FAQs
If you have a question that isn’t answered here, please contact us on 020 7232 3010 or email [email protected]
Coffee
Why do your coffees always change?
Coffee is a seasonal product with one or in some countries two crops a year. We buy small lots from many farms in each country – so when one coffee runs out, we go right on to the next one we have bought. In some places the farms are very small, just one or two acres, and these coffees change more frequently. Please find information about all our current coffees and view past coffees for tasting notes and headlines of coffees we have been roasting recently.
Why don’t you have the same coffee I ordered last time?
We are sorry we have run out of the coffee you enjoyed last time! We can help with a recommendation if you’d like – just let us know what you had and what you liked about it and we can point you in the right direction.
When was your coffee roasted?
We roast Monday to Friday each week; the coffee you receive will usually have been roasted a few days before despatch.
Can you grind the coffee?
Yes, there are the usual grind options available as standard options, listed in order of coarsest to finest:
Cafetière.
Filter and Aeropress Slow. This is suitable for our filter papers and cones, filter machines or a longer style Aeropress.
Stovetop / Aeropress Fast / Espresso. This is suitable for any of these espresso style methods.
If you need something that isn’t listed, or would like to talk about the method you use to ensure we grind it as you’d like, please contact us.
What is the difference between Aeropress Slow and Aeropress Fast?
Aeropress is an incredibly versatile brewer. There are many different ways to make a great coffee with it. If you balance the variables correctly you can use all sorts of grind sizes. However, when we pre-grind coffee for Aeropress we aim at the two most common brewing styles. ‘Slow’ refers a filter style brew which creates a longer drink – this is a medium grind. ‘Fast’ refers to an espresso style brew that is a short drink and has a faster brew time – this is a fine grind.
Can I get the coffee ground differently from the options you have?
Yes, we’d be happy to grind it differently for you, but you’ll need to contact us directly. Please note that it is always difficult to get the perfect grind for espresso but we’ll do our best.
How should I store the coffee?
We recommend keeping it in the bag that it comes in, and then for the best flavour inside a container in a cool, dark space.
How long does the coffee keep for?
We recommend using the coffee as soon as you can to get the most flavour from it, especially if it is ground. If your coffee has been bought online or from one of our wholesale customers you will see a best before date on the pack. The best before date will be two months from the date the coffee was despatched from our roastery.
How much coffee should I use for my brew method?
As much as you need to enjoy your coffee. There is a lot of information available online on how best to make coffee in a variety of different brew methods. We recommend you try for yourself and come up with an amount that you enjoy. In our shops we use 22g for a filter coffee and between 19 and 21g for espresso.
Which is your most popular coffee?
All of them! Each coffee has a distinct flavour profile, see the tasting notes for each coffee to get an idea of what they are like.
Is your coffee Arabica?
Yes. We buy from a lot of farms and they often have different varietals, but all of these varietals are Arabica.
How is your decaf coffee decaffeinated?
We buy our coffee from the farm and then send it to Mexico to be decaffeinated using the Mountain Water Process. Please see Descamex for more information about the decaffeinated process.
I am buying coffee as a gift, which grind should I choose?
We recommend you find out what kind of brew method the lucky person uses and get the coffee ground for that brew method. There is no omni-grind that can be used for all methods. Or you could really make their day and get them a filter cone and papers and have their coffee ground for filter.
Can coffee be composted?
Yes, and the snails and slugs do not like it. But take care; it doesn’t work with every soil type so take advice from your local gardening guru.
Can coffee filter papers be composted?
Yes.
Do you wholesale your coffee?
Yes, if you are interested in using our coffee in your café or shop, please contact us.
Do you sell green coffee?
Yes, a very little bit on the odd occasion, but not really. If you are interested in a particular coffee please contact us and we will make a recommendation.
Is there a strength guide to your coffees?
No. Strength is determined by how much coffee and water you use. If you enjoy a particular roast profile please contact us for a recommendation. However, the best way of figuring out what the coffee will taste like is to read the tasting notes on each coffee entry.
Sourcing
How do you buy your coffee?
We source and roast coffee from single farms, estates and cooperatives. When we taste a coffee that we like, we want to know where it comes from and who grows, picks and processes it. We travel extensively throughout the year, visiting the producers and cooperatives with whom we currently work and looking for interesting varietals of coffee and new farms from which to buy. During these visits we talk to farmers and cooperative members, learning more about the coffee they grow and process and the challenges that they face. We then look to establish a relationship with the grower and exporter of that coffee. We believe that where such a relationship exists, quality, quantity and price requirements can be discussed in an open and equal way. We see this as sustainable, fair and equal trade.
Is your coffee Organic?
We buy some organic coffee – it is identified with Organic Certification GB-ORG-04.
Is your coffee Fairtrade?
No. See above for how we go about buying our coffee.
Is your coffee Bird Friendly / Shade Grown?
Some of it is, but we don’t use these certifications. See above for how we go about buying our coffee.
Is your coffee Bulletproof?
No. Bulletproof is not a certification. Please contact us for a recommendation for a coffee that fulfils the BP requirements.
General
Do you do any classes for the public?
We don’t offer any courses but we can recommend the London School of Coffee for barista, espresso machine maintenance and roasting classes.
Do you offer roastery tours for the public?
No. Visits to our offices and roastery are by appointment only.
Do you have an ethical policy?
Our ethical policy is best covered by the What We Do section.
How do I contact any team or department not listed on your website?
Please email [email protected] and we will forward to the appropriate person.
Subscriptions
Do you offer coffee subscriptions?
Yes, we offer Repeat and Prepaid subscriptions. A Repeat Subscription will renew on a regular basis, (either monthly or every two weeks) until it is cancelled. Our Prepaid Subscriptions are available for 3, 6 or 12 months with monthly or twice monthly deliveries.
If you would like something more bespoke please contact us and we will do our best to help.
Can I cancel my subscription?
Yes, you can cancel your Repeat Subscription from your account page at any time.
If you have a Prepaid Subscription and would like cancel before this is complete, we can issue a partial refund (to the payment card); please contact us in this instance.
Can I pause or delay my subscription?
Repeat Subscriptions can be cancelled from your account page. Please call or email us to pause your subscription or to change the date of your next delivery.
For any changes to Prepaid Subscriptions, please contact us at least 48 hours before your next delivery is due to be despatched.
Can I change my subscription?
Yes, to make changes to a Prepaid Subscription please contact us.
Repeat Subscriptions can be amended from your account. You will need to go through the checkout process again for the changes to be saved, but you will not be charged until your next renewal date. Changing your coffee type, grind, weight or shipping preference will not affect the delivery schedule for your subscription. Changing the frequency online will not affect your next despatch date, this will come into effect after the next renewal. If you would like to change your next despatch date please send us an email.
Can I get two types of subscription at the same time? i.e. one bag of decaffeinated coffee and one bag of Monmouth Espresso.
Yes, this is something we can organise for you please send us an email.
Coffee pods
Where have your pods gone?
We are working on the next run but they are not ready yet. If you’d like to be notified when they’re back please email [email protected].
Will your pods work in my machine?
Our pods are compatible with machines that use Nespresso® Original capsules – they will not work with Vertuo, Dolce Gusto®, or other types of pod machines.
What are your pods made of?
Aluminium. We chose this material because it has a good recyclability stream and the coffee tastes good.
Why not compostable pods?
Not a lot of us have good access to composting facilities. Most compostable items need to be processed in specific conditions to ensure that they break down properly. While they will still likely break down in landfill, this can take a long time, and will release methane in the process. In contrast, aluminium is widely recycled. Research shows us that around 75% of all aluminium that has ever been in circulation is still being recycled and reused.
How do I recycle the pods?
Firstly, empty the pod of ground coffee. You can split or peel the pod open and scoop out the coffee. Rinse off and add to your aluminium (can) recycling. This gizmo makes this process very easy.
Is there anything else I should know about your pods?
You may find our pods run slower than some other brands. To get the flavour we wanted from these coffees, we aimed for a longer extraction time.