Brewing Success: Caffeine Project’s Journey from Roastery to one of Coventry’s Favourite Cafes
- Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust
- 57 minutes ago
- 2 min read
When Caffeine Project first opened their doors just off the A46, they weren’t setting out to become the cafe of choice in the local area. With over 20 years of experience in coffee industry, their initial goal was simple: find a dedicated space to increase roasting capacity and meet with clients in a professional setting. But their passion for quality coffee and the aroma from their roasters soon drew attention from the local community.
What began as a functional space for production and meetings quickly evolved into a thriving cafe, open to the public and buzzing with coffee lovers. Alongside freshly roasted coffee, they opened a retail area Deli Project with shelves stocked full of local gems like Warwickshire Gin, Cureights of Warwick, Homewrecker pimento cheese, Aubrey Allen, Twisted Barrell, Windmill Hill Brewery and Cookies & Co products. It’s become more than a cafe and more a hub for homegrown excellence.
Thanks to the increased demand and raving reviews Caffeine Project decided to diversify and expand their services further, this time to offer afternoon tea in the newly acquired part of the building.
The new area needed to be refurbished to suit their new offering, unfortunately, that came with a hefty price tag of over £60,000. Just like many businesses Caffeine Project needed additional funding to cover the expansion costs.
That’s when Lisa and Rafael, the owners of Caffeine Project met Alexander our loans officer, at the Warwickshire Hospitality Networking event. Alex was able to advise the business on suitable finance options. Since Caffeine Project were investing in capital expenditure, they were able to secure a loan from the Duplex Investment Fund.
Duplex is a unique fund that combines a loan with a public sector grant, giving businesses financial flexibility to move forward with the expansion plans smoothly. The grant can be used where it’s needed most, whether that’s hiring and training new staff, easing cashflow, covering initial repayments and more.
By obtaining a Duplex loan through CWRT, Caffeine Project were able to claim £24,000 of grant on top of the loan. It not only allowed the business to proceed with the refurbishment plans but will also help to create 6 new jobs.
Now, as they prepare to open an afternoon tea area this summer, their journey enters a new chapter. This expansion will offer even more ways for people to enjoy top-quality coffee and homemade treats in a welcoming, community-focused space.
Sheridan Sulskis the CEO of CWRT has added: “At CWRT, we are proud to support passionate businesses like Caffeine Project who are not only growing successfully but also enriching our local community. Their journey from coffee roasters to a thriving cafe and now expanding into an afternoon tea offering, perfectly reflects the kind of entrepreneurial spirit we champion.”
Duplex continues to support expanding businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire, encouraging job creation and economic growth throughout the region. If you are planning to invest in capital expenditure, contact CWRT’s team to see if you might qualify for a loan through the Duplex Fund.
