2022 Romanian National Latte Art & Cup Tasting Champions
It takes a lot of determination, discipline and constant training for this kind of competition and our colleagues definitely were above any expectation. Damian Narița proudly earned ”National Cup Tasting Champion” title and Cristi Oltean took home the ”National Latte Art Champion” entitling!
A big shout-out to Amy, Bobo, George, Moise for also participating, your evolution is outstanding!
Our team is an example of hardworking and excellence driven baristas and we are here to cheer them all the way! ?? We couldn’t be more proud, guys, you deserve it!
MERON, investitie de 120.000 euro in cafeneaua cu numarul 21
MERON, un brand de coffee shop-uri de specialitate, a deschis cea de-a 21-a unitate a rețelei, la Sibiu, în urma unei investiții în valoare de 120.000 de euro. Compania a încheiat anul 2021 cu o cifră de afaceri de peste 20 de milioane de lei și preconizează o creștere de 15% pentru anul 2022.
MERON, un business activ pe segmentul cafelei de specialitate înființat de Bogdan Ciocian la Cluj-Napoca, a deschis primul coffee shop din Sibiu, al 21-lea din țară.
Cu o investiție totală de peste 120.000 de euro, noua locație este situată în Piața Mare din Sibiu, fiind cel de-al doilea coffee shop deschis anul acesta, după cel din Bistrița.
Sibiul devine astfel al 10-lea oraș în care Meron e prezent cu o locație fizică. Noul coffee shop deschis la Sibiu are suprafață de 70 de metri pătrați și o capacitate de aproximativ 30 de persoane.
Pe lângă cafeaua cu care și-a obișnuit clienții, brandul clujean aduce la noua cafenea din Sibiu un meniu de brunch gătit la locație și cu patiserie in-house.
Cu o investiție inițială de 70.000 de euro acum șapte ani, compania MERON a încheiat anul 2021 cu o cifră de afaceri de peste 20 de milioane de lei și preconizează pentru anul 2022 o creștere de 15%.
Mai multe, aici.
Ciao, World of Coffee Milan!
Since the early stages of Meron, we have been meticulously finding excellent origins, constantly learning, and creating a team that works day after day after day to bring only the finest of what specialty coffee has to offer. We indeed brought a small part of our own world to World Of Coffee in Milan from the 23rd to the 25th of June, so the days prior to this have been filled with meetings concerning origins selection, roasting, cupping, and brewing, packaging, and shipping.
We’ve left Romania full of emotions since Cristi and Damian were about to represent Romania as “National Latte Art Champion” and “National Cup Tasting Champion” for this event. This type of competition requires a lot of dedication, discipline, and rigorous training, and our teammates definitely exceeded our expectations. We cheered for them through the competition and we are more than proud to have them on our team!
Calin, Bicu, Robert and Anastasia did an incredible job showing off their brewing skills on pour-over and espresso. Our amazing origins were definitely handled with care:
Ethiopia Daye Bensa – natural anaerobic processing and tasting notes of white flowers, melon, green apple and honey;
Brazilia Fazenda Guariroba – double anaerobic fermentation with quince, cedar, white grapefruit, brown sugar tasting notes
Colombia Diego Samuel – a thermal shock fermentation with hibiscus, red plums, blood orange, nectarine and berry candy tasting notes;
Mexic Aldama – honey processing method with cranberry, raisin, wine and maple syrup tasting notes.
Colombia El Obraje – a washed processing method with orange blossom, starfruits, tangerine, white chocolate and vanilla tasting notes
Colombia La Maria – anaerobic washed processing with red currant, clove, cocoa, caramel tasting notes.
The pleasure was on us while hosting the Bar Takeovers with so many charismatic coffee experts from the industry. We had a great time with Luis from Finca Llamadas who poured over Finca Guacobia Pink Bourbon, a high quality micro lot from Finca Guacobia with a processing method of 400h low temperature anaerobic fermentation. We had more takeover sessions with guests that amazed us with their coffees and knowledge: Coco from Lerida Coffee Estate, Wilford from Lamastus Family Estates, Jorje from Inmaculada Coffee Farms. All of them were simply amazing behind the bar, exchanging infos with our crew and having a great time!
From the first minute to the last, we brewed our greatest and most well-known origins. Milan fell in love with El Obraje, a washed Geisha from Colombia that we simply adore. Special thanks to everyone who stood behind the bar and brewed our origins to perfection.
We proudly represented the Romanian specialty coffee industry along with other industry mates and we enjoyed every second of it.
Until we meet again, we will
Keep Roasting light & staying bold.
PS: Many thanks to our partner ATP Group for taking us there safely
Bonjour, nos amis! – Paris Cafe Festival 2022
This year’s edition of Paris Cafe Festival was held between 14th-16th of May 2022 at Centquatre and we were completely impressed by its intimacy and energy. We brought our most exquisite origins to display and looked forward with excitement to what was about to come.
