Jandals on, worries off. Sheep lounging in a deck chair at the beach, wearing sunglasses, with umbrella and heat rising from sand.

A very Kiwi story (with a good mate)

First things first — a big thank you to Barry Ross Smith.

Barry is the artist behind our slightly mischievous sheep illustrations, and a long time mate of ours dating all the way back to early school days in Tauranga. We’ve shared plenty of laughs, questionable decisions, and memories that are probably best left between us (and a very small circle of trusted friends 😅).

Fast forward a few decades and Barry is now a seriously talented, full time artist, creating and selling original works and prints that we absolutely love. His style is playful, clever, and unmistakably him — which is exactly why his sheep felt like the perfect fit for Slipstream Coffee.

If you want to see more of Barry’s work (and we highly recommend you do), check out his website: www.barryrosssmith.com

Why Sheep

Because… New Zealand.
Sheep are woven into rural NZ in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve lived it. They’re part of the landscape, part of the humour, and part of the stories we grow up with. At its peak in the early 1980s, New Zealand had over 70 million sheep. Today, that number sits closer to 25 million. That’s still around five sheep for every person. So yes — we call ourselves Kiwis, but numerically speaking, sheep probably have a stronger claim.

Sheep v Kiwis

  • Sheep at peak (early 1980s)

    • 70 million

  • Sheep today

    • 25 million

  • Kiwis

    • 5.3m

The Slipstream connection

Slipstream Coffee is about balance.

It’s about being serious when you need to be — sourcing ethical beans, roasting with intent, chasing consistency and quality — but never taking yourself too seriously.

The sheep capture that perfectly.

They’re a nod to:

  • Rural land and the slower pace that comes with it
  • Cycling culture — effort, flow, and finding your rhythm
  • Life balance — work hard, ride hard, then stop for a decent coffee
  • And most importantly… having a laugh with your mates along the way

Just like a good ride, coffee has its intense moments — but the best bits often happen when you ease off and enjoy the view.

From mates to mugs

Working with Barry — a long-time mate — and Sara-Jane from Designerbloom on this has been one of the genuinely fun parts of building Slipstream. It’s a full circle moment — from growing up in Tauranga, to carving out our own paths, and now collaborating on something that reflects who we are and where we’ve come from.

Slipstream Coffee is proudly Kiwi, proudly rural inspired, and proudly a little bit cheeky.

Just like the sheep.