A New Coffee Setup for a Luxury Resort
Location: Caerphilly, South Wales
Sector: Luxury Hospitality
Project Scope: Equipment Installation, Barista Training, Coffee Supply
Equipment: Sanremo D8, Anfim Luna, PUQPress Q2
Coffee: Amico Classico
Who Are Bryn Meadows?
Bryn Meadows is a luxury four-star hotel and wellness retreat nestled in over 100 acres of rolling meadowland in the South Wales countryside. Just outside Caerphilly, the resort blends elegant hospitality with stunning natural views, offering guests a peaceful escape with a strong emphasis on health, relaxation, and leisure.
The site is home to 42 beautifully appointed rooms, a championship 18-hole parkland golf course, and the award-winning Fusion Spa—complete with hydrotherapy facilities, a 30-station gym, and a full treatment menu.
The on-site Blas Restaurant and stylish function spaces also make it a popular choice for weddings, business events, and private getaways alike.
With a reputation for warm Welsh hospitality and high-end facilities, Bryn Meadows needed a coffee solution that would deliver the same standard of experience, reliably, at pace, and across every area of the hotel
The Challenge
When Bryn Meadows Hotel Golf and Spa approached Bridge Coffee Roasters, they were struggling with fundamental coffee service issues that were impacting their guests' experience. Their existing setup told a familiar story: an old, broken-down espresso machine that couldn't deliver consistency, poor quality coffee that left guests disappointed, and a complete lack of account management or support from their previous supplier.
With high staff turnover adding to the operational challenges, they needed more than just new equipment: They needed a complete coffee solution that could deliver quality results regardless of who was behind the bar.
Our Approach
We spotted the opportunity to greatly increase the quality of the coffee at Bryn Meadow's by tackling the issue of staff turnover in a few key ways:
- High quality, easy to use equipment.
- A rigorous training program.
- Premium ingredients and coffee beans.
- A complete support package.
Phased Implementation Approach
We began with coffee supply in April 2024, allowing a three-month period to gather guest feedback before the equipment installation. This strategic approach ensured we understood their guests' preferences before committing to the full setup, and gave the Bryn Meadow's team complete confidence in our ability as a supportive coffee provider.
Espresso Machine Package
In terms of equipment, we recommended an affordable yet high quality traditional espresso machine setup:
- Sanremo D8 Espresso Machine – the latest in Italian espresso technology
- Anfim Luna Grinder – precision grinding for consistent extraction
- Puqpress Q2 Tamper – automated tamping for perfect consistency
- C500 Water Filter – ensuring optimal water quality for extraction
Whilst a more automated setup from a bean-to-cup or super automatic coffee machine would have made coffee brewing even easier for their teams, it was important to maintain a barista-crafted experience for their customers.
An Affordable, High Quality Espresso Machine
Bryn Meadows invested in a 2 Group, full black Sanremo D8 - a modern single boiler espresso machine that offers unbeatable features and performance for its price.
Complete Support Package:
- Full equipment installation and old machine removal
- Comprehensive barista training sessions
- Gold Service Cover with bi-annual maintenance visits
- Ongoing coffee supply with Amico Classico blend
In terms of the installation process and ongoing support, everything has ran smoothly. The hotel has heard significant positive feedback from staff and customers in the quality of the coffee and ease of the setup.
Were There Any Issues?
The project wasn't without its challenges. The Sanremo D8 didn't include a hot/cool water mix valve as standard, something we hadn't anticipated and have now rectified going forward. This meant that the hot water tap on the espresso machine dispensed boiling, steaming water that was both loud and messy.
Because the teams served a large number of teas and americanos, this was an issue that needed resolving. On our recommendation, Bryn Meadows installed an affordable, dedicated hot water boiler which had an improved workflow, and had the added benefit of improving the performance of their espresso machine.
The Result?
One year on, the transformation has been remarkable. Their new equipment has proven to be a game-changer, delivering consistent, high-quality espresso that matches their ambitions.
The maintenance programme has been crucial in managing their high staff turnover. What started as routine grinder calibration visits have evolved into reactive training sessions, ensuring new staff can maintain the same high standards regardless of experience level.
What have they said?
"Working with Bridge has completely transformed our coffee service. Being one of the first in the UK to have the Sanremo D8 is a real point of difference, and the support from Silas and the team means we never have to worry about consistency, even with our staff changes.
The local relationship makes all the difference, they're always there when we need them."
– Bryn Meadows Hotel, Golf, and Spa
