North Yorkshire’s Rounton Coffee now ships to Outer Hebrides

Rounton Coffee, based in an old granary outside East Rounton, near Northallerton, was founded by David Beattie after he fell in love with coffee during a visit to Sumatra.

Mr Beattie, who left a career in chemical engineering to start the business in 2013, said: “We are now shipping coffee to the Outer Hebrides, where we have a wholesale partner, and when I started the business in 2013, would have been unfathomable.

The home of Rounton Coffee (Image: Rob Evans)

“Our growth still feels a bit surreal, as we started life at farmers’ markets simply as a way of sharing our love for really good quality, ethical coffee with people like us.

“We just wanted to share what we were passionate about, and we’ve been lucky that over the years, more and more people have also found a passion for quality coffee.”

The company now roasts up to a ton of beans each day and packs around 2,150 bags of coffee per week.

David Beattie of Rounton Coffee (Image: Rob Evans)

This level of output was made possible thanks in part to a recent six-figure investment in new machinery, including a £150,000 Loring S35 Kestrel roaster.

The new equipment uses 80 per cent less energy than traditional roasters and has improved both consistency and output at their village HQ.

Mr Beattie said the company’s success has enabled it to give back to the community.

He said: “A big part of why we do what we do is it gives us a platform to give back, be it in our community or our suppliers, and the more the business grows the more we can do that.”

Rounton Coffee’s community contributions have included major donations to the North Yorks Moors Trust and sponsorship that’s helped schoolchildren in some of Teesside’s most deprived postcodes to connect with nature.

Mr Beattie also believes the Covid-19 pandemic played a significant role in changing consumer behaviour.

He said: “In terms of our growth, I think lockdown was a game-changer for independent coffee companies.

“People found themselves at home and spending a bit more on higher quality products, and that really opened a lot of people’s eyes to the quality of coffee that was available outside of supermarkets.”

He said the sustained growth in demand has allowed the business to expand its positive impact.

He said: “What really matters is that, as a business, we can use coffee as a force for good.

“Our suppliers are paid fairly, and that really matters to us.

“Some international coffee brands have faced justified criticism for how they treat farmers and how suppliers are treated, and we want to play our small part in doing things differently.”

He said: “But we also want to improve lives closer to home.

“We are a small team who were all born and live in the area, so it matters to us that the business leaves a really positive footprint – and that it is something we can truly be proud of.”