Jason Oslar’s airstream coffee trailer is a thing of beauty. It’s also probably the only sixteen-foot trailer to carry four grinders, a San Remo espresso machine, water purification kit and two fridges. As Jason admits, “I went a bit mad on equipment, trying to replicate my old shop.”
The original Oslar Coffee was a café in Wokingham that Jason opened seven years previously after abandoning a career in IT design. A local institution, it won several food and drink awards.
However, Jason and his wife longed to move to the coast and the café was something he loved, but needed to make portable. So, in late 2019, he sold up and planned a new mobile coffee venture – with support from Paymentsense. “I was offered a 3-month waiver on my card machine which was a nice gesture and act of support.”
The trailer, which was built to order by Rocket Caravans in Kidderminster, was ready on 12th February and christened ‘Shirley’ after his late mother. When he announced the trial run, his phone started ringing off the hook.
Powering through a pandemic
In response to the lockdown, Jason started running coffee deliveries from his driveway to his neighbourhood in Jennett’s Park – promoting the service on Instagram and Twitter. “They couldn’t believe it was me and that they could get a decent brew delivered to their door.”
Residents would call Jason up with their orders which he’d then deliver by car. “I remember firing up the Paymentsense card machine… and then taking an Amex card over the phone – our first paying customer.”
A more flexible future
Having recently wound up the delivery service, Jason is now back on the road, but lockdown brought several learnings. For example, he’s now contactless only. “It’s easier, safer and the money clears the next day.”
Oslar Coffee will also focus on events. Prior to lockdown, actor Luke Evans’ agent asked Jason to serve an end-of-shoot party in Cardiff. “They couldn’t get enough of it and have asked me over to Shepperton when filming resumes.”
Expect to see more of Oslar Coffee in future. As he says himself “It’s a beautiful unit and there’s a real demand for great coffee.”
Want the freedom to take cards whenever and wherever you choose? Need card payments that that work for your business? Get a quote today.