Little beats that first sip of coffee in the morning. Even better if it’s sitting by a sun-drenched window. Almost perfection if you’re lucky enough to sup your Joe on a balcony surrounded by birdsong. But imagine having that first taste of java watching the ocean outside, the day’s warmth already cocooning you in a relaxed hug.
From 2020, Sailors on Virgin Voyages will have coffee ground and created by Intelligentsia – a Chicago-based artisanal coffee supplier. Bid bad coffee goodbye as you’ll be in safe hands every single time you order from Ministry of Ground and Ministry of Ground Too – the two speciality coffee bars onboard Scarlet Lady and her sister ships.
The baristas serving at the ship’s coffee shops will be trained by Intelligentsia’s renowned coffee educators, which means your Flat White will be as flat as you like and your cappuccino frothy as standard. Though it goes without saying, it doesn’t matter how talented the baristas are if the coffee itself isn’t up to scratch.
Luckily, the special Virgin Voyages Blend sources fresh coffee year-round, from Intelligentsia’s Northern season menu in the summer and autumn, and Southern season menu in the winter and spring.
Intelligentsia is a pioneer of “third wave” coffee, which means the company is involved every step of the process from sourcing to griding the beans. They’re known for being the first to adopt the direct trade model, a progressive sourcing method where their buying team travels directly to coffee-producing countries to source and collaborate with partners.
So, as well as drinking a heady cup of strong coffee onboard, you can also do so safe in the knowledge that everyone involved in the supply chain was paid fairly in the process. Environmental sustainability and social impact are at the core of Virgin Voyages’ values. The brand’s purpose is to create an ‘Epic Sea Change for All’ and use business as a force for good, creating positive changes for people and the planet.
“I judge a city by the quality of its coffee as social conversations cannot start before I’ve had my daily dose of personality juice,” said Chris Stubbs, senior director of Sailor Experience at Virgin Voyages.
