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‘I just bought the van from eBay’
This time last year, Susan Boyle didn’t know how to use a coffee machine. In fact, she didn’t even drink coffee.
One year on and she is the proud owner of The Fabulously Green Coffee Machine; an eco-friendly coffee business in the form of a solar-powered, three-wheel Piaggio van.
Parked close to the corner of Portwall Lane and Redcliff Street, Susan serves coffee from Clifton Coffee and Bosh cakes from Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 2pm.
is needed now More than ever
Clifton Coffee Roasters provide the beans for the Fabulously Green Coffee Machine
“I just bought the van from eBay,” Susan says with a satisfied smile. “It was a huge risk, but it’s been going well.”
After spending the winter months on Whiteladies Road, Susan has now pitched up beside the busy Redcliffe roundabout.
Between varying sirens, business and bustle; Susan chats about her eco-friendly focus, her previous career and van-based mishaps.
“I use Vegware cups and avoid single-use plastic. The van is solar-powered and split charge, so I have to drive around Bristol to charge the battery. I block lots of traffic – I apologise to everyone who gets stuck behind me!”
“I think the eco-friendly focus is really important. People say to me: ‘do you have compostable cups?’ before they buy. I don’t think I could trade if I were handing out plastic cups.”
Susan works as an air hostess part-time while not serving coffee and cakes
Originally from Newcastle, Susan has been based in Bristol for nearly two decades. For 15 years, she was a full-time air hostess but decided it was time for a change with the city she now calls home.
“It was great – in the beginning. It’s less exciting when you’ve been everywhere – many, many times – and your favourite place is home. So, I wanted a job that was at home. This was perfect.”
As Susan serves passersby, unphased by the sheer noise of the road beside her, you wouldn’t know she was so new to the coffee scene. Despite this, she happily admits that she is yet to master some aspects of the business.
“I don’t know how to change a gas bottle,” Susan admits. “I’m still just winging it, really! Every time something goes wrong, I think: do I know how to fix that? Probably not.”
The Fabulously Green Coffee Machine is a solar-powered, three-wheel Piaggio van
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