I recently had the pleasure of chatting to Petrus Bredell, founder of Plato Coffee. We spoke about two of his deep passions: coffee and music. Much like his dedication to crafting the perfect cup of coffee, Petrus’s love for music is deep-rooted and instinctual. He also once played the drums for fun; so his understanding of music in general runs deep. Over the years, he has brought this musical perspective into Plato Coffee, playing an integral role in curating the daily playlists that fill their cafes. Each playlist is hand picked and thoughtfully designed to resonate with the vibe of the day, ensuring your visit to Plato consists of good coffee and music to enrich our day to day. Our conversation delved into the intersections of these two passions and how they shape the unique identity of Plato Coffee.
Can you describe your process for selecting and organizing songs in a playlist?
Playlists are something I’ve always created. I’ve always enjoyed making playlists on a monthly basis, just like 30 to 50 songs. That’s what I will listen to until next month. I just enjoy looking for new stuff, alternative artists, music that I’ve never heard and I just start putting them together. So when we started Plato, we obviously needed music and I started using my own and people enjoyed them. From there we just started building and building it as time went on.
How do you think the music you play contributes to the overall identity of Plato ?
Music is one of the first things you hear when you step into a cafe. It sets the tone for what is to come, I think music is one of those big essential non essentials. Alongside other characteristics that make up Plato, like the personalities behind the bar, the cleanliness, the speed of service, our music strengthens Plato’s finger print and sets the tone of what Plato feels like.
How do you measure the success or effectiveness of a playlist in a venue like a coffee shop?
One of them is, when you work behind the bar and you see people using Shazam to identify certain songs. Another is seeing people walking in, enjoying the music. Some people even ask what playlist we are playing, some even ask where they can access it.
I’m happy to share that Petrus has extended his musical passion beyond the walls of Plato Coffee, by curating a special playlist for coffee and music admirers to enjoy at home. This thoughtfully selected collection of songs captures the same welcoming and vibrant atmosphere found in Plato cafes, allowing us to experience a piece of Plato Coffee's ambiance no matter where they are.
