Brontë Run Club x Triple Co Roast: Coffee, Community & a Thursday Morning Run in Saffron Walden
Twenty runners, a fresh Burundi coffee on bar, a few goats on route and plenty of post run conversation. Our first Brontë Run Club x Triple Co Roast morning was exactly the kind of local link up we want more of.
Coffee first. Miles second.
On Thursday 20 August, more than 20 runners met outside Brontë Café in Saffron Walden for our regular Thursday Run Club, this time with a proper coffee fuelled twist.
We were joined by our friends at Triple Co Roast, who brought their Burundi coffee to the bar for the morning. It was a brilliant fit for the occasion. Clean, delicious and versatile enough to shine both as filter coffee and through milk.
I went for a cortado and can confidently say it hit the spot after the run.
A huge thank you to Sam from Triple Co Roast for making the trip up from Bristol and helping us turn a standard Thursday morning into something a little more special.
All paces. One crew.
Brontë Run Club is never about split times, race entries or having the newest kit. It is about getting out of the door, moving through the town together and having a reason to catch up over a great coffee afterwards.
The group included a real mix of runners. Regular Thursday faces, first timers, parents with buggies, dogs, social runners and people properly putting in the miles. Everyone was welcome, whatever their pace or experience.
That is the point. Turn up, run your run and finish together at the café.
The Saffron Walden route
Our route took in some of the best bits of Saffron Walden. Quiet lanes, familiar corners, a few local sights and, unexpectedly, a small herd of goats.
It was a proper reminder that you do not need to go far to find a good route or a good reason to run.
There is something about an early morning group run that makes a town feel different. The streets are quieter, the coffee tastes better afterwards and the usual Thursday routine gets replaced with a bit of energy and a lot of chat.
Back to Brontë
Once everyone was back at Brontë Café, the focus shifted from kilometres to coffee.
Runners filled the tables and pavement outside, catching up over cups of Burundi, chatting about routes, shoes, races, life and whatever else comes up when you get a good group of people together.
The whole morning had the feel we love most. Relaxed, welcoming, a little bit busy and built around good coffee and good people.
Triple Co Roast on the bar, runners spilling out onto the street, dogs, kids, buggies and plenty of post run caffeine. Exactly how a community run club should feel.
More to come
We are passionate about two things at Brontë: making excellent coffee and creating reasons for people to get together. Run Club sits right in the middle of both.
This was a one off collaboration for now, but it definitely will not be the last.
We are already thinking about another Brontë Run Club event. Maybe a weekend run next time, a longer social route, more coffee partners and another chance to bring the Saffron Walden running community together.
For now, thank you to everyone who came down, ran with us, brought friends, pushed buggies, walked dogs, drank coffee and made the morning what it was.
See you next Thursday.
A Coffee Shop Day Trip to Edinburgh
Some trips are planned around landmarks. Ours was planned around coffee.
We took Max and Jordan on a quick flight up to Edinburgh for a full day of wandering, catching trams and buses, and working our way through some of the city’s most exciting coffee shops. It was one of those days where the itinerary stayed loose. The weather did its thing, and every turn seemed to lead to another beautiful building, busy street or place worth stopping for a drink.
Edinburgh has that rare ability to feel historic, creative and properly alive all at once. From the steep stone closes around the Old Town to the packed streets beneath the castle, there was always something happening. The Fringe Festival was in full swing too, bringing performers, posters, crowds and a real sense of warmth to every part of the city. It made a brilliant backdrop to a coffee focused day out. Busy, vibrant and full of people making things happen.
Coffee first, always
For us, visiting coffee shops is never just about ticking names off a list. It is about seeing how a space works, how people use it, what the team has built around the coffee and how hospitality changes from one city to the next.
Edinburgh felt especially strong in that respect. Each stop had its own energy. People meeting friends over pastries, regulars grabbing takeaway cups, busy counters, thoughtful interiors and cafés that felt woven into the everyday rhythm of the city.
One of the standouts was Beatnik. Their cold brew was exceptional. It was clean, balanced and seriously refreshing, easily rivalling some of the best coffee we have had in London and further afield. On a day spent moving around the city on foot, by tram and by bus, it was exactly what we needed. A proper reminder that a well made cold coffee can be every bit as considered as an espresso based drink.
We also found ourselves drawn to the smaller details. Colourful shopfronts, packed pavement tables, beautiful old buildings and cafés tucked between streets that looked as though they had been there for hundreds of years. Edinburgh has a way of making even a quick coffee stop feel like part of the adventure.
Taking the long way round
We covered plenty of ground. From winding streets near the Royal Mile and views of Edinburgh Castle, to lively areas packed with Fringe crowds, we moved through the city in the best possible way: slowly enough to notice it.
Walking was the main event, but trams and buses helped us stitch the day together. There is something satisfying about seeing a city from public transport too. You watch neighbourhoods shift outside the window, spot cafés you would never have otherwise found and get a feel for how people actually move through their day.
