Who are we?
We are a family owned and operated coffee roastery based on the border between Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Established in 2021, we roast quality, sustainable and transparent speciality coffee with a focus on single origins that have amazing stories behind them.
What are our values?
Great coffee is not just about great taste. Speciality coffee, when sourced correctly, can mean better quality of life for farmers, greater sustainability for the environment and a better taste for you!
Quality
Quality is affected by every step of the coffee supply chain, from when the farmers choose to pick the coffee cherries, to how we roast the coffee. We only work with grade A, arabica coffee, this helps ensure that what we purchase always has the potential to produce a good cup but quality is not just about taste.
Higher quality coffees naturally cost more but as we source primarily from cooperatives and small producers this higher price we pay is passed onto the farmers for their meticulous processing, excellent attention to detail and understanding of coffee.
Purchasing good quality coffee does mean a better taste but it can also allow for a better quality of life for the farmers and help improve the social, environmental and economic sustainability of the industry.
Sustainability
We purchase our coffee primarily from cooperatives and small farms that intersperse their coffee trees with native trees and plants to encourage biodiversity, minimise soil erosion and improve soil health. This healthier soil, along with farmers attention to detail in growing and producing their coffee, helps produce speciality grade coffee, which will subsequently fetch higher prices. This allows farmers to invest in their farms, communities and futures.
Speciality coffee is much more than just excellent tasting coffee, it’s about finding mutually beneficial, sustainable supply chains. By supporting well-sourced, speciality coffee, you also have the confidence that it has a minimal environmental impact and that the farmers are paid fairly for their work. All helping to form an industry that is Environmentally, Economically and Socially sustainable.
Transparency
Transparency has become a common theme within speciality coffee over the last few years and it is vitally tied into ensuring that sustainable practices are supported within the industry. The importers we work with have strong, long-lasting relationships with their partner-farmers and are keen to promote the stories behind each coffee that they offer. This is why we focus on single origins rather than blends as we believe this highlights the unique and amazing stories behind each coffee that may otherwise be lost by blending it.
Our short supply chains ensure closer connections to the farms and whilst we are unable to visit each farm we source from, by working with those that do, this gives us the confidence that the coffee is being produced in a way that supports every member of the supply chain.
We have been buying our coffee from Mill Bank ever since they opened in 2021 . The quality is excellent, there’s always something new to try and the service from Matt & Roger is second to none! They really care for their products and customers. Oh yes and they’re local. What more can you ask!!
— Tony and Ali Ravenhall107 orders placed
Our History
2020
The Concept
We had been venturing down the coffee 'rabbit hole' for a few years and struggled to find the coffee we liked to drink in our local market. In October 2020, Roger remarked, "I have always wondered what it is like to roast coffee". This simple line led to the question:
Why don't we try to roast our own?
2021
Mill Bank Coffee Was Born
After several months of market research and planning, we acquired a vintage coffee roaster and converted our wood shed (formerly a coach house) into its new home. We launched our new business with 3 single-origin coffees on 1st March 2021.
2022
Coffee Trailer
Throughout 2022 we aimed to grow our presence in the local market. We achieved this by converting our own coffee trailer, which allowed us to visit shows, festivals and private events to get people drinking our coffee!
2023
Renovating
As we headed into our third year of trading we found an increasing demand for customers to visit us directly to purchase their coffee. We decided a roastery renovation was needed and in the second half of 2023 we began renovations.
2024
A New Era
Throughout 2024 the renovations have resulted in a refreshed roastery, providing a welcoming space for all our customers. Our new equipment allows us to produce the best coffee we have ever produced and our new brew bar allows us to offer samples and drinks to customers wishing to try some of our range when visiting.