15 Minutes with Richard Beauchamp

Meet Richard, first-time Dad, full-time ceramist and creator of the Coffee Supreme x Richard Beauchamp Stacker Mug, that we have released just in time for Father’s Day. Many friends of Supreme will recognise Rich from our Wellington Roastery, where he spent almost a decade managing the little espresso bar at the front before moving into the position of Head Barista Trainer. Now, owner of his very own studio down in Christchurch, Richard spends his time producing beautiful and functional ceramics.

In between creating our latest mug for your collection, we sat down for a coffee and a quick chat with Richard.

Q: Hey Richard, tell us a bit about yourself and your studio.
A: Hi! I’m a potter based in rural Canterbury, a half-hour drive from Ōtautahi Christchurch. I run my own pottery studio where I design and produce a range of hand-made functional ceramics, documenting my process on Instagram.

My studio is set up in an old farm shed overlooking the Canterbury Plains. It’s a repurposed cinder block barn, adjacent to an architecturally converted shearing shed, which I am fortunate enough to call home.

Q: We were lucky enough to have you on the Supreme team for nearly a decade. Can you tell us a little more about your journey at Supreme?
A: I started out in what was the scaled-down Factory Café, a small espresso bar that hosted a rather wonderful community of regulars and served as reception for the Wellington HQ. After four glorious years, I took on a role in the training department, where I spent the rest of my time at Supreme up-skilling baristas and looking after cafes throughout the lower North Island.

When I wasn’t coffee training, I was out visiting customers, working alongside the sales, tech and roasting teams, working events and hosting tastings. I filled in at Customs, Woodward St, Midland Park, and spent many an afternoon helping in despatch bagging up coffee and boxing up orders for the courier. All up, it was a formative experience—so much of my approach to work has come from my time at Supreme, learning from some of the most creative, innovative, and hard-working people in the coffee industry.

Q: Word on the street is that you enrolled yourself into a beginner's pottery class back in 2019. Have you always had an interest in pottery?
A: My interest in ceramics goes back to my time working in cafes. As a barista, I was surrounded by functional ceramics and learnt to appreciate a vessel that’s comfortable to drink from, suitable for latte art, and stacks nicely atop a coffee machine or in a dish rack.

Making pottery ticks a lot of boxes for me. It’s an outlet for creative expression and thoughtful design, and an opportunity to contribute to everyday experiences in a meaningful way.

Q: Can you walk us through your creative process when designing a new piece?
A: I like to spend a bit of time with an idea before taking it into the studio. For me, the concept is just as important as the finished piece. I’ll do a handful of sketches and research any specific techniques or materials before sitting down at the wheel.

The actual making is relatively straightforward. I’ll weigh out and prepare the clay and throw a couple of tests, measuring the height and diameter of the rim and the base once it’s trimmed. If a piece needs a bit of extra work, I’ll repeat the process and continue refining things until they feel resolved. There’s plenty of trial and error, with a number of variables to manage at any given time—kind of like dialling in an espresso machine!

Q: Are there any new projects on the horizon?
A: I have a few lists of things to make—wholesale orders, commissions and pieces for my online store and future pop-ups. It’s a slow, methodical process, building out a collection with pieces in multiple glazes, but there are few things as satisfying as producing something by hand from raw material to finished product.

Q: What do you get up to when you’re not in your studio?
A: I enjoy cooking. I have a small (albeit rather neglected) vegetable garden. I take a lot of photos, mostly digital and mostly of mugs of coffee, but occasionally I’ll get out and shoot a roll of film. I share the care of a delightful small human who just had his first birthday. Days off are rare, but if I’m in town with some time up my sleeve, I’ll head to Supreme Supreme, sit on a mug of bottomless filter and catch up with the regulars.

Q: What advice would you give to someonewho may be looking to transition from a full-time job to pursuing their passion full-time?
A: I think one of the biggest challenges for a start-up is that before a project can generate enough income to resemble a wage, an enormous amount of work and investment is required. You might need to fit out a space, acquire equipment, develop systems, establish relationships and upskill significantly before things start to feel sustainable. It’s not often talked about, but everyone has an upper limit to their capacity and the resources that are available to them. A sustainable trajectory is pretty key to keeping the passion alive long-term.

I can only speak from my experience, but I’d say most full-time ventures require a robust support network to get off the ground. A good relationship with an existing employer can be a significant part of that support. Supreme has been so amazing in that regard, which makes collaborating on this project together feel particularly special—thanks, team!

Q: What’s your favourite part about being a first-time Dad?
A: There’s so much that I enjoy. Picking out a cool fit, sharing a bowl of porridge or a piece of fruit. Fluffies! Mostly I just love playing and laughing and rediscovering the joy of being silly, just for the sake of it.

Q: What’s your coffee setup at home?
A: I have an ex-cafe Mazzer Super Jolly and the Moccamaster KBG 744 that once graced the bench in the R&D Lab at the Wellington roastery. If I'm feeling particularly inspired, I’ll get out the V60 or Aeropress, and if I’m ever down to my last 16g of beans, I use my trusty Gold Filter.

Q: And, your favourite Supreme coffee?
A: I have a rotating filter subscription, and it’s always a good week when a Kenyan coffee arrives in the letterbox. That said, the Ethiopia Guji has a special place in my heart, with its distinctive floral aroma that takes me right back to my days spent wandering about the roastery.

Q: Smooth or crunchy?
A: Team crunchy, all the way.

Q: Richard, to say we are obsessed with the mugs you created is an understatement, thank you! For those who would like more Richard Beauchamp pieces, where can they find and purchase your work? And, how often do you release new pieces?
A: You can find my work at richardbeauchamp.studio and at select stockists throughout New Zealand and Australia. I release new pieces periodically, so keep an eye on my website, and Instagram for updates.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
A: Just a big thank you to everyone for their continued support, and a huge shout out to all my old customers and the entire team at Coffee Supreme.

Get your hands on a handcrafted Coffee Supreme x Richard Beauchamp Stacker Mug here. 

Keep up to date with Richard:
@richardbeauchamp.studio
richardbeauchamp.studio