Spotlight on Sale Moon: APAX in Action
For the very first edition of our mini case studies showcasing some best practices with APAX LAB in cafés, we’re taking you inside Sale Moon, a vibrant café in Manchester, UK. Since June 2024, they’ve been using APAX LAB mineral concentrates in their shop to elevate their coffee game.
Here’s how they’re leveraging the power of APAX LAB mineral concentrates to come up with precise water recipes that allows them to serve consistently exceptional coffee.
How Sale Moon uses APAX LAB to Unlock the Best of Every Coffee:
Sale Moon’s approach to coffee is both innovative and meticulous. With an impressive freezer archive of diverse coffee varieties, they use APAX LAB to tailor their brewing water specifically to each coffee’s needs. By adjusting the mineral content, they’re able to extract the unique qualities of every coffee bean, ensuring that each brew reaches its full potential.
The simplicity of APAX LAB's approach allows for easy communication between team members. This consistency is crucial in maintaining the café’s high standards, especially when serving up a wide range of coffees with distinct flavour profiles.
How they integrate APAX LAB into their workflow behind the bar
To ensure precision, Sale Moon integrates APAX LAB directly into their bar workflow. They pre-dose 250ml glass bottles with brewing water before service, adding the required drops of TONIK, JAMM, and LYLAC as needed. This approach ensures that the concentration remains consistent for each cup and easy for everyone to replicate.
Their starting point is to use a BWT Bestmin filter, which produces a base water with about 40 ppm— as they live in a soft-water environment. From there, they use the APAX concentrates to fine-tune the water, creating an optimal environment for each coffee’s extraction. From there they use the 3 number system - representing the drops for each concentrate (TONIK / JAMM / LYLAC) - a system that’s both efficient and precise.
How they introduce APAX LAB to their customers
With an open bar setup that invites interaction, Sale Moon’s staff frequently find themselves answering curious customers' questions about their process. When the mysterious "seasoning drops" come out, the explanation is simple: “It’s seasoning for coffee.” This analogy resonates with customers, who understand how minerals like salt can elevate flavours in food. The comparison helps bridge the gap between cooking and coffee brewing, making it easier for customers to appreciate the impact of APAX LAB on their cup!
Some of the feedback they receive
Sale Moon has become a go-to spot for brewers and baristas, many of whom have taken APAX LAB concentrates home to use in their own brewing. One of the most common pieces of feedback is about the ease of use. With each concentrate having a predictable impact on the brew, it’s simple to start crafting custom water recipes. The combination of simplicity and customisation makes APAX LAB a versatile tool, whether you’re experimenting behind the bar or perfecting your home brew.
Sale Moon's favourite APAX LAB profile
When asked which APAX LAB profile is their favourite, Sale Moon said they lean towards JAMM. Known for enhancing sweetness and adding a fuller body to coffee, JAMM has become a staple in their recipe development. It’s particularly effective with a wide range of coffee styles, from the delicate notes of Sidra and Gesha to more adventurous fermented coffees. As they often say “JAMM is almost never the wrong answer” when it comes to dialling in a new coffee!
Conclusion: Elevating the Coffee Experience, One Drop at a Time
By tailoring their water recipes to match each coffee’s unique profile, Sale Moon offers a consistent and elevated coffee experience that their customers love. With a streamlined process and a deep understanding of the different APAX LAB profiles, Sale Moon is truly showcasing the potential of the coffees they are serving!