What is a Coffee Roastery? (And Why Micro Matters)
When people ask me “what is a coffee roastery?” my answer is simple: it’s where raw, green beans are transformed into something extraordinary. But for me, it’s more than that. A roastery is a place of discovery, of care, and of connection. A workshop where flavour, science, and story come together in the cup.
I roast coffee in small, limited runs here in the Scottish Highlands. Every Monday I fire up the roaster, and every Tuesday the beans leave Bettyhill post office to go on their final journey across the UK. By keeping it small, I can give each coffee the attention it deserves, adjusting the roast so a Rwandan natural bursts with fruit, or a Costa Rican honey shines with sweetness.
Why Micro Matters to Me
I’m not a factory. I’m one person with a roaster, working in small batches. And that matters.
- Freshness: Because I roast to order, your coffee is always at its best when it reaches you.
- Adventure: Each lot is an opportunity to explore something new. Different flavours, processes, and origins. I choose coffees that surprise me, and I hope they surprise you too.
- Story: What excites me most is the people. The farmers, cooperatives, and communities who grow coffee in often challenging climates. Sharing their stories is as important to me as sharing the coffee itself.
Exploring Coffee Together
For me, coffee is an adventure. Each bag holds a journey; from hillside farms in Ethiopia to small cooperatives in Nicaragua. The work, the dedication, the challenges of climate change... all of that lives inside the beans I roast.
That’s why I created the Coffee Explorers Subscription. It’s a way to keep exploring together, one month at a time. Places are limited because I keep it small, but if you’d like to join, you’ll always find something new to taste and a story to go with it.
More Than a Drink
So, what is a coffee roastery? For me, it's more than a workshop, it’s a place of discovery and connection. It’s where I honour the work of others and share it in the most delicious way I know how.
Coffee excites me. The flavours, the origins, the people behind it all and I hope it excites you too.