Another chapter has come to an end, we left in Paris a little bit of our soul, but took with us memories that are more than words could ever describe.
Each coffee festival has its own mood, gathering people with unique experiences that are ready to be told, driven by the same passion and thankful to be part of such an amazing community.
Our team wandered the streets of Paris, getting inspired by the culture and architecture, while sipping extraordinary coffee origins and we couldn’t wait for their stories!
MERON X MERCEDES BENZ by ATP Motors
Every delivery is important, so we do our best to be on time every single day. Thanks to Mercedes Benz by ATP Motors, now we can do this in a powerful and stylish way.
The new Mercedes Benz Citan is a versatile commercial car, which helps you drive relaxed in the city’s chaos and always arrive on time. You will be impressed by its efficiency, safety, durability and sustenablity. This car definitely set new standards when it comes to quality at every work place.
Mercedes Benz by ATP Motors is here to answer any questions you might have and to recommend the best car option for your needs. Meanwhile, we’ll make sure to bring your orders as quickly as possible!
London Coffee Festival 2022 – Roasting light, staying bold & making the best out of it
The 2022 edition of London Coffee Festival was held at The Truman Brewery from March 31st to April 3rd, 2022 & it was beyond any of our expectations. We had a wonderful time exploring the fair, meeting so many independent roasters and trying so many exceptional coffees. It was our very first participation at this event in London and we highly enjoyed it, so we will definitely come back.
Being the only Romanian roasters with a counter, we were excited to display our most valued origins like: Colombia Diego Samuel, Ethiopia Daye Bensa and Honduras San Rafael and many more. We brewed exquisite espressos on a beautiful Linea Mini from La Marzocco but also exquisite manual pour overs for every one of you who stopped by.
There is no doubt that our Panama Mount Totumas stole the show in London: everybody loved this coffee from our rarities collection and it was highly appreciated by every person that came by to try it. This is one of our most special coffees as we chose to trade it directly from the farmers. We paid them a visit not so long ago and discussed every aspect of planting, harvesting and developing the variety.
We had an amazing time chatting, brewing and sharing knowledge with coffee professionals and enthusiasts. For 4 full days, we wrote a new chapter with a lot of enthusiasm while making memories, from simply meeting other Romanian coffee friends to exchanging coffee bags with other local exhibitors.
What mattered the most was the community we gathered there and with whom we managed to create long-lasting connections. We’ve made new friends, tasted some amazing coffees and proudly represented the Romanian specialty coffee industry.
Until next time,
We will keep
Roasting light & staying bold.
The Yellow Box Subscription – The benefits of Meron Coffee Subscription
Freshly roasted coffee is one of the things we value most in Meron. Whether you find it at Meron Roastery, on our locations, online on shop or on the grinders in our coffee shops, we always make sure that we extract in the cup only the best beans.
We select coffee origins from all over the world, which we roast in Cluj-Napoca, depending on the parameters we constantly adjust. We work with single origin coffee that we test closely, to get the best results on espresso – with or without milk and on filter. Our roasting style is medium light and we are always looking for complex origins that will surprise our taste buds: floral, fruity or chocolate origins, with classic or anaerobic processing.
So tell us. How many times you stood in front of our coffee shops, staring at the shop, wondering what to buy? Of course, you can always ask our baristas for a recommendation, but isn’t it easier to order your coffee at home? You share with us your coffee preferences and we prepare a coffee box suited for you.
We got you covered! We have prepared for you The Yellow Box, the monthly or weekly coffee subscription with origins specially selected by our roaster. You choose the period, the type of subscription, we write down in the calendar, we put in the yellow package the best coffee beans and we send them to you at home or at the office.
This way, you will always have freshly roasted coffee, delivered directly to your home. Carefree and much more eager to explore the culture of specialty coffee. Easy, right?
What is Yellow Box Subscription and what are its benefits?
Coffee subscription is the service that allows you to sample different types of coffee beans, roasts, and origin. Then, place an order on when and how frequently they want that coffee or a blend delivered to their doorstep.
We offer a direct subscription – meaning we are the roasters and the ones in charge of delivering the coffee. Our selection of coffee are based on the experience of our Head Roaster, Delia Avram. So, we prepared for you two options:Coffee Explorer and Coffee Master. The first is dedicated to those coffee explorers, that enjoy tasting new coffees with every occasion. Coffee Master is dedicated to the coffee geeks, the ones looking for atypical fermentation & roasting.
What to expect?
The Coffee Explorer Box provides you with the coffee you need to embark on a journey of coffee discovery. No fuss, no stress, never run out of coffee. It’s designed for caffeine junkies or those who never miss the opportunity to try new origins, roasting styles, using different brewing methods.
- Every coffee subscription edition contains two or four unique coffees. This way, you will never run out of coffee, with a slight chance to taste twice to have the same thing twice (unless you want to!);
- Seasonal 100% Arabica single-origin coffees;
- Roasted on order and delivered as whole beans or ground for your brewing methods;
- A perfect representation of unique varieties, clean processing methods and new origins.
