11 ethical coffee roasters in Britain
We love coffee as much as you do so we’ve compiled this list of Britain’s browse-worthy ethical roasteries. The following roasters have made our list for they all sell direct to the public, many offer coffee subscriptions, and all take their environmental and sustainability responsibilities seriously. They also practise fair or direct‑trade and do their best to support the all-important coffee bean growers themselves. Brew on, baristas…
1. Pure Roasters Coffee, Glasgow
This ethical speciality roaster is based in Glasgow. They source sustainable beans and offer flexible subscription deliveries across the UK.
☕ Website: pureroasters.com
☕Instagram/X: @pureroasters
2. Dear Green Coffee Roasters, Glasgow
This Glasgow roastery is B-Corp certified. A direct‑trade roaster, they source responsibly and reinvest in grower communities. Dear Green offers single‑origin and organic blends online, both to trade and to the lucky public.
☕ Website: deargreencoffee.com
☕ Instagram: @deargreen
3. Blue Coffee Box
Blue Coffee Box offers a letterbox‑friendly ethical coffee subscription, spotlighting small-holder growers worldwide. This is the choice for adventurous drinkers seeking traceability and variety.
☕ Website: bluecoffeebox.com
☕ Instagram: @bluecoffeebox
4. Mont58 Coffee, London
Mont58 is an award‑winning South‑East London roaster specialising in fair‑trade Arabica and compostable packaging. Their subscription service offers excellent value.
☕ Website: mont58coffee.com
☕ Instagram: @mont58coffee
5. Origin Coffee Roasters, Yorkshire
This B -Corp certified Yorkshire roastery runs along very sustainable lines, with traceable beans and a strong online subscription programme. You’ve heard of Yorkshire Tea, give Yorkshire Coffee a whirl with Origin.
☕ Website: origincoffee.co.uk
☕ Instagram: @origincoffeeroasters
6. Coaltown Coffee Roasters, Wales
This South‑Wales B-Corp has transparent direct‑trade sourcing, award‑winning beans and equipment, and a UK‑wide subscription service. We also found Coaltown Coffee served at many of the excellent independent cafés and coffee shops we loved in Wales.
☕ Website: coaltowncoffee.co.uk
☕ Instagram: @coaltowncoffee
7. Black Mountain Roast, Hay-on-Wye
This foot‑o‑the-mountains roaster in Hay‑on‑Wye offers bi‑weekly or monthly coffee subscriptions. Their award-winning blends come in compostable bags. Waste not, want not, drink more coffee!
☕ Website: blackmountainroast.com
☕ Instagram: @blackmountainroast
8. Wrexham Bean Co, Wrexham
A North‑Wales speciality roaster that celebrates local art and plants a tree per subscription purchased. Not just a pretty coffee! For those seeking a coffee subscription, it offers weekly to monthly delivery.
☕ Website: wrexhambean.com
☕ Instagram: @wrexhambean
9. Pact Coffee, London
This London‑based B-Corp has been a pioneer of direct‑trade specialty subscriptions since 2012. Pact offers a roast‑to‑door service and beans that come bedecked with great‑taste awards.
☕ Website: pactcoffee.com
☕ Instagram: @pactcoffee
10. Unorthodox Roasters, Kinross
A firm favourite in this home office (and as pictured above), Unorthodox Roasters feature in our independent café guide, The Extra Mile Guide: Alternatives to Motorway Services. They also happen to roast their own beans and offer a coffee subscription (which reminds us, it really is time to order some more).
☕ Website: www.unorthodoxroasters.co.uk
☕ Instagram: @unorthodoxroasters
11. Union Hand-Roasted Coffee, East London
This East‑London craft roastery was founded in 2001. Union offers its CoffeeClub subscription, sells in supermarkets, and maintains great artisan values throughout the process. Taste the craft in every cup with Union.
☕ Website: unionroasted.com
☕ Instagram: @unionroasted
Making you want to drink better coffee?
Try a new coffee subscription from one of the suggestions above, or get your own copy of The Extra Mile: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services to keep in your glovebox. Packed with almost 300 ideas for local, just-off-the-junctions places to eat and drink, the guide also bursts with independent cafés and coffee shops, whose baristas are just waiting to create you a delicious cup using fresh and locally roasted beans. Happy re-caffeinating and book browsing…
