories and no sweeteners. We're so proud of these totally unique products. Fresh Coffees: We have a range of specialty grade, freshly roasted coffee beans and ground coffees. They're super tasty and super quality; naturally rich in antioxidants and independently lab tested to be free from mycotoxins. They're also affordable - we work really hard to make our pricing fair throughout our supply chain and to you, our customers, too. Coffee Bags: The latest addition to our product family is our wonderfully convenient, eco-conscious Strong Coffee Bags. Like a tea bag, but for our fresh coffee and boasting our signature big flavour! TrueStart Coffee Shop In September 2018, we proudly opened TrueStart's very first wild for life Coffee Shop / Cafe Bar in Bristol's city centre. This was part of an exciting collaboration with the fantastic new startup co-working space, Runway East. Bringing our vibrant, healthy, hyper-sustainable approach to coffee to life in this way was a dream come true. One of my favourite things about our coffee shop was being with our customers all day every day. Seeing what they want, what they like and what they dislike. Then being able to help our partners (including other coffee shops!) to really up their game and get it right. We now know what it's like on both sides of the retail table, loving experimenting and stocking other startup food and drink brands who are also challenging the status quo. This cafe is now a self serving lounge bar for Runway East so you can still get your delicious TrueStart - don't worry! Business as a force for good.. TrueStart's customers have always lived right in the heart of our business, you've been a massive part of our story since that field near Taunton on day one! We'll never breach our values in trying to please everyone, but we'll always involve you, be open and honest and share our reasons for all the decisions we make. We really do believe that business can be a force for good, and are really proud to be B Corp Certified and Carbon Negative. One of my most-loved projects is how we're making a difference in one of the world's poorest communities; Chilomoni in Malawi. We've partnered with Cycle of Good, a fantastic charity who have trained a talented team of female tailors in how to transform our used hessian coffee sacks and old bike tyres into beautiful Shopper Bags and Duffel Bags We buy these at a fair price and sell them onto you on a not-for-profit basis. These wonderful women receive holiday and sick pay, and they now have a stable income for their families. You can read more about our Bags of Good here. Independent Suppliers Because we are an independent family business, with husband & wife founders, we try to work with other independent businesses as much as possible. We understand what it means when people buy your products and we want to share that awesome feeling with as many other small independent businesses as we can. From our Cold Brew Coffee which is brewed and canned in the UK, to our family-owned warehousing and logistics team.. our whole supply chain is truly part of Team TrueStart and we wouldn't have it any other way. It's also a joy to share the ups and downs of business life and fight the good fight together! We don't do things by halves but we thrive on diving into the unknown. Life shouldn't be predictable, because normal is boring! Helena and Simon x