Coborn - Specialty Coffee Roaster in London

Coborn Coffee roasts in London. It was founded by Kenny and Justin, and the business grew out of a conversation in a pub on Coborn Road in East London about keeping good coffee affordable for as many people as possible.

Every coffee Coborn buys comes from a named woman producer or a majority women-owned farm. Women make up most of the labour force in coffee production but own a small share of its farms. Coborn pays its farmers well while keeping its own prices within reach, and takes a smaller margin to do both. Its Nicaraguan espresso, Cumbre, comes from La Cumbre de Mujeres, five women producers brought together by Cafetos de Segovia, an exporter founded by the producer sisters Martha and Ana Alvir. In Quindío, Colombia, it has bought several coffees from Luz Helena Salazar.

In a very cynical industry, Coborn wants “to bring some joy and, dare we say, hope back into coffee”, says Justin Eniola, its Head of Mischief.

Coborn sells its beans online, by the bag or by subscription, and supplies cafés, restaurants and offices with house espresso, guest coffees for retail shelves, barista training and grinders.