Meet our Coffee Crew!
First up, we have THE man that gets all of those coffee and tea orders to their respective Perth cafes…
Please give a warm, extra-strong welcome to Jon!
Jon has been with Leaf Bean Machine for coming up to 8 years now, and we have loved every moment! He’s in charge of all coffee and tea deliveries that head out to some of Perth’s most popular cafes.
Jon is an all-around quality guy. He’s known for having the largest mug of coffee in the morning, for always providing a good chat and for keeping up to date with the latest gaming news.
“I just enjoy working there [Leaf Bean Machine] so much. Brad and Fleur are amazing people and bosses who I would do anything for.”
Jon
7 and a half years ago Jon found out about the Delivery Driver position. The next day, he gave Brad and Fleur a text. He was in for an interview on Monday and ended up starting that afternoon, “so it couldn’t really get better than that” (Jon).
Today we join Jon on his delivery run to understand what it takes to be the best delivery driver in town.
Perth Cafe Deliveries
“I look forward to Jon’s delivery. I’m always happy to see him. It’s always a good time when Jon delivers.”
Kim from Ginger B
The morning begins with Jon laying out all of his orders, he arranges the cafes according to the route he drives across Perth. I watch as he spreads out the orders on his desk beside his coffee and then packs and arranges the boxes in a specific way that works with his system. The system he follows is admirable, I couldn’t help but think to myself – “this guy’s email inbox must be so well organised.”
“I love the organisation aspect of it and it’s literally a job of checking off lists. I enjoy putting the pieces together, packing up the van, organising orders, scheduling the coffee deliveries, and ticking it off”
Jon
Jon has noticed that in the last 7 years we’ve seen a great increase in orders, “we have cafes everywhere in Perth. From all the way down in Mandurah and Albany to all the way up in Onslow” (Jon).
“He’s awesome. Way and beyond.”
Harold from Leap Frogs.
Packing
Jon is a pro when it comes to packing a van. This is a skill that he picked up very quickly. He tells me that the trick is learning the dimensions of the boxes. Jon says that his great amount of experience playing Tetris has had a big influence on his packing skills. When you see the boot of his van and his perfectly arranged boxes you’ll see that the years of gaming has paid off.
“Just make sure you lift the boxes with your legs and not your back – you’ll sure feel it if you don’t.”
Jon
A day on the road
A day on the road usually involves several podcasts, a line-up of great music, a call to his girlfriend and some daydreaming, “I’ve always been good at daydreaming” (Jon) *note: Jon keeps his concentration on the road at all times, your coffee is always in safe hands.
Jon’s favourite podcasts:
“These are all game-related with interesting interviews with developers...”
- The Giant Bomb
- Giant Beast
- And also, Giant Informer
- “The rest of my podcasts is a slue of Dungeons and Dragons podcasts like…”
- The Adventure Zone
- Dragon Friends
- Critical Hit
If you’re a fan of board games, Dungeons and Dragons, or comedy – they’re worth checking out! I’ve listened to some myself and you’re in for a good laugh.
“Best delivery and customer service rep in town.”
The Trip
“Perth isn’t very big but I cannot for the life of me remember street names or suburbs. I usually learn the route from one trip with Google Maps and then it’s ingrained in my mind,” (Jon).
“What do you enjoy about long drives?” (Isabel).
“It’s great when the trip involves nice scenery. Driving up the coast is always a delight, and the hills are gorgeous. Sometimes I take the back way to get some extra greenery. When it’s a flat stretch of road that can be a different story. I really love music and podcasts though which are a great source of entertainment for these moments,” (Jon).
“What do you enjoy about being a delivery driver?” (Isabel).
“I love visiting Perth’s best cafes – not biased I swear – and talking to the workers and owners. You meet a lot of interesting people… and some even give free food and coffee which is always a bonus. You form some great relationships being a delivery driver. The café owners all love the people involved in their business whether it be their own workers, their customers and me – the delivery driver! And, I like to think that I look after them too, it’s all about helping each other out.” (Jon).
“Any delivery stories?” (Isabel).
“There was one time where I had to stop to let a trail of ducks cross the road which was both adorable and concerning. That actually happened the other day too and I was wondering why the traffic was so backed up. It ended up being a mother duck and her ducklings stuck on the freeway South just after Leach in peak hour. I checked the news this morning to see if they made it and to my relief, they got back to their home safely!” (Jon).
Jon’s tips for delivery drivers:
- Stay hydrated, “I bring 5 litres on the road…admittedly I never finish it but it’s good to know it’s there.”
- Keep yourself stimulated whether it be with music, podcasts or having your window down.
- Be courteous of other drivers.
- Care for the products your delivering.
- Follow the road rules, “that should go without saying.”
- Have good customer relations.
- Read the orders several times and their locations… “and maybe another time for good measure.”
- Time management is key, know where to be and when.
Closing statement:
“I’ve always been a fan of treating others how you would like to be treated yourself. Being kind goes a longer way than anything… even further than my van!”
It was a pleasure accompanying Jon on his trip, delivering coffee to cafes across Perth. If there was one thing I learned it was – it definitely pays off being organised!
