What suppliers are people using for mail-order coffee these days? I’ve been using Modern Standard for a while (and am very happy with them) but would be interested in trying others for a bit of variety. Generally I buy a couple of kilos of whole beans at a time (but as one-offs rather than a subscription). If anyone has any discount codes or referral links, all the better.
We’ve had a couple of free packets from Pact and it was flippin’ lovely. And a very sound company too, by the looks of it. On my list today is to contact them and set up a subscription.
I’ve started just doing a random ‘Coffee Roaster near you’ google search in my local area. There are so many small scale roasteries starting up that there may well be someone round the corner.
Last year I found one enterprising couple had literally just started it in their garden shed two streets away so I could pop round on the bike, save any postage costs and have a nosy around the roastery itself. – https://www.pearhauscoffee.com/
hmmmmm – it was death by spam mail last time I tried using them. A few years ago mind.
Hasbean in the past which I liked. Rave coffee too – not as good but cheaper. Now I use a local to me place (inverness roasting company) and have a bit of a deal which makes the price a little more palatable.
I spent a while trying lots of local and national suppliers, with mixed levels of success. Like ElShalimo above, I found a number to be quite acidic or just not as darkly roasted as I would like.
My favourite is Surrey Hills Coffee (their Pitch Hill roast) which hits the spot really well for me (for reference, I tend to make/drink espressos, machiatos, occasional americanos).
I’ve started just doing a random ‘Coffee Roaster near you’ google search in my local area. There are so many small scale roasteries starting up that there may well be someone round the corner.
at your favourite espresso stop ask the barista where they get their coffee and then try beans from there.
Lots of different roasters around Brighton and SDW, so working my way through these based on good coffee consumed on the trail.
Pharmacie, Lewes
Tigermoth, Lewes
Craft Coffee, Wivelsfield
Also
Horsham Roasters (actually in Burgess Hill)
Small Batch, Brighton
Always buy small bags so have freshly roasted beans
I must live in a small batch local roaster wasteland because I don’t see any nearby.
Anyway I’ve been happy with Rave. Reasonable prices and plenty of choice. I did try Square Mile as well and it was nice enough but they charge 50% more.
Lots of variety. If you talk to Peter (who owns it) he’ll recommend something based on your preferences. Warning tho, it will be a very long conversation 😉
I’ve been with Pact for years, mainly as they do decent decaff beans for not silly money. I had a look at alternatives but ended up settling on Pact for weekly deliveries as they’re so easy topped up by others when I fancy a change.
Tried various fancy ones and always find them too harsh and bitter. I’m clearly a Philistine but haven’t found much better than Lavazza Crema e Aroma. Currently using Sainsbury’s fair trade which is also perfectly fine but not quite as smooth.
Tried various fancy ones and always find them too harsh and bitter.
Ueshima. Smoother than a baby’s bum but still somehow satisfyingly coffee-ish and tasty but not fruity. It’s really something different. The house blend is smoother than the bold roast.
Pact for me here as well, super easy to maintain a good level of nice (to me anyway) coffee where you also get a bit of variety. I should definitely look for some local roasters round here though.
Went rhrough a few and found the Cafe Francais belnd is lovely, both in filter and espresso. I used to use Kingdom for years which was OK, but the best i could get to (like) was something nearish a costa type blend.
if i used my favorite bean it would be dear green – but alas i cant afford to (40 quid a kilo)so i save that for a treat when i go to the park shop (best coffee in Aberdeenshire hands down)
So instead i use Union roasters signature blend. 24quid a kilo.
Another Pact subscriber. It’s been good because it got me to try a number of different coffees that I otherwise wouldn’t have considered, and that I like a lot. I get a bag a week, and top it up either with extra bags from Pact or an order from Rave.
I used Hormozi a couple of times after a recommendation on here. They certainly seem very reasonably-priced compared to other places. Decent coffee too, though the last blend I ordered is a bit too acidic for me.
Coffee beans bought by the kg can be VAT exempt. Worth trying to find a supplier who will set up a wholesale account. 1kg lasts 3-4 weeks for me. Ancoats Coffee. I also like Dark Woods.