That mixture of old stone, busy roads, independent businesses and festival atmosphere gave Edinburgh a real buzz. It felt creative without trying too hard, and busy without losing its character.
Spaces that make you stop
As coffee people, the spaces themselves matter just as much as what is in the cup.
The best cafés give you a reason to stay. A great bar, good music, warm service, seats facing the street, a place to catch up with friends or simply a window spot where you can watch the world pass by. Edinburgh had plenty of that.
It was inspiring to see independent coffee shops sitting naturally within the city’s wider hospitality scene, alongside bakeries, sandwich spots, wine bars and restaurants. The strongest places did not feel like they were just serving coffee. They felt like part of their neighbourhood.
That is always something we take away from trips like this. Whether we are serving from the Bronte coffee shop, setting up one of our mobile coffee trucks for an event or planning the next step for Truckhiato, the goal is the same. Make great coffee, create a welcoming space and give people a reason to come back.
What Edinburgh reminded us
A day like this is useful in more ways than one. It is a reset, a catch up with friends and a chance to drink some brilliant coffee. It is also research in the best sense of the word.
We came back with plenty of ideas around café design, service, menu thinking and the role a fixed coffee space can play alongside mobile coffee catering. Our coffee carts and mobile coffee trucks have always been about bringing quality coffee to people wherever they are: weddings, corporate events, brand activations and private parties. But there is something equally exciting about building a permanent space that becomes part of people’s routines.
It may not necessarily be in Edinburgh, although it is certainly a city we would happily return to. Somewhere that gives Truckhiato room to grow beyond the road would be the goal. A second fixed location would be a chance to bring together everything we enjoy about specialty coffee, hospitality, design and community, while keeping the flexibility and personality that comes with our mobile coffee business.
For now, though, we are very happy to have had a brilliant day out with Bronte, Max and Jordan, a camera full of photos and plenty of coffee inspiration to bring home.
Edinburgh, we will be back.
Gtechniq Open Day
Gtechniq Open Day x BMW Club: Cars, Coffee and Sunshine
If you love BMWs, specialty coffee and the kind of lifestyle event where car culture meets cafe culture, the Gtechniq Open Day for the BMW Club was right up your street. This BMW detailing event at Gtechniq HQ brought together show ready cars, premium car care products and our specialty coffee cart serving fresh espresso and latte art all day long. From glossy paintwork to perfectly poured flat whites, it was the ideal place for anyone into cars, coffee, art, lifestyle and local coffee roasters like Triple Co Roast.
A HQ Turned Showground
By mid morning, the forecourt outside Gtechniq’s HQ was already filling up with a seriously tidy line up of Bavarian metal. Clean M cars, daily drivers and long term projects all lined the yard, each one getting that extra bit of attention thanks to Gtechniq’s detailing demos and product walk throughs.
Inside, the team opened up their facility to showcase how their ceramic coatings, shampoos and finishing sprays come together, giving BMW owners a behind the scenes look at the products that keep their cars looking box fresh.
Fuel for Drivers, Not Just Cars
Out front, our coffee cart set up shop under the parasol, bringing a little specialty coffee and street side art to the day. The menu was stacked with proper espresso based drinks such as flat whites, cortados and iced lattes, all poured with silky latte art to match the gloss on the cars.
We pulled shot after shot of Triple Co Roast, keeping drivers, detailers and spectators topped up between product demos and bonnet up conversations. There is something about holding a good coffee while talking paint depths, swirl marks and wheel setups that just feels right.
Sunshine, Conversation and Community
The weather turned it into one of those rare UK days where you forget you even own a jacket. Blue skies, bright light bouncing off freshly detailed bodywork and that low hum of car chat that never really stops.
Groups formed naturally, clusters around the demo bay, circles of chairs next to the cars, people leaning on bonnets with a cappuccino in hand, and the conversations bounced from favourite BMW builds to best coffee spots, from ceramic coatings to local roasters and art led lifestyle brands.
More Than Just an Open Day
Events like this are why we love what we do. It is not just about turning up, serving coffee and heading home. It is about being part of a community where cars, coffee, design and everyday lifestyle overlap, where a perfectly dialled in M car sits a few feet away from a perfectly dialled in flat white.
Huge thanks to Gtechniq for having us down, to the BMW Club for bringing such a strong turnout, and to everyone who stopped by the cart for a drink, a chat or just to watch a bit of latte art. We are already looking forward to the next time we can roll up, plug in the grinder and bring specialty coffee to another corner of the car world.
Bronte Run Club
Run Club continues to go from strength to strength. Every Thursday, rain, shine (and occasionally salty sea spray), the ever-growing crew gathers at Bronte RC HQ to kick-start the day with movement, energy, and good company.
The weekly routine has become something of a ritual: a punchy 5km at 6:30am for those who like to set the pace early, followed by a more relaxed 5km at 7:15am that welcomes both seasoned runners and those just finding their rhythm. It’s the perfect balance—one run to test your legs, another to enjoy the ride.