The Coffee Master Box is a complex experience. Each box contains either Meron Rarities or Founder Selection (or both) – nano or micro lots of coffees that we select from all over the world, we roast and taste them at our roastery in Transylvania. Among coffee lovers they are known as “something exquisite” – indulging coffees for you to enjoy.
- Designed for coffee enthusiasts and professionals who never stop searching for the ultimate nuanced coffee experience;
- A coffee of the month club that allows you exclusive access to amazing micro-lot coffees from around the world;
- Complex coffees with expressive profiles and experimental processing;
- Consultancy available to you whenever you need it.
What should you look for in a coffee subscription service?
- Coffee origins selection
- Customer care
- Frequency
- Delivery time
1. Fresh roasted coffee, but perfect rested for you to enjoy it
The very next annoying thing after running out of coffee is stale coffee beans when you look for a delicious brew. One of the particularities of specialty coffee is that is freshly roasted.
2. Reliability
2 bags per month or 4 bags per month, you chose – depending if you are a morning drinker or a heavy drinker. Depending on how many coffee lovers live under the same roof. A coffee subscription will save you from driving of walking into one of our coffee stores. Your favorite beans will be waiting you at home or the office as frequently as you want them without worrying of running out of coffee. We got you covered.
3. Single-origin coffee
Single-origin coffee means exactly how it sounds. It means that the beans come from one geographical region or country and could be harvested from the same farm or estate or multiple farms in the same country. Simply put, a single-origin coffee means that it comes from a single producer, crop, or region in one country. Coffees that aren’t single-origin are typically referred to as blends, which include more than one single-origin coffee.
4. Diversity and exclusive selections
We always encourage you to learn, explore and appreciate coffee. Every time you expose yourself to a new origin or processing, you are one step closer into understanding coffee. Opting for a subscription will give you access to a lot of kinds of beans that you may not find in coffee stores.
5. Costs
Yes, it is important for you to know that you can enjoy a good cup of coffee and save costs while you do it. It saves you money, time of walking down to the nearest coffee shop and the effort of choosing from what you can find in a coffee shop. You will spend less per cup, the coffee is delivered at your door. Another key point of a coffee subscription is knowledge regarding coffee. We ensure a constant developing of the consumer, sharing coffee samples, recipes, insights and useful information for coffee lovers.
Join the Yellow Box Subscription now. The cut-off date for customers’ orders is February 20, 2021. All orders placed before that date will be shipped out on March 1, 2021. Orders placed after February 20 will be shipped out on April 1, 2021.
Meron Wellness Initiative on Instagram: #WhatFillsYourCup
Today, January 18th, is claimed to be the most depressing day of the year. And it’s okay if you feel it too.
It takes patience, practice and time to learn how to cope with these feelings. And we’re here to help you. Meron is all about enjoying the present moment and slowing down for a little when needed.
Trying to deal with life’s challenges when your glass is empty runs you down physically and mentally, and makes you more vulnerable (and yes, chronic stress is an illness).
Meron always encourage you to enjoy the present moment. Cherish that #metime as often as you can. Take your mom on a date over coffee. Have a screen free weekend in order to enjoy your friends company and have #10secondsofrelaxation every Sunday.
Mental health and wellness during the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on people’s physical and mental health. A recent study conducted by Collaborative Outcomes on Health and Functioning during Infectious Times revealed that Romanians are sadder, angrier, much more anxious, and have an increased sense of loneliness. Specifically, 42% of respondents (approximately 2,000 people aged between 28 and 50 years old) reported a worsening of stress, and about a third of respondents reported a deterioration of nervousness.
“The study shows that the coronavirus pandemic can be extremely stressful for certain people. Fear and anxiety can be overwhelming both for adults as well as children. Preliminary data shows that certain pre-existing medical conditions intensified for many patients, while others began expressing states of anxiety, depression, and helplessness when faced with these new challenges. ” reads the press release.
Almost 70% of interviewees estimated an increase in the time they spent following mass-media as a way to cope with and manage the situation. Other methods to reduce stress and pass the time included physical exercise, open-air walks, discovering new hobbies, spending time with pets, and sexual activities.
Meron wellness initiative: Fill your cup with healthy thoughts
This is what we are going to talk about every last Monday of the month with specialists in their fields: psychology, sports, nutrition, meditation, to fill your cup with coffee, good thoughts and well spent time.
Our first guest of this series (cause yes, this will become our dearest series of talks) is Raluca Anton, science oriented psychotherapist & trainer. She will talk on our Instagram about how to cope with blue moods next Monday on January, 25.
Join her and at the end of the session don’t be shy, ask her anything! See you on Instagram: @meron.coffee
Morning coffee together at Legal Accelerators
Specialty coffee nowadays has developed to the point that it covers more than your need for caffeine. And we are truly geeks when it comes to equipment and fully snobs when it comes to explaining what a good coffee should taste like. In our industry, every chain of the supply aims to bring out the best notes & flavors in the bean. And even if it’s all made with passion, you got to have science and technology on your side.
