We've completely transformed how we source, roast, and deliver exceptional coffee. Here's everything that's changed – and why it matters for your daily brew.
After months of work and upgrades, we're thrilled to share the most significant evolution in Counter Coffee's history. From direct trade relationships that support farming families to same-day dispatch that guarantees peak flavour, every aspect of our operation has been elevated to deliver you better coffee.
What's Changed Behind the Scenes
Direct Trade Partnerships: From Farm to Your Cup
We now work directly with exceptional farms in Nicaragua, Brazil, and Colombia, cutting out middlemen to ensure farmers receive fair compensation whilst delivering unprecedented traceability and quality to your cup. This isn't just about better coffee – it's about creating sustainable livelihoods for the people who grow our beans.
Our new partnerships mean we can provide detailed stories about every farm, every processing method, and every step from cherry to cup. When you drink Counter Coffee now, you're not just enjoying exceptional flavour – you're directly supporting farming families and sustainable agricultural practices.
High Quality Speciality Coffee Standards
Our new single origins score an impressive 84.5-86 out of 100 on the Specialty Coffee Association scale, delivering delicious coffee that meets the highest industry standards. These scores place our coffees firmly in the 'specialty' category – coffee that's been meticulously grown, processed, and roasted to showcase unique flavour characteristics.
Enhanced Sustainability: Solar-Powered Roastery
Our roastery now operates on solar power, generating more energy than is used. This means every bag of Counter Coffee is kinder to the planet.
Same-Day Dispatch & Peak Flavour Guarantee
Orders placed before 2:30pm now ship the same day (Monday-Friday), dramatically reducing the time between roasting and delivery. Your coffee will now arrive within 3-7 days of roasting, ensuring you experience those vibrant flavours and aromas at their absolute peak.
Coffee starts losing its peak flavour within days of roasting, which is why this change is so significant. You're no longer drinking coffee that's been sitting in warehouses or on shelves – you're experiencing it exactly as we intended, when all those complex flavour compounds are at their most vibrant.
Meet Our Six Exceptional Coffees
Wake Up! Espresso - Italian-Style Blend (High Caffeine)
Tasting Notes: Praline and milk chocolate
The Blend: A big, punchy and bold Italian-style espresso blend. This hearty blend combines Brazilian and Ethiopian arabicas with Indian robusta to give it some serious kick and a delicious crema.
Perfect For: Those who like their coffee strong or need a serious caffeine boost. These beans are perfect for espresso at home and pair exceptionally well with milk or milk alternatives for a flat white or latte.
The Robusta Advantage: The addition of Indian robusta not only increases caffeine content but also contributes to the thick, long-lasting crema that makes this blend so forgiving for home baristas.
Caffeine Levels:
- Single Espresso (7g): 84mg (21% of daily max)
- Double Espresso (18g): 216mg (54% of daily max)
- Filter (15g): 180mg (45% of daily max)
Uplift Espresso - Brazilian Single Origin (SCA Score 84.5 out of 100)
Tasting Notes: Praline, maple syrup
The Story: This exceptional single origin comes from our direct trade partnership with a sustainable family-run farm in Monte Santo de Minas, south of Brazil's Minas Gerais state. What sets this farm apart is their commitment to transparency – they provide really detailed traceability reports, documenting every farmer involved in growing and picking, precise processing times, and comprehensive logistics tracking using satellite imagery.
The Farm: Spanning 1,589 hectares, this sustainable operation dedicates one-third to processing and milling, with the remainder split between coffee cultivation and preserved native forest. Their commitment to ecosystem preservation makes them an exemplar for the coffee world. Multiple natural springs throughout the estate ensure exceptional water quality, contributing to Monte Santo de Minas' reputation as one of Brazil's premier coffee-growing regions.
Processing & Varietal: Using a natural process, 70-80% of the sweet mucilage remains on beans during drying, then rests in silos for 30-60 days until optimal moisture is achieved. The Catucai varietal – a cross between Icatu and Catuai – is perfectly suited to Brazilian growing conditions, producing hardy plants with high productivity at lower altitudes.
Perfect For: Espresso lovers who appreciate bold flavours with natural sweetness, or anyone wanting a reliable morning caffeine boost. These beans are perfectly paired with milk or milk alternatives for a flat white or latte.
Caffeine Levels:
- Single Espresso (7g): 60mg (15% of daily max)
- Double Espresso (18g): 155mg (39% of daily max)
- Filter (15g): 129mg (32% of daily max)
First Thing Filter - Nicaraguan Single Origin (SCA Score 86 out of 100)
Tasting Notes: Dark chocolate, butter, and hazelnut
The Story: Sourced from the prestigious Finca La Bastilla Estate in Nicaragua's Jinotega region, this coffee represents our highest-scoring single origin. Nestled within a pristine mountainous natural reserve, every cherry is meticulously handpicked according to the unique microclimates of individual farm sections.
