It All Started with a Cup of Coffee

Some people drink coffee to wake up. Others enjoy it for the ritual, the comfort, or simply the pleasure of holding something warm in their hands. For Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood, one particular cup of coffee would lead to something much bigger.

The story begins in Melbourne, Australia, in 2008.

Maxwell and Lesley found themselves surrounded by a growing movement known as Third Wave coffee, where people were beginning to talk about coffee in an entirely different way. Suddenly, the origin of a bean, the characteristics of a particular harvest, and the subtle flavours hidden in a cup were just as interesting as the drink itself.

For Maxwell, an encounter with a remarkable Kenyan espresso proved especially memorable. It opened the door to a world of flavours he had never quite imagined coffee could offer.

A year later, Maxwell and Lesley returned to the UK and opened Colonna & Small's in the historic city of Bath.

It was a rather different kind of coffee shop.

Instead of offering the usual house blend and asking customers to choose between a cappuccino or a latte, they wanted people to explore coffee itself. The menu changed with the beans, and the conversation began with where the coffee came from and how it tasted.

The approach attracted attention. In 2016, Colonna & Small's was named Best Coffee Shop in Europe, while Maxwell had already established himself as one of Britain's leading baristas, winning the UK Barista Championship in 2012, 2014, and 2015.

What began as a fascination with one extraordinary espresso had become a lifelong pursuit.

A Coffee Shop with a Scientific Streak

There's a question that seems to follow Maxwell everywhere:

"What makes coffee great?"

It's a deceptively simple question. And as Colonna discovered, finding the answer can take you to some rather unexpected places.

Take water, for example.

Most of us think carefully about the beans we buy, the equipment we use, and perhaps even the way we grind our coffee. But water, which makes up almost the entire drink, is surprisingly easy to overlook.

Maxwell became fascinated by how different mineral compositions could change the flavour of the same coffee. Working with scientist Christopher Hendon, he helped explore the chemistry behind brewing water, eventually contributing to the book Water for Coffee.

And the curiosity didn't stop there.

Colonna went on to explore frozen grinding, sensory science, and the relationship between brewing technology and flavour. Research became an important part of the business, driven by observations and everyday problems encountered while making coffee.

In 2015, Colonna established its own roastery, giving the team greater control over sourcing and developing the flavour profiles of its coffees.

Then came another unexpected idea: coffee capsules.

For a specialty coffee roaster, the thought of putting exceptional coffee into a tiny capsule might sound unusual. But Colonna saw an opportunity to rethink what convenient coffee could taste like.

The team began experimenting with capsule technology in 2015 and launched its first range in 2016. The project has continued to evolve through different materials, designs, and brewing approaches.

Maxwell once explained the idea rather simply:

"Technically, it is a great way to showcase coffee."

For Colonna, even the smallest details of preparation are worth questioning, especially when the answers might make the next cup taste better.

The Pursuit Never Really Ends

Today, Colonna has grown far beyond its original café in Bath.

Its coffees are enjoyed by customers and partners around the world. In 2023, a second coffee shop opened on London's Leather Lane, bringing the same curiosity-driven approach to the capital.

Its coffee collection is arranged around three distinctive categories: Foundation, Discovery, and Rare.

Foundation celebrates balanced, approachable coffees; Discovery invites drinkers to explore more unusual flavours; and Rare is reserved for exceptional lots that offer something particularly memorable.

The presentation is equally thoughtful. With carefully chosen colours, restrained typography, and clear information about each coffee, Colonna's packaging reflects the precision and curiosity found throughout the brand.

At Holden Pak, we're pleased to have a small part in Colonna's packaging story, helping bring its considered visual identity into the hands of coffee lovers.

But perhaps the most interesting thing about Colonna is that, after all these years, the team still seems to be asking questions.

How much can water change a coffee? Can freezing improve the grinding process? Could a capsule deliver a truly exceptional cup? And what might the next discovery reveal?

For Maxwell and the people at Colonna, there's always another experiment worth trying, another extraordinary coffee worth sharing, and another reason to be curious.

After all, the wonderful thing about coffee is that there's always more to discover.

PHOTO CREDITS: COLONNA