When we received the invitation to be part of Legal Accelerators Conference we thought… how can we, as specialty coffee professionals can be relevant for this niched event and for the people that are part of it? Btw, Legal Accelerators is a brand new online international conference and exhibition dedicated to legal technology and innovation.
So, our Delia (Head Barista, Head Trainer and Head Roaster) decided to take them in our roastery world – the real coffee hub, where she prepared two coffee drinks: cappuccino and brew.
Her tools?
Our La Marzocco KB-90 espresso machine. It helped us extract a perfectly calibrated espresso, while Delia has presented how innovation works in the coffee industry: quantity, temperature, pressure & time.
Next, we brewed smartly using GINA Smart Coffee Brewer by Goat Story – connected to the phone. Gina – the elegant and smart device turns brewing into a digital coffee experience.
Let’s start with the espresso & cappuccino. Delia, your turn now!
The following text is a transcript of Delia’s intervention at the event.
What is so special about La Marzocco KB-90 espresso machine? It has incorporated scales, so I don t have to use a different scale in order to see how much I extract from the coffee. We follow a recipe, we put a certain amount of coffee into the basket and we extract a certain amount of coffee in a given time. We can adjust the temperature and the pressure. In order to make sure I will obtain now the same coffee I had tasted earlier, I will use a scale to see how much coffee I put in.
Recipe: I use 90 grams of coffee and I help myself with a distributor, in order to make the coffee bed flat. When I tamp the coffee, everything is perfectly straight. For the tamper, we will choose a puqpress, an automatic tamper. You can adjust the pressure depending on how much pressure you want on your coffee bed.
Now, we will extract the coffee. I will just put the portafilter and press start. I put my cups here and I wait for it, and the magic will happen. Here, you can see how much time you have to wait for your coffee to be prepared. While the espresso machine is taking care of the recipe, I will prepare the milk. Which milk is good for our coffee? Any type of milk, as long as it is cold, fresh and has a 3,5% fat.
So, we got the coffees, we have 40 grams out in 38 seconds. We use a 6 bar pressure, so we have a longer time for extraction.
For the milk, I am using a steamer. The innovation this machine brought it s its double layer steam wand. So, if the barista, by mistake, touches it, he won’t get burned. When we used the older machines, we had to pay a lot of attention to not touch them, because they were really hot.
When you use it at home, you will see that it is not so hot, but you still have to use it carefully. If you have a good espresso machine at home and you follow the recipe step by step, you respect the brewing ratio, you prepare the milk properly, in order to be smooth and creamy, you will be able to easily prepare one cup of cappuccino or espresso, depending on how you want to drink your coffee.
If you need help to improve your set-up at home, or if you want to get the best cup of coffee but you don t really know how to get it, you can always find us online and leave us a message, on our Facebook or Instagram accounts. Or you can even go in our coffee shops and the baristas will gladly help you.
The best things about this machine is that it gave us the chance to have a better performance, more repeatability, a more steady pressure system (the water flows with greater accuracy), we have a double steam wand, so the baristas won t get burned or injured, and these are only a few of the plenty advantages it has.
We always use the latest technologies because we want to get a greater speed and quality for the process of making coffee. In order to do that, we rely on our machines. And the better the machines are, the better we can do that.
Let s move on to the brew
We have here the Gina Coffee maker. It s said that this in the only device you will ever need at home for making coffee. It has a build-in scale, and it is a 3 in 1 coffee maker. You can prepare cold brew, coffee with cold water. Here, it has a funnel which has an emersion valve. We can use this for a typical V60, we put the coffee and pour the water, and the extraction starts, or we can close it and wait for it to dissolve more and have a longer pre-infusion.
Today, we are brewing coffee from Panama, from Rocky Mountain. The good things is that we have another phone, where we can show you what Gina knows to do. You can install the Gina app on your phone, where you are able to name your device, see how much battery it has left, you can find your recipes or even other s people recipes.
We move on with a pour over. When you press the button for the pour over, the device will ask you about how strong do you want it to be, lighter or stronger, regarding the terms of the body. You can adjust the coffee-water ratio from down below. I will use 1 to 15, because this is what I`m comfortable with. The device tells me now „add coffee grounds and tap next when you’re ready”.
Now, I am grinding the coffee, I have here 15 grams of Panama from The Rocky Mountain farm. Every time you grind coffee, make sure you smell it, because that is the first step in your tasting experience. The smell that you feel now, you will find it later as a flavor in your coffee cup.
We add the coffee grounds. The app says that I added 60 grams, so I have to use 240 grams of water. Now, I hit the „next” button. The device allows me to set the time I want for my brew, and the app even gives me a time recommendation. I press the „brew” button, I add the water, and the device tells me that I added 55 grams of water.
