Each pack featured a story on the back concerning a particular exploit of the titular character Jas B. Richardson, on his voyage to find only the very best producers of coffee. Each story was accompanied by a digital illustration.
ILLUSTRATOR Paul Oxborrow ART DIRECTOR Nadia Oxborrow COPYWRITER Peter Doubell
GIANT RAT Original Kenyan Dark Roast BOP copy
Penniless and exhausted after trekking across half of Kenya, Jas B thought to barter a bag of his finest beans in exchange for a night’s lodgings. Little did he know that the Landlord of the establishment he’d found had a fondness for whisky and had flattened half a bottle before negotiations even began. As chance would have it, just as Jas B was about to make his proposal, a huge rodent darted across the floor. “Did you shee that rat?” the Landlord slurred.
Jas B had, but simply said, “What rat? A cup of coffee's what you need.”
WEDDING RINGS Original Mocha Java Blend BOP copy
Although traveling the world in search of the finest coffee beans was a vocation for Jas B, he did make time for other pleasurable pursuits – photography for example. On one occasion, while in Indonesia, he happened upon a young man about to propose to his beloved. The light being just right, he thought he’d capture the moment.
Pleased with his keen eye, the photograph eventually found its way into Jas B’s journal, the legend beneath it reading “Poor Man”.
JUNGLE SPIDERS Original Colombian Medium Roast BOP copy
Trekking through the jungles of Brazil, Jas B came across a group of explorers obviously on a similar quest to his own – to find the finest coffee beans. Having hacked his way through dense bushes, thorns had left Jas B’s clothes in tatters; berries had left red splotches all over Jas B’s shirt. “What happened to you?” the group asked.
Relying on his amateur thespian skills, and eager to discourage any others from laying claim to his coffee finds, Jas B exclaimed with feigned terror: “Flesh-eating spiders.”
He never saw them again.
He never saw them again.
FRESH WATER Original Brazilian Medium Roast BOP copy
Searching for the finest coffee beans, Jas B often found himself quite lost! On one occasion deep in the forests of Colombia. Fortunately he came upon a small village – if he could get to the nearest river, he thought, this would help him find his bearings. So, gesticulating wildly with his improvised sign language, he asked a villager, “Wa-ter? Wa-ter?”
forming wave motions with his arms, then sipping an imaginary glass, then taking a pretend shower.
forming wave motions with his arms, then sipping an imaginary glass, then taking a pretend shower.
“Perhaps,” the villager enunciated, “if you communicated in English, you'd save us both considerable time ...”
