Modern Coffee Creators. 

Meet the team bringing the extraordinary to your daily coffee rituals.

Name | Faye Mitchell

House position | Community Manager 

Above: Faye at WatchHouse Roastery on Maltby Street

How did you get started in the hospitality industry? 

When I first moved to London a friend at the time got me a job in a really busy pub. I’d never worked in hospitality and had no idea what I was doing! But I ended up working there for five years and it kind of felt quite natural. I think it helps that I love being a customer - I love food and drinks and socialising. In 2017 I moved to Melbourne, which was really where it clicked that I could dig my heels in and make a career in the industry. 

Where are you from? 

I was born in Yorkshire, but grew up in Northumberland in a small town about twenty miles west of Newcastle. In my teenage years I couldn’t wait to escape to London, but now I really look forward to going back to visit. The countryside up there is so beautiful and peaceful, even if the weather is often a bit grim.

Favourite WatchHouse coffee? 

I drink filter coffee at home, using either a french press or Aeropress and have recently been enjoying  Gitega Hills - a super juicy washed Rwandan coffee. But at our Houses I love a flat white with our 1829 blend. It is so  sweet, nutty and delicious. 

What are you most looking forward to as restrictions start to lift? 

Hugs! Restaurants, getting a haircut and seeing my family. Just being able to feel close to people and a sense of being able to look forward to the future will be amazing. 

Above: The joys of having a cup of Gitega Hills at the Roastery doorstep

What is your favourite part of your job? 

I learn something new all the time. Whether it is about coffee, or about something I never expected to encounter from a conversation. Recently I had the opportunity to speak at length with Cat from Cata Exports as we’re about to launch a coffee we bought from her. It was so inspiring listening to her talk about her work in Colombia and the challenges of a completely different environment. I felt really lucky that my job had allowed that conversation to happen. 

What are you most passionate about? 

Food! And people. I think that’s why I love food so much because it can be such a social  experience. I’ve really missed restaurants over the past year, but also just having friends and family round and cooking for everyone. So many of my most significant memories are to do with food. When I was little, my mum was away quite a bit and we used to write each other letters - mine would always start with a round up of everything I’d been eating that week and what was good! 

What’s playing on your Spotify right now? 

I’ve just discovered Priya Ragu - she’s a Tamil-Swiss singer who makes amazing R&B influenced pop music that’s infused with sounds of her South Indian heritage. She wears these incredible outfits that are really theatrical but so cool.