When I add the first pour for the pre-infusion, I make sure that the coffee bed is completely wet, in order to have an even extraction. The water temperature has to be around 85 to 95°, depending on how fresh your coffee is. If you want to extract more, you set a higher temperature. If you want to extract less, you chose a lower temperature. It makes sense, right?
Now, I added 106 grams of water and I still have time to add more. If the water is not pouring through the coffee bed, you have to adjust your coffee grinding profile. You have to grind it coarser, so the water will run evenly through the coffee bed.
Now, we proceed to the final pour, to finish the brew. In the end, the app will tell us how much coffee we extracted.
I added 240 grams of water here, and now the extraction is over. The app now tells me to remove the pitcher, in order to see how much coffee I have. When you brew coffee at home, remember to pay attention to details, to use every equipment you have because it helps you to have a constant way of preparing your coffee and more control over this process.
If you want to get a good coffee at home, the first step is having good coffee beans. For that, I advise you to use specialty coffee, or at least freshly roasted coffee.
#FallWinterSpecials, our way of embracing the cold season
#PictureThis
… is our way of giving you a free journey through time and space. We wanted to let you feel emotions you are longing for, to travel around the world without leaving your city, to recreate moments you didn`t even know you were missing. Juices, fruits and vegetables, cured meats and fish, intriguant flavors – they blend perfectly in our new fall-winter menu.
So prepare yourself for a well deserved trip through textures and flavors, it will surprise each and every sense of yours.
Spiced Apple
#PictureThis: you’re next to a fireplace. It’s still early, but outside it’s getting dark. The fire illuminates the whole room and the air smells like spicies & sweets.
You may think it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and so would we. But it’s still early for that.
It’s just a cold afternoon. A perfect one to enjoy a hot drink and good book. You take a sip of the punch next to you.
The apple, the lemon and the ginger mix perfectly together and a warm atmosphere embraces the room. Are you sure it’s not Christmas yet?
Ginseng Elixir
#PictureThis: you’re in a cozy place, e.g your favorite coffee shop, surrounded by friends and people who share the same interests as you.
No one is wearing a mask and they don’t even have to. The pandemic never happened.
You already had 2 coffees today, so you feel like trying something else. Something from the #FallWinterSpecials got your attention.
Ginseng Elixir, a delicious seasonally-minded hot punch with chunks of pineapple made with in-house ingredients, as the barista explained to you.
Plus, you’ve heard that ginseng is an immunity booster. Who knows when this will use you?
Asian Orange
Duck Sandwich
#PictureThis: You’re having brunch in the middle of the week. No, you’re not on vacation, but you feel like you were. And no one can blame you.
You’re having a coffee from Costa Rica and next to it, a Duck Sandwich inspired by the Asian Cuisine to complete your journey of the senses.
You take a bite from your sandwich. A sip from your coffee. No, you’re not dreaming, you do travel, but only with your senses.
Shrimp Salad
#PictureThis: You live in a house by the beach. You have a simple and happy life in a small village in Thailand. You swim. You ride your bike to go places.
You wake up before sunrise to buy fresh seafood off the fisherman’s boat and prepare breakfast with it. Next to it, you add some fruits & vegetables from your own garden.
Today’s dish: shrimps salad, one of your favorites. Food-wise, this is the best part of the day. Enjoy it!
Loco Moco
#PictureThis: A girl just welcomed you with a flower lei around your neck. Everyone is wearing thin clothes and having fun. Bathing suit, hula skirts and bare feet, you’re in one of the most beautiful places on earth, you’re living the Hawaiian dream.
While you’re admiring the hula dancers vibrating on hawaiian beats, a local comes to say hi. The flower leis and the hula hoops are not the only traditions around here. Do you want to try a local dish, he asks.
Loco Moco, simple food with simple ingredients, a dish featured in contemporary Hawaiian cuisine. I can stay here forever, you whisper to yourself.
Now, more than ever, travel with your senses and taste them all at Meron Platinia, Monday – Friday (8:00-17:00) & weekends (9:00 – 17:00) ?
Reţeaua de cafenele Meron, controlată de antreprenorul clujean Bogdan Ciocian, se extinde cu o unitate în Braşov şi ajunge la 17 unităţi în ţară. Investiţia trece de 100.000 de euro
Lantul de cafenele Meron, fondat de Bogdan Ciocian in Cluj-Napoca, deschide pe 10 octombrie o noua cafenea in Brasov, in urma unei investitii de peste 100.000 de euro, si ajunge la o retea de 17 unitati la nivel national.
Articolul complet aici.
Meron deschide o noua cafenea in Brasov cu o investitie de peste 100.000 de euro
Lanțul de cafenele de specialitate Meron continuă extinderea la nivel național și deschide pe 10 octombrie o nouă unitate în Brașov. Noua cafenea este situată în piața George Enescu nr. 11 și are o suprafață de aproximativ 90 de metri pătrați. Investiția pentru acest punct de lucru s-a ridicat la peste 100.000 euro. Fondat de de Bogdan Ciocian în Cluj-Napoca, lanțul Meron ajunge astfel la o rețea de 17 unități la nivel național.
