Coffee Lover Sara on Globetrotter espresso, a slow morning ritual, and the mug that makes it
Sara makes the mug, and Sparkplug fills it
Some people make coffee. Sara makes a little ceremony of it. Beans from a handmade vessel, a steel scoop, a walnut-handled tamper, a double shot of Globetrotter, and just enough room left in her favourite mug for a healthy shot of cream.
Sara is a potter in Peterborough, Ontario, and the maker behind Steaped Slow Ceramics. We know each other through the small business community we're both part of, and you may have spotted her mugs in our Coffee Lover Gift Guide. Here she is in her own words.
If her ritual has you wondering which Sparkplug coffee is yours, a Taster Pack is a good place to start.
What I do
Potter, designer, freelancing small business owner of Steaped Slow Ceramics
Home base
Peterborough, Ontario.
My go-to coffee
Globetrotter, Sparkplug's dark roast blend.
Kara here: Globetrotter is our best-selling dark roast espresso-style blend, so it's right at home in Sara's espresso machine.
My coffee day
Coffee is an integral part of my morning routine. I've always enjoyed accoutrement and ritual.
I store my coffee beans in a handmade vessel, measure them out with my steel coffee scoop and grind, before filling my espresso portafilter and tapping with an artisan made, walnut handled tamper. My favourite handmade mug fits perfectly under the espresso drip.
After the double shot is poured, the gorgeous crema on top, there's just enough room in the mug left for a healthy shot of Kawartha Dairy cream.
I enjoy the intentional preparation of my perfect cup just as much as sitting down to enjoy it. Which I do on my back deck every morning the weather allows. Slow coffee and its ritual preparation is how I start my days.
If you're an espresso lover like Sara, get our tips to pull great shots from your espresso machine.
My coffee style
Quite particular, but not overly fussy. I know what I like, I'm not interested in straying. If there's no cream, I'll skip my morning brew.
What I love most about coffee
The smell. Long before I acquired the taste.
My best coffee tip
A very good mug, preferably handmade, improves the taste, experience and overall enjoyment tenfold.
How I found Sparkplug
I learned about Sparkplug Coffee through the small business community Kara and I are part of!
What I love most about Sparkplug
A Canadian small business, female owned, accessible, quality coffee delivered to your door.
Spread the word: Steaped Slow Ceramics
If you're looking for a handmade mug to enhance your coffee rituals, I happen to make some pretty lovely ones.
I throw each of my pieces on the potter's wheel, keeping the rim of the mugs thin so each sip is very comfortable. The body is designed with ribs that feel like a hug between your fingers.
All my work is done in a beautiful stoneware speckled clay that is dishwasher and microwave safe. The subtle palette of the clay is calming, classic and works with any decor.
With gifting season around the corner, a handmade mug is a really thoughtful object to unwrap for the coffee lovers in your life. You can shop my mugs online at Steaped Slow.
What we love about Sara
We’re so happy that we connected with Sara through our small biz community. She is a dream to work and we love supporting other Canadian women who make good things.
Good things like Sara's mugs. Thin yet sturdy, with nice sized handles that fit just right in your hand. Or the sweet pinch and swirl cups with no handles. Gorgeous! They live up to her tip: a good mug really does make the coffee better.
That's why Steaped Slow is in our Coffee Lover Gift Guide. Every coffee lover needs a great mug to hold their coffee.
Put together a made-in-Canada gift basket by pairing one of her mugs with a bag of Globetrotter, or any Sparkplug coffee or tea.
Find your go-to
If Sara's double shot sounds like your kind of morning, start with Globetrotter, browse the Sparkplug coffees, or try a Taster Pack of 4 different coffees. take a spin through the Find Your Perfect Sparkplug Coffee guide [link: Pillar 3 hub /find-your-fave when live]. Once you find yours, the Autopilot Coffee Club makes sure it just shows up, fresh, when you need it. Free shipping, save on every order, and you can pause or cancel any time.
Want to meet more coffee lovers? Watch our emails and find them on our blog.
We want you!
Every coffee lover has a story, and I'd love to hear yours. Want to be our next Coffee Lover?
Email sparky@sparkplug.coffee and I'll send you the questions. They're all optional, and there are no wrong answers. We want ALL kinds of coffee lovers - casual, nerdy, and everything in between!