We uncover how Jérôme’s ardour for specialty espresso and browsing impressed the creation of Mahalo Espresso Roasters.

BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT

Pictures courtesy of Mahalo Espresso

For these of us who work in espresso, it’s a enterprise constructed on ardour. But, we regularly encounter the query: why espresso particularly? Certainly, it’s not simply concerning the beverage itself; it’s concerning the connections cast amongst individuals who share a typical ardour for this beloved drink. A type of people is Jérôme Duc, the proprietor of Switzerland’s Mahalo Espresso Roasters. His journey embodies the spirit of exploration and neighborhood that may be discovered within the espresso tradition.

As customers more and more search significant connections with the services they select, understanding the narratives behind our favourite cafés turns into important. On this interview, we delve into Jérôme’s motivations, the influences derived from his travels, and the core values that outline Mahalo Espresso. 

Barista Journal On-line: May you introduce your self and share some particulars about your espresso outlets?

Jérôme Duc: My title is Jérôme Duc, and I’m the proud proprietor of Mahalo Espresso Store. We function two places: one on the prepare station in Bulle, which opened in January 2023, and one other positioned within the coronary heart of Fribourg, uniquely shared with Jo Bar de Quartier. Every location has been designed to mirror a heat, welcoming ambiance the place prospects can get pleasure from high-quality espresso and join with each other.

Why did you select espresso as the principle focus of your online business, and what attracted you to specialty espresso in comparison with different culinary sectors?

Espresso has all the time represented way more than only a beverage to me; it embodies a cherished ritual and a approach to create connections between individuals. The specialty-coffee scene, with its unbelievable concentrate on element, transparency, and dedication to high quality, genuinely captivated me. It felt like the proper match, permitting me to merge my passions whereas giving prospects an genuine and unforgettable expertise.

You spent 22 months touring all over the world and exploring 45 nations. What have been you hoping to remove from such an expertise?

My travels have all the time been pushed by a deep ardour for exploration and the enjoyment of discovery. I felt a robust must immerse myself in numerous cultures, pattern distinctive flavors, and convey that wealthy cultural tapestry again to Mahalo Espresso Store. These adventures allowed me to mix my love for browsing, journey, and specialty espresso, finally shaping my imaginative and prescient for the cafés.

How have your world experiences influenced the idea and choices at Mahalo Espresso?

Every journey I embarked upon enriched the spirit of Mahalo. All through my travels, espresso outlets turned my information to every new metropolis. Each morning, I might map out a unique café to go to, wanting to see how every tradition expressed itself by way of espresso. Whether or not in Melbourne, San Diego, or Buenos Aires, I discovered that every café had its personal approach of making an expertise. I took detailed notes on the outlets I visited, documenting the whole lot from ambiance to brewing strategies. 

This behavior gave me perception into how espresso connects individuals throughout completely different cultures and taught me {that a} espresso store isn’t nearly serving espresso—it’s about creating a way of place and neighborhood. I collected quite a lot of spices, coffees, and teas from the nations I visited, which enabled us to create distinctive drinks for our prospects. 

This affect additionally instilled in me a deep respect for producers and a dedication to sustainability, emphasizing our concentrate on high-quality, ethically sourced components. I hope that by way of Mahalo Espresso Store, prospects can really feel a chunk of the heat, hospitality, and fervour I encountered all over the world.

Since opening your first location, what challenges and successes have you ever encountered in establishing Mahalo Espresso inside the Swiss specialty-coffee scene?

Introducing the tradition of specialty espresso to Fribourg was initially a problem, because it required educating prospects about high quality espresso and numerous extraction strategies. Nevertheless, optimistic phrase of mouth performed a significant position in our success and helped us solidify a robust repute. Witnessing our staff develop to 10 members and opening our second location has been an extremely rewarding journey.

Your collaboration with famend cooks Benoît Waber and Léonard Gamba provides a novel dimension to Mahalo Espresso in Bulle. Are you able to share extra about how this partnership enriches the Mahalo Espresso expertise?

Working with Ben and Leo is genuinely particular for me, not solely due to our long-standing friendship but additionally because of the respect we have now for every others’ craft. Our journey collectively started organically as we shared a mutual ardour for high quality and innovation, and I wished to leverage that connection in a approach that’s significant. 

The artistic course of is collaborative; we brainstorm concepts, experiment with flavors, and discover learn how to harmonize meals and occasional in fascinating methods. By combining our experience, we try to create distinctive flavors and unforgettable experiences. These partnerships really elevate the Mahalo Espresso expertise, introducing originality and delighting our prospects with distinctive moments they received’t discover anyplace else.

How do you envision the way forward for Mahalo Espresso? Do you might have any plans for enlargement or new collaborations?

The longer term appears promising, particularly with plans to open a brand new location in Fribourg in Could 2025, which is able to function a unique idea and a concentrate on brunch. We additionally goal to develop extra enriching collaborations and proceed exploring new flavors and concepts to maintain our choices thrilling for our prospects.

What message would you wish to convey to your prospects by way of your espresso and the general expertise at Mahalo Espresso?

I need each customer to really feel the eagerness and care that goes into every cup we serve. The Mahalo expertise affords moments of sharing, journey, and discovery whereas upholding ethics and high quality. Finally, it pays tribute to artisans, producers, and fellow vacationers who’ve impressed me all through my journey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior on-line correspondent for Barista Journal and a contract copywriter and editor with a major concentrate on the espresso area of interest. She has additionally been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, offering content material to assist educate individuals about baristas and their work.

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