Noua unitate este proiectată și realizată de o echipă de arhitecți din Cluj-Napoca, după un design minimalist, cu influențe nordice și multe accente de alb, texturi și materiale naturale. Cafeneaua respectă liniile de design ale întregii rețele și are un aspect primitor și deschis.
Articolul integral aici.
Meron vrea să se extindă național și internațional și țintește afaceri de 4 milioane de euro în 2020, în creștere cu 60% față de 2019
Meron, companie din industria cafelei de specialitate din România, se așteaptă la o cifră de afaceri de 4 milioane de euro, în 2020, cu 60% mai mult față de 2019, motorul creșterii fiind extinderea de plan național și internațional.
Meron Brasov: We Opened a New Coffee Shop
This year was an atypical one for us, but we took all the necessary measures to adapt to the new social context and to be as close as possible to consumers. Thus, we continued the investment in the online store for coffee beans and coffee preparation equipment, developed a strategy for the safe delivery of products at home and prepared the necessary materials to help consumers prepare their specialty coffee at home. Of course we did not ignore the expansion of the brand in the cities planned before the pandemic.
“We depend on each other: from green coffee, service providers, employees, to local producers we work with. Therefore, the next cities that we have in mind for expansion and for which there are already advanced discussions are Sibiu and Timisoara. We want to get as close as possible to our customers, that’s why expansion is one of our priorities”, adds the Cluj entrepreneur Bogdan Ciocian, CEO Meron.”
Meron Brașov: our number 17th coffee shop
Our newest coffee shop is located in the heart of Brașov on the no. 11, George Enescu Square. Make sure you pay us a visit when you’re around. Check the schedule here.
Meron Brașov is designed by FainDesign. This team of specialists from Cluj-Napoca planned a minimalist design, with Nordic influences and many white accents, textures and natural materials. The coffee shop follows the design lines of the entire network and has a welcoming and open look.
#TheDesign
#TheCity
Meron Brașov: Meet #TheTeam
Naomi, boys, welcome to our #PeopleofMeron family! These are some of #ThePeople, managers, barista, Meron specialists, that invested their work and dedication to open #MeronBrasov, our 17th coffee shop.
Meron Brașov: Taste #TheSpecialtyCoffee
The Specialty Coffee we invite you to taste at Meron Brasov has everything a coffee lover would look for. A floral and fruity Ethiopia Ye Genet on espresso for the ones who look for acidity and complex tasting notes. A comfortable Brazilia Terra Branca with tasting notes like almond, muscuvado and chocolate.
Aaand on brew, we’ve prepared you two exquisite experiences, both from Meron Rarities series. A bold and anaerobic Costa Rica San Jose, tasting like cinnamon and red fruits. Of course, we’re saving the best for the end: an anaerobic Caturra variety from Panama Rocky Mountain, mixing rhum with black cherry and jasmine.
Meron Brașov: #TheSoftOpening
We want to thank Brașov locals & coffee lovers community for the warm welcome. We met with some of the owners and baristas from local coffee shops and it was our pleasure to share our coffees and thoughts. For Meron Brașov we chose a soft opening, a private event – gathering no more than 30 people on Saturday followed by a tasting session on Monday.
In order to expand your coffee culture you have to embrace diversity. So we asked all the local coffee shops to bring their best beans to brew and enjoy it together. Thank you Tekafe & CH9 for joining us, we must repeat this experience next time 🙂
Lantul de cafenele de specialitate Meron, infiintat la Cluj, deschide saptamana aceasta noua locatie la Brasov
Lantul de cafenele Meron, fondat de Bogdan Ciocian in Cluj Napoca, deschide în 10 octombrie cea de 17-a unitate la nivel national, in Brasov cu o investitie de peste 100.000 euro.
Dupa jumatate de an atipic si impredictibil, cu investitii de dezvoltare a shop-ului online pentru cafea boabe si echipamente pentru prepararea cafelei, livrarea in conditii de siguranta la domiciliu, dar si pregatirea unor materiale care sa-i ajute pe consumatori pentru prepararea cafelei acasa, brandul deschide o noua locatie in Brasov.
Anul trecut, brandul de cafea de specialitate a inregistrat o cifra de afaceri de 12 milioane de lei, in crestere cu 35% fata de anul precedent. Chiar daca pandemia a incetinit activitatea cafenelelor Meron, brandul a decis regandeasca strategia, sa dezvolte alte ramuri ale business-ului si sa continue investitiile. Astfel, diminueaza pierderile si, pentru anul acesta, estimeaza o usoara crestere, dar precauta, raportata la context, datorita coffee shop-urilor nou deschise.
Cu o investitie initiala (a primei locatii din Cluj-Napoca) de peste 90.000 de euro, Meron va avea incepand din aceasta saptamana 17 locatii si prajitoria proprie de cafea.
