Unique coffee offering in new Wapping Wharf cafe

‘Unique’ is an overused and often incorrectly used word, but the coffee offering at New Cut Coffee could very well be unique in the world of speciality coffee.

The house coffee at the new cafe in Wapping Wharf is a blend made up of beans from Brazil, Colombia and Timor-Leste.

When New Cut Coffee opens on Thursday morning, the house blend’s three components – all roasted by Colonna in Wiltshire – will also be brewed separately as single-origin espressos and filter, as well as being for sale as beans in bags and refillable glass jars.

The unique proposition came to New Cut Coffee’s Jack Hudspith and Kate Evans when they worked together as baristas at Small Street Espresso in the Old City.

After a hard day’s work, the pair would invariably head to Small Bar on King Street where the plans for their dream cafe were hatched.

Jack Hudspith behind the La Marzocco FB80 – photo: Martin Booth

Both Jack and Kate are familiar faces on the Bristol hospitality scene, having worked in cafes and restaurants across the city.

Jack, 33, who lives in Old Market and is originally from Wadebridge in Cornwall, has worked in Baristas, Boston Tea Party, Small Street Espresso, West Street Kitchen, Bertha’s Pizza and Farro.

After moving to Bristol from her home city of Birmingham, Kate, who turns 33 on New Cut Coffee’s opening day, began working in Small Street Espresso and later at No. 25A.

The pair have always dreamed of opening their own cafe and quickly decided to join forces, getting the opportunity to design every aspect of New Cut Coffee to their own specifications.

“This was a blank canvas and in an amazing location,” Jack told Bristol24/7 as the pair were putting the finishing touches to the new cafe next to The Framing Factory in the former Montgomery’s Tea Rooms.

“A big thing that we wanted to do here was to make it our own. We both have had amazing experiences within the hospitality industry, particularly in Bristol.

“The hospitality scene here is incredibly collaborative and supportive. Working in various places, we have very much felt part of the community.

“But I have wanted my own thing for a long time. Within months of meeting and working together in Small Street, we thought, ‘let’s do this together’.”

New Cut Coffee’s branding has been designed by Left Handed Giant creative manager, James Yeo – photo: Martin Booth

Kate said that she likes “creating spaces where people feel comfortable and at ease”, and that is what she hopes New Cut Coffee will be.

Kate will be making an ever-changing selection of vegetarian and vegan sandwiches, while hot chocolate will be from Cocoa Witch and all-vegan cakes from 404 (Not Found) on Perry Road.

The cafe is takeaway only for now, but Kate and Jack have big plans for the seating options both inside and outside once that is allowed, with the coffee for sale currently on display on what will one day become the cafe’s benches.

“I have been waiting to open my own place for so long,” said Jack. “It’s only just starting to sink in that it’s actually happening.”

New Cut Coffee will be open 8am-4pm from Wednesday to Friday, and 9am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo: Martin Booth

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