What makes Bronte Run Club special isn’t just the running, it’s the people. From its very first morning, the ethos has never wavered: all abilities, all backgrounds, every stride welcome. Whether you’re chasing a PB, shaking off the mid-week cobwebs, or simply showing up for the post-run coffee, there’s a place for you in the pack.
And perhaps the most rewarding part? Watching new friendships form mile by mile. Conversations that start while jogging often end with weekend plans, training buddies, and lifelong connections. It’s proof that movement brings people together—in the best way possible.
Here’s to more Thursday mornings, more kilometres shared, and more stories written on the pavements one stride at a time.
oFF SEASON
There’s never really an off-season for us. When the colder weather sets in, the drinks get hotter and sweeter; when the warmer days roll around, they get much, much cooler.
That said, during a brief pause in the event season, we’ve had the chance to crack on with converting ‘OBI’, our 1972 Bedford.
The aim of this build is simple: create a truck that’s easy on the eye and can be run, set up, and operated by a single barista. It’s our first venture into making coffee inside a vehicle, so insulation and easy clean-down after a busy day were top priorities.
We started with thick foam insulation, packing it between all the braces, then fixed timber battens to allow us to mount the plywood. The original floor, while sturdy, would’ve been a nightmare to sweep and mop, so we laid down waterproof MDF and topped it with hard-wearing, catering-grade vinyl.
For the work surfaces, we went with two stainless steel counters — strong enough to hold a coffee machine plus all the kit, and perfect for non-stop cleaning.
Wherever possible, we like to buy second-hand or repurpose items. Not only does it fit our look and feel, it’s also far more sustainable — something we care about a lot.
Under Construction.
In late 2024, we purchased OBI, a 1972 Bedford CF, from Shoreditch, London. Originally a RAF laundry truck, it later had a brief stint as a vintage furniture delivery vehicle before we took it on.
Over the past few months he has sat, whilst we’ve been gathering equipment to fit it out. Most recently, we installed a custom-fabricated serving hatch.
The plan is simple: another aesthetically pleasing coffee truck, but one capable of operating in the toughest locations. For now, we’re holding back on offering food—there’s plenty of space to work with, but no food truck just yet.
The truck will travel across the UK, bringing great coffee to as many people as possible.
Obi is expected to be completed in July, ready for a busy summer.
So, as a little update… here he is!
Guest espresso
2024 was a year purely held up by the power that is wood street coffee, this year we’re aiming to support one of the best with some of the best coffee roasters and their coffee with different guest espressos. To kick off we’re using Dark Arts - Lost High way. A delightful bean from Mexico, it’s like a warm hug in the afternoon.
We’ll only be ordering between 10-15kg per month, so it won’t hang about.
Cars & Coffee
We have a setup for every event, the lovely guys’n gals at HOONIGAN reached out to us to see if we’d cover their coffee needs.
A true iced coffee kinda day with an eclectic selection of the finest automobiles. brand-new.
65l of ice & a cow sheds worth of milk had us pretty well covered.
Event season
Event seson
It has begun, one of the busiest times of the year.
On Saturday, we hit up Rickling RunFest, followed by a community cycle event on the common in Saffron Walden. These events are both super local to us. It was so lovely to have shop regulars finally see and enjoy the truck
Got an event? Pop us a message.
Private event
The shop welcomed down The Walden Triathlon club for their annual AGM.
Bronte is a place for all, it was lovely to put on a spread of picky bits and let the nigh unfold.
Having taken the coffee truck to both the kids and the adults triathlon events, it was great getting the chance to show them what we’re all about.
The request was simple, put on enough food and drink for the club members, if you’ve got an event and want us to sort it, pop us a message here.
Slurp Club
Slurp Club
What an absolute delight it was to have Woodstreet coffee roasters down for our first slurp club.
The shop was filled with a mixture of customers, friends and coffee connoisseurs. A blind tasting was run through, a second tasting was run through as George explained the flavour notes and what people might be experiencing.
Once everyone had a tried the coffees on offer, it was time to guess the blend. George did a fantastic job of keeping it light yet informative.
Tacos, sangria, cocktails & Pimms.
The taco man food truck and truckhiato blog
What a wonderful bank holiday Monday. Almost nonstop sunshine, lead to what can only be described as a wonderful afternoon.
Nick from @tacomanfoodtruck, blessed us with his presence and supported our afternoon. Nick is locally famed for his tacos and way with food.
The event was a taster into the world of snacks and cocktails, consensus is it’s a firm favourite. Will be looking to do this at least once a month going forwards.
The tacos went down so well, we’re going to aim to do it at least once a month. Why not.
Bronte Run club
Week in week out Run Clun has continued to smash it.
Week in week out, Run Club has continued to smash it.
It’s fantastic to see so many new faces and so many familiar ones. As we tick over the shops 15th run, the Km’s are really starting to tick over.
The runs start from the shop at 7:15am every Thursday, all abilities are welcome. A can do attitude is mandatory.