In prezent, lantul de coffee shop-uri de specialitate a ajuns la 115 angajati, iar una dintre cele mai provocari incepand cu luna martie, este sa pastreze toti angajatii pe perioada pandemiei.
Brandul este prezent cu 10 coffee shop-uri in Cluj-Napoca, cate una in Bucuresti, Satu-Mare, Zalau si Targu Mures, doua in Oradea. Odata cu deschiderea coffee shop-ului din Brasov, brandul ajunge la 17 unitati pe piata nationala.
“E o perioada cu predictibilitate mai restransa, e clar. Pentru noi toti, cei care avem un business in HoReCa, pentru ca unele business-uri restrang activitatea sau isi concentreaza eforturile pentru alta nisa de servicii. Noi am ales sa continuam cu extinderea. Pandemia ne-a invatat sa fim mai adaptabili decat credeam si ne-a dat timp sa ne refacem strategia pe termen mediu si lung, sa dezvoltam anumite canale si proceduri. Chiar daca nu lucram la capacitate maxima, suntem precauti si mergem inainte, cu regulile create de noul context.” declara Bogdan Ciocian, CEO Meron.
Planurile de business nivel national vizeaza deschiderea a 30 locatii pentru urmatorii 5 ani, cu potential de extindere pe plan international. Brandul a fost lansat in 2015, de o echipa de investitori clujeni, si a fost ulterior dezvoltat in franciza.
“Depindem unii de altii: de la cafeaua verde, furnizori de servicii, angajati, pana la producatorii locali cu care noi colaboram. Asa ca urmatoarele orase pe care le avem in vedere pentru extindere si pentru care exista deja discutii avansate sunt Sibiu si Timisoara. “ completeaza antreprenorul clujean. “
________
Despre MERON
Povestea brandului MERON a inceput in 2015, cand o echipa de investitori clujeni au creat un concept unic pentru spatiul cafelei din Romania, conturand prima locatie a unui lant ce urmeaza sa se dezvolte in franciza.
MERON are deja 17 locatii: 10 coffee shop-uri in Cluj-Napoca si 7 in alte orase din Romania (Brasov, Bucuresti, Satu-Mare, Zalau, Oradea, Targu-Mures).
Pentru cea mai buna calitate a cafelei, MERON lucreaza direct cu fermieri de cafea si distribuitori de prima mana. De asemenea, MERON dispune de propria prajitorie de cafea: spatiu dedicat prajirii cafelei si a pregatirii baristilor pentru competitii nationale si internationale.
O mare realizare pentru echipa de barista in anul 2019 a fost reprezentarea Romaniei la Campionatele Mondiale de Cafea, prin Head Barista Delia Avram.
Conceptul porneste de la cuvantul “MERON”, care provine din limba greaca si inseamna „zile”. Cultura cafelei este un crez dupa care se ghideaza zilnic intreaga echipa, iar pentru asta, se acorda o atentie sporita metodelor de preparare a cafelei (espresso si brew), dar si a ultimelor tendinte in materie de echipamente si accesorii, atat de necesare unui barista pasionat.
Romanii care au votat, rasplatiti cu cafea din partea casei
Mergi la vot? Un local din Cluj-Napoca te va răsplăti cu o cafea
Cafeneaua Meron a demarat o campanie prin care îi răsplăteşte pe cei care vor vota astăzi la alegerile prezidenţiale.
Astfel, cei care îşi vor exprima votul şi vor prezenta buletinul cu eticheta „VOTAT” vor primi un espresso din partea Meron.
„Ai putea crede că votul și cafeaua de specialitate nu au nimic în comun. Și s-ar putea să ai dreptate… Totuși, în această duminică te încurajăm să mergi la vot, iar noi îți facem cinste cu un espresso.”
Articolul integral aici.
Latte Art Throwdown by Meron: Înscrie-te acum!
Oriunde se adună un grup de barista, se lasă cu vărsare de lapte. Din latieră. În cană. Sub forme care numai prin imaginația și skill-urile unui barista prind viață. Nouă nu ne rămâne decât să-i aducem împreună și să ne bucurăm de spectacol printr-un Latte Art Throwdown a la Meron.
De aceea, pe 28 noiembrie strângem cei mai cool barista din Transilvania la Meron Roastery într-o competiție de Latte Art. Latte Art Throwdown by Meron! Punem la bătaie 600 de euro în bani pentru câștigător și premii pentru locurile 2 și 3, într-o competiție deschisă tuturor profesioniștilor și iubitorilor de cafea.
Alături de noi, susțin acest eveniment ca sponsori principali Bar Shaker, când căutăm unelte pentru bar, știm la cine să apelăm. De asemenea, le mulțumim tuturor partenerilor noștri:
- Bardezzi, pentru că niciun latte art nu ar fi posibil fără lapte;
- Artisan Coffee Equipment pentru susținerea pe care o oferă evenimentelor dedicate industriei;
- Logo Cups pentru cele mai cool cești dedicate special competitiei;
- Alikof, partenerul nostru pe partea de soluții și servicii din domeniul ospitalității;
- Kofi Ti , pentru băturile artizanale care vor anima evenimentul nostru.
