More Than a Coffee: Life Behind the CamperLatte Serving Hatch

When you visit CamperLatte, you might only be with us for a few minutes. You order your drink, we have a chat while the coffee is being made, and then you’re off to work, back to the workshop or on with whatever the day has planned.

For us, those few minutes are the reason we do it.

We’re a small, independent coffee business based in Portsmouth, and we wanted to share a little more about life behind the serving hatch. The coffee is a big part of our story, of course, but so are the people, the preparation and the work that goes into keeping our little business moving.

A small business with a lot going on

A coffee camper might be small, but the to-do list certainly isn’t.

Before we can serve the first drink, there’s stock to check, milk to get cold, equipment to prepare and everything to get into place. Cups, lids, beans, water, cleaning supplies — they all need thinking about. Forget one small thing and you soon realise how much you rely on it.

Then, once service finishes, there’s cleaning, restocking and getting ready to do it all again.

Somewhere around that, we’re answering event enquiries, updating the website, putting together social posts and working out what needs ordering next.

If you run a small business yourself, you’ll probably recognise that feeling of finishing one job and remembering another three. There’s always something to do, but there’s also something very satisfying about seeing it all come together when we open the hatch.

Getting to know the people we serve

One of the nicest parts of having a regular pitch is getting to know the people around us.

We trade on the industrial estate near Hilsea, Portsmouth, where a coffee break often fits into a busy working day. You might be grabbing something before the next job, taking a few minutes away from your desk or collecting drinks for your colleagues.

We know you haven’t always got time to stand around, but we appreciate the conversations when you do.

Over time, familiar faces and regular orders become part of our working week. You get to know us, we get to know you, and a quick stop for coffee starts to feel a bit more personal.

That’s the sort of business we want CamperLatte to be: somewhere you feel comfortable coming over, asking a question and ordering exactly what you fancy.

Your coffee, how you enjoy it

People can be very particular about their coffee, and we understand that. When you’re looking forward to a drink, you want it how you like it.

Some people enjoy a straightforward Americano. Others prefer a milky latte, a flat white or a little caramel in their cup. Then there are the people who would choose a hot chocolate over coffee every time.

We’re happy to help you find your favourite. You don’t need to know the difference between every drink on the menu or use any special coffee language. Just tell us what you usually enjoy.

Whether you stick with your usual or try something different, we want you to leave with a drink you’ve enjoyed and a reason to come back.

The honest bit about running a coffee camper

We love what we do, but we wouldn’t be giving you the full picture if we pretended every day was busy and everything was easy.

Like lots of small businesses, we have quieter days. There are times when we’re trying to work out how to reach more people, encourage someone to give us a try or let nearby businesses know we’re here.

The weather can make things harder, too. When it’s wet and miserable, popping out for a coffee doesn’t always feel as appealing as staying indoors.

Behind the scenes, we’re balancing stock, costs and planning, while trying to make sensible decisions about what comes next.

We’re sharing that because it’s part of our story. CamperLatte matters to us, and we put a lot into making it work. When someone comes back, brings a colleague or tells us they’ve recommended us to a friend, it gives us a real boost.

Sweet treats that help a good cause

Coffee and something sweet is a combination we’re always happy to serve.

There’s another reason we love this part of the business: 25p from every sweet treat we sell is donated to 4PAWS to support animals in need.

That includes our cakes, brownies, Rocky Road and caramel shortbread.

It’s a small amount from each sale, but it adds up as you support us throughout the week. We’re pleased that something as simple as choosing a treat with your drink can also contribute to a cause we care about.

So, if you’ve bought something sweet from us, thank you. You’ve helped us support 4PAWS along the way.

Taking CamperLatte out and about

Our regular pitch is a big part of what we do, but we also enjoy taking the camper to events.

Every booking has its own practical details to work through, from access and setup to the number of people we’ll be serving. There’s plenty of preparation before we arrive and start making drinks.

It’s rewarding to see the camper become part of someone’s occasion, whether that’s a wedding, a workplace visit or a community event. We get to meet different people and bring a little of CamperLatte to a new setting.

Those days also remind us how versatile our little camper can be. A familiar coffee order can feel just as welcome during a working day as it does in the middle of a celebration.

The little things make a difference

If you’ve ever wondered whether sharing a small business’s post or mentioning it to a friend actually helps, from our side the answer is yes.

It can introduce us to someone who didn’t know we existed. A review can help a new customer decide to visit. Bringing someone along for a coffee gives us the chance to welcome another face to the hatch.

And, of course, choosing to buy your drink from us helps us keep doing all of this.

We know there are plenty of places to get a coffee. We appreciate it when you choose CamperLatte.

Thank you to our regulars, our occasional visitors, our event customers and everyone who has supported us as we build the business. We’re still learning, still making plans and still putting the work in.

Next time you’re near Hilsea, come and say hello. We’d love to make you a coffee. ☕💛

The CamperLatte team