Pelicano opened in 2014 as a small independent café in the North Laine, founded by Zephir Thomas and Sol Lee. It has since become a roaster with several cafés, and every batch is roasted in-house in Brighton. Its branding draws on Sol’s Korean heritage and on Brighton’s creative culture.

The North Laine café is still the original, with a front terrace, a back garden and two floors for coffee, meetings and laptops. A second café also has two floors and outdoor seats. At The Level, Pelicano runs a kiosk-style café beside the park near St Peter’s Church, mostly for drinking outside, with the Smokey Bird espresso blend and single origins. The newest café is Pelicano’s first with a full kitchen, serving breakfast and brunch made to order from local ingredients, and it is licensed for Bloody Marys, craft beer and natural wine. All the cafés welcome dogs and children, offer oat, almond, soy and coconut milk, and give a discount for a reusable cup. Most are walk-in, and selected sites can be hired for private events.

Smokey Bird is the house espresso blend, 60% Brazil and 40% Colombia, with notes of dark chocolate and red berry, a subtle smokiness and a hint of vanilla. The Grindstone, a medium roast of Colombia and Ethiopia, is the everyday blend for espresso or filter. Pelicano also runs barista courses and supplies wholesale customers.

Coffee on the shelf

Photograph: Pelicano Coffee Roasters