Latte Art Throwdown by Meron: Înregistrarea competitorilor
Înregistrearea se face pe baza completării formularului iar participarea se face pe baza taxei de participare de 35 de lei care se achită online aici.
Pentru a putea participa, competitorii trebuie să aibă experiență în prepararea unui espresso și în folosirea echipamentului. De asemenea, competitorii trebuie să aibă experiență și în prepararea băuturilor cu lapte pe bază de espresso.
Latte Art Throwdown by Meron: Regulament
Echipele trebuie constituite din perechi a câte două persoane, astfel încât, pentru a putea face parte din competiție trebuie să existe un număr par de participanți. Vor fi 32 de participanți în total. Dacă numărul înscrișilor depășește 32, atunci se vor desfășura runde preliminare.
Pentru a forma echipele, numele competitorilor va fi tras la sorți la începutul competiției, iar câștigătorii fiecărei echipe vor concura între ei până când se va alege câștigătorul final.La începutul fiecărei runde, participanți află ce model de latte art vor realiza prin invârtirea roții cu modele. Ea conține 12 modele prestabilite și un model freestyle.
Ceștile în care se va turna vor fi de 200 ml (flat white) iar fiecărei turnări îi sunt alocate 3 minute.
Participanții pot folosi latierele proprii. Organizatorul va pune la dispoziția participanților latiere în cazul în care aceștia nu au o latieră.
Runda 1
- 32 participanți
- 16 echipe
- Patterns: roata
- Căni: 200 ml (flat white)
- 16 câștigători
Runda 2
- 16 participanți
- 8 echipe
- Patterns: roata
- Căni: 200 ml (flat white)
- 8 câștigători
Runda 3
- 8 participanți
- 4 echipe
- Patterns: roata
- Căni: 200 ml (flat white)
- 4 câștigători
Semifinala
- 4 participanți
- 2 echipe
- Patterns: roata
- Căni: 200 ml (flat white)
- 2 câștigători
Finala
- 2 participanți
- Patterns: roata
- Căni: 200 ml (flat white)
Latte Art Throwdown by Meron: Regulament
- În momentul în care își va auzi numărul strigat, concurentul trebuie să se pregătească pentru a începe competiția.
- Concurenții vor avea 3 minute în total la espressor. Nu este neapărată folosirea celor 3 minute în totalitate.
- Concurenții nu trebuie să își extragă shoturile de espresso, acestea vor fi extrase pentru ei.
- Fiecare competitor va primi o latieră și o singură șansă pentru a face crema de lapte.
- Separarea laptelui este permisă.
- Concurenții nu pot să-și aducă propria cafea sau lapte, acestea sunt asigurate de către organizator.
- Latte art-ul trebuie să fie freepour. Este interzisă folosirea instrumentelor ajutătoare.
- Din momentul în care băuturile au fost turnate, acestea vor fi plasate lângă modelul dat pentru a fi judecate.
Latte Art Throwdown by Meron: Jurizarea
Băuturile vor fi jurizate în funcție de următoarele criterii:
- Echilibru, simetrie și similitudinea față de patternul extras
Liniile de divizare sunt curate, uniforme și nu prezintă semne de ezitare.
Elementele individuale se completează unele pe celelalte și creează o armonie împreună.
- Infuzia de culoare și definiție
Contrastul dintre albul cremei și culoarea închisă a cremei.
Intenția design-ului este clară și evidentă.
- Folosirea spațiului
Ceașca este umplută într-un mod plăcut și adecvat.
Design-ul nu este înghesuit în ceașcă și nu lasă senzația de gol sau neterminat.
Există o armonie între mărimea ceștii și mărimea design-lui.
- Impresia generală
Farmecul estetic general.
Băutura nu conține urme de scurgere și ceașca este plină de lichid.
Vor fi trei arbitri. După ce cele două căni de cafea se vor afla pe masa juraților, se va număra până la 3, iar cei trei arbitri vor indica cu degetul cana câștigătoare.
Ne vedem curand!
Food, then Coffee: Meron Coffee at Street Food Festival Cluj-Napoca
People of Meron from Cluj-Napoca, this week, between 10th and 13th of October, our coffee takes over the street. The Street Food Festival, of course, because coffee and food go hand in hand.
As the Fall Season brings with it cooler weather, falling leaves and sweaters, for this edition of Street Food Festival we welcome you with some comfort warm seasonal drinks. Nothing is quite as comforting as being all warm and bundled up inside with a nice cup of specialty coffee, specialty hot chocolate or specialty tea. And just to spoil you a little bit more, we also got some honey & cinnamon milk, the perfect thing for your sweet tooth.
Grab your favorite dish in one hand, then a Meron coffee in your other hand and conquer the Street Food Festival!
See you in Central Park, between 10th and 13th of October!