Bigmoose Coffee Co.
January Issue 2023
The Coffee Archives
January. A month I personally don’t look forward to. Social media is full of ‘new year, new me’ posts, and how to make 2023 YOUR year. But maybe I don’t want to make 2023 my year. Maybe I am quite complacent where I am right now in this exact moment, eating a biscuit and sipping a coffee, even though I know the caffeine will keep me awake this evening. I quite enjoy these mini mistakes, the ones that many people try to iron out during the new year to create a seamless image of perfection. Don’t get me wrong, I do try and set goals for the year ahead, one of which is my lifelong mission to do a handstand. I even subscribed to a “one month YouTube yoga challenge”. However, 22 days into the new year and I can barely touch my toes. I quickly unsubscribed from the bubbly blonde yoga instructors YouTube channel, and thought for now I will happily live my life in accordance with gravity rather than inverted. Besides, I still have another 343 days to practice.
Other than my sad attempt at being an extra for the Cirque de Soleil, I do have other goals and use the new year to feel inspired, rather than put pressure on trying to achieve something new or break a bad habit. One way I do this is via a vision board. It is easy and completely free. I use Pinterest, and find an archive of images that inspire me and what I would want for my future in any aspect. From there I put it all together on a PowerPoint and save it as a laptop screensaver, so I’m casually reminded on what I’d like to achieve, without any risk of pulling a hamstring.
Caffeine Hit of the Month
This month I am back in Cardiff, and ready to tackle new coffee shops. January can be bluesy and mental health can waver due to the dull weather, lack of festivities, and back to routine. I went to check out a café that puts mental health at its forefront, and that is: Bigmoose Coffee Co. This is a non-profit business and was set up by Jeff Smith in memory of Gary “Moose” Cloonan who sadly passed away from cancer. As said on their website; “Jeff’s aim is to help people to live happier, healthier, and kinder lives. Anyone who meets Jeff feels his warmth and kindness straight away, he is someone who always has time to talk and will always go above and beyond to help anyone.”
They have a strong focus on mental health, and they encourage people to talk and have those tough conversations by hosting mental health awareness evenings with key speakers, all of which is updated on their social media.
Having battled with depression myself for numerous years, it always felt like a dirty secret that I could never speak of in fear of being seen as ‘broken’. I would never wish bad mental health upon anyone, but I do try to see my own with a silver lining, as I believe my own personal struggles have allowed me to be more compassionate towards others, and therefore be a better friend, daughter, and sister. I couldn’t think of better place to spend my money…and the coffee was great too.
Bigmoose has a cosy interior with large communal tables, with the coffee counter placed in the centre of the room. Everyone who worked there was very friendly and happy, which added to the warm atmosphere and the shops legacy. The food and cake menus were vegan friendly and offered lovely brunch options.
I went for my classic oaty cap, aka an oat cappuccino, although I’m thinking of changing it to a flat white, and I’ll explain my reasoning in the next newsletter :)
Overall, I had a great time, good coffee, and good vibes all round. Next time you’re in Cardiff go check it out.
Coffee criteria:
Taste: 4/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Price: 3/5
Latte art: 3/5
Overall experience: 4/5
Dose and Drip
We are now in the middle of winter, and it is time to embrace the comfort. After being inspired by Bigmoose to share kindness my friend and I have started sending books and a chocolate bar to each other in the post. It is such an easy and inexpensive way to show love and appreciation for each other. Luckily in Cardiff there are many second handbook shops to choose from, or I send a book that I have previously read so they can then also enjoy it. Here are a few book recommendations my friends and I have enjoyed this month. It is a mixture of thriller, biographies, romance, and easy reads.
Magpie by Elizabeth Day
My Body by Emily Ratajkowski
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
Carrie Soto is back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn