Wondering where to get your caffeine fix during the lock-down? Writer Jo Aspin rounds up some her favourite independents helping Britain keep their cups filled during self-isolation.
Hundred House Coffee
This one’s got the wow factor! The award-winning Shropshire-based roastery offers a range of coffee subscriptions, delivered directly to your door.
Our sample box included five beautifully packaged coffee blends from small producers, including 3rd generation Las Lajas farm in Costa Rica and double-soaked coffee from Los Nogales, El Salvador with some Great Taste awarded Hundred House blends thrown in too. They’ve also got the wow factor as they support the arts through the industry, working with a variety of artists and designers and allocating a portion of their profits to art and design initiatives, like teaming up with local galleries to create social spaces for dialogue and great coffee!
Insta: @hundredhousecoffee
Bird & Blend
This brilliant Brighton-based tea company is keeping our cupboards stocked up during lock-down, offering their vast range for delivery across the UK. Bird & Blend has tonnes of teas from immune-boosting herbals to classic builder’s brews. For a complete package, try the ‘Work From Home Provisions Bundle’ which includes your pick of tea, an artisan coffee or Matcha, plant-based milk and a sweet treat of your choice delivered to your door.
Insta: @birdandblendtea
Lost Sheep Coffee
Owners Stuart and Sarah set up Lost Sheep in 2011, inspired by the vibrant Melbourne coffee scene on their backpacking travels. Now roasting coffee from their Whitstable hub, this little Kent start-up is delivering UK-wide.
Lost Sheep prides itself on fully traceable, fair trade hand roasted artisan coffee with a focus on environmentally friendly packaging too. Opt for compostable capsules, which are compatible with a Nespresso machine, or whole beans.
Free delivery on orders over £15.
Insta: @lost_sheep_coffee
THEENK TEA
Designed to support brain function and mental wellbeing, this 21-day herbal tea programme is the perfect pick me up for the lock-down. You’ll receive different daily blends for your morning, noon and night cuppa, each packed with natural nutrients and stimulants to ease you through the day.
Created to help increase your focus, energy, sleep and more, the range of teas includes Rosemary, Ginkgo Biloba, Schisandra Berry, Hibiscus, Gotu Kola, Passion Flower, Tulsi and Chamomile.
Insta: @theenktea
The Gentleman Baristas
This London-based coffee house group has launched The Online Coffee House: a dedicated digital space to connect over home-brewed coffee during our long stint indoors.
Founders Ed and Henry are offering live streams every Wednesday and Saturday at 11am.
Their entire range of coffee is available for delivery too. Each of their blends is named after different types of gentleman’s hat, including Brazilian-sourced ‘Stovepipe’ with notes of blueberry, marzipan and blueberry tart; Kenyan ‘Bowler’ with hints of cherry cola, blackcurrant & white grape; and ‘Pretender’ decaf sourced from Guatemala.
W: www.thegentlemenbaristas.com
Insta: @thegentlemenbaristas
Bottleshot Cold Brew
Bottleshot are delivering their New Orleans style cold brew coffee range to homes. Ethically sourced Arabica beans are chilled in water for 18 hours with chicory to result in tastier and smoother coffee that’s high in caffeine and has 60% less acidity compared to regular coffee.
Cold brew is a healthier alternative to iced coffee as the steeping process give the coffee added natural sweetness and is easy on the stomach. Choose from original Cold Brew Black or Cold Brew Oat M*lk for a dairy-free alternative.
Insta: @bottleshotbrew
Indy Coffee Box
Indy Coffee Box is delivering speciality-grade coffee (the good stuff that only baristas usually get their hands on) direct to homes. The monthly coffee subscription service includes a curated collection of 2, 3, or 4 different blends posted to their subscribers – look out for their bright yellow box. April’s haul, for example, features coffee from Quantum Coffee Roasters (Cardiff), New Ground Coffee (Oxford), Rounton Coffee Roasters (North Yorkshire) and Fire & Flow Coffee Roasters (Cotswolds).
** Subscribers can get £5 off their first 3 or 4 bag box with code: ICB1 **
Insta: @IndyCoffeeBoxUK
Chatting Food Contributor Jo Aspin
Half American / half (born and bred) Londoner, Jo Aspin is a food writer and established freelance food, drink and lifestyle PR. She’ll be reporting on all the latest restaurant openings and news from the capital. When she’s not eating her way around London, she’s planning her next trip abroad.
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