Coral Takes A Coffee Break

Photo Credit: Coral Musgrave

Bearwood resident and coffee lover, Coral Musgrave, popped along to Coffee Junction (on the corner of Bearwood Rd and Three Shires Oak Rd) yesterday morning for its grand opening.

By the sounds of things she had a brilliant time…….

“Steve Love, the owner/chef of Love's Restaurant in Birmingham performed the official opening ceremony at Coffee Junction today .

Coffee Junction is a community cafe run by QAC and is next door to I Cycle also run by QAC. Above these premises is also a training facility for students. QAC is a national college for people aged 16+ with visual impairment and/or other disabilities.

It was lovely to see a group of young moms with their children there. They said that this was what Bearwood had been lacking, somewhere they could meet up with friends that had plenty of room for the push chairs and baby changing facilities. And really good coffee. And cake. When asked what could improve it, the answer, Eggs Benedict for Sunday Brunch.


Photo Credit: Coral Musgrave

Coming soon to the cafe is Coffee Jungle, an interactive play and reading area for families with babies and toddlers. What a lovely place to meet up with other parents after dropping your older children at school.  

Ray Piggot, Director of Business Development said that when he was working on the project, his dream was to have a cafe where all the community would feel welcome. When recruiting staff to run the cafe he said that a long time ago someone told him that you can teach someone to use a till but you can't teach friendliness.



Photo Credit: Coral Musgrave

The manager Ismail is a fine example of this recruitment policy as are all his team. Warm, friendly, welcoming and experienced. Good coffee, tea and Chai Latte that I can personally vouch for, and the macaroons were very, very good, so good I had two!

Ray urged customers to feedback to Ismail about the cafe and make suggestions, as they really wanted to make sure they offered what the local community wanted from a cafe.

Ray then gave a tour of the training facilities. A fully equipped kitchen that Master Chef would be proud of. This will be used to train students who attend QAC for careers in the catering industry. The coffee machine was, he explained, equipped with blue tooth programmed to produce the perfect coffee (no idea how this works) as well as the equipment demanded by a trained barista.

The cafe also has free Wi Fi, just staff ask for the password. I can certainly see Coffee Junction as the place to meet friends, take the family for lunch or just work on my laptop. Something for everyone, not just hipsters.

Maybe even the place for a Bearwood Bake Off? Or Pop Up restaurants? Or a Social Media Surgery?

Photo Credit: Coral Musgrave

What would you like to see at Coffee Junction? Pop in and let them know. But buy a coffee first. :)"

Thanks Coral.  We will!