Go-Go Gaggia moves forward with first franchise

Smart Car coffee concept grows

Paul Smith of Bardsey in north Leeds has just started up Go-Go Gaggia’s first franchise. Paul has taken on the franchise jointly with his daughter Jennifer.

Go-Go Gaggia, a Smart car come coffee shop, is the brainchild of Jocelyn Robinson who worked with the Caffe Shop in Elland, Halifax to get the original Go-Go Gaggia on the road in late 2011. Go-Go Gaggia uses a Gaggia GD2 fitted into the back of the Smart Car to serve top quality espresso coffee in places without access to a good coffee shop.

Paul, originally a social worker, had no experience of making and serving coffee before he decided to take the franchise. But he’s had no problem getting used to the Gaggia GD2.

“We went for some training at Elland before setting out on the road with our Go-Go Gaggia,” says Paul Smith. “It was surprisingly easy to use and once we’d had the training I felt confident we could actually do it ourselves. We were amazed at how quickly we could serve a perfect cup of coffee. It only takes about a minute from start to finish.”

Paul Smith has introduced another aspect into his Go-Go Gaggia car – home baked flapjacks, brownies and cupcakes courtesy of the bakery skills of daughter, Jennifer.  As well as enjoying the regular stocks of home-made cakes, customers can order specials such as birthday cakes and muffins.

At the moment Paul and Jennifer are building up the business slowly, aiming to be up to speed by the 2013 festival season. They can be found on the station at Crossgates, Leeds, in the early morning and visiting local industrial estates later in the day.

The Gaggia GD2 measures 550mm wide, 540mm deep and 500mm high and has two group heads and a powerful steam wand to froth milk. Mounted on a special base, with drawers for accessories such as cups, lids, sugar and food items, there is also room in the car to take a 25 litre container of extra water in case there is none available en route.

For more information on Go-Go Gaggia visit gogogaggia.co.uk.

The Gaggia range of espresso coffee machines and ancillary equipment is marketed in the UK by Watermark.  It is available through catering equipment distributors and coffee specialists.  Watermark is currently expanding its distributor network.  For information and brochures phone Gaggia Watermark on 01494 785758, email info@watermark.uk.com or visit watermark.uk.com