The Estate: This remarkable estate exemplifies sustainable coffee production at its finest. The estate's commitment to quality extends through their fully vertically integrated processing system, enabling precise differentiation and sorting of every single bean. This direct trade partnership represents our commitment to supporting exceptional coffee producers.
The Terroir: The Yellow and Red Catuai varietals thrive in the estate's 1250-1450 metre elevation, where the mountainous terroir creates ideal growing conditions. The washed process and careful attention to every detail result in a coffee that's bright and balanced, yet roasted to a slightly more developed profile that delivers very low acidity with full body and a remarkably clean finish.
Perfect For: Filter coffee enthusiasts, morning coffee drinkers who want something smooth yet flavourful, or anyone who finds typical coffee too acidic. Delicious as a straight espresso or black filter coffee.
Caffeine Levels:
- Single Espresso (7g): 64mg (16% of daily max)
- Double Espresso (18g): 164mg (41% of daily max)
- Filter (15g): 137mg (34% of daily max)
Refuel Filter - Colombian Single Origin (SCA Score 84.25 out of 100)
Tasting Notes: Brown Sugar, wine gums, and praline
The Story: A sticky, sweet and perfectly balanced Colombian single origin that delivers the classic Colombian flavour profile you'd hope for – sweet with balanced acidity as a medium-light roast, punchy without being bitter, offering outstanding quality at an accessible price point.
The Farm & Region: Sourced from the renowned Antioquia Department, just north of Medellín, this coffee represents the dedicated work of numerous smallholder farms throughout the region. The scale of production ensures remarkable consistency, with each lot specially selected to maintain the distinctive flavour profile that makes Colombian coffee legendary – natural sweetness, bright upfront acidity, and nutty qualities that shine in both black coffee and milk-based drinks.
The Varietals & Heritage: This coffee showcases classic Colombian varietals that have defined the region for decades. Following the devastating coffee leaf rust outbreak of 2008-2009, Colombian coffee production evolved to include more disease-resistant varietals like Castillo – developed by Colombia's National Center for Coffee Investigation in 2005. Now Colombia's most planted varietal, Castillo produces short trees with large cherries for sustainable yields.
Complementing this are the traditional Caturra and Typica varietals that have been cultivated in Colombia for generations. Together, these varietals create a consistently delicious and approachable profile, making this an excellent gateway into specialty coffee.
Perfect For: Those who appreciate classic Colombian coffee character, filter coffee enthusiasts, or anyone wanting a smooth balanced coffee that works really well as a black filter or paired with milk or milk alternatives.
Caffeine Levels:
- Single Espresso (7g): 52mg (13% of daily max)
- Double Espresso (18g): 133mg (33% of daily max)
- Filter (15g): 111mg (28% of daily max)
Easy Afternoon Half Caf - Innovative 50/50 Blend (Combined SCA Score 85.5 out of 100)
Tasting Notes: Dark chocolate, and citrus
The Innovation: This carefully crafted blend unites two remarkable coffees: our direct trade Nicaraguan estate coffee (SCA 86) with our premium Colombian decaf (SCA 85). The result is a sophisticated blend that showcases the best of both origins whilst delivering exactly half the caffeine.
The Nicaraguan Component: Features Yellow & Red Catuai varietals from our Finca La Bastilla Estate at 1250-1450m altitude, where every cherry is handpicked according to unique microclimates and processed through their fully integrated system.
The Colombian Component: Sourced from over 50 dedicated producers across the isolated Andes mountains, spanning Pitalito, Acevedo, Palestina, Timaná, and Suaza. Each farm hand-sorts and processes their harvest with particular attention to the drying process, ensuring remarkable consistency and uniformity.
The Decaffeination Process: The Colombian portion is decaffeinated using the innovative Sugar Cane Process at the renowned Descafecol plant in Manizales. This natural method uses ethyl acetate derived 100% from sugar cane combined with pure mountain water, removing 99.7% of the caffeine whilst preserving original flavours and adding delightful fruity notes and complexity.
Perfect For: Afternoon coffee drinkers, anyone wanting to reduce caffeine intake without sacrificing flavour, evening coffee lovers, or those sensitive to caffeine who still want a proper coffee experience. Perfect as an afternoon or after-dinner coffee – or just for those days when you feel like you need to take it easy and calm the nerves.
Caffeine Levels:
- Single Espresso (7g): 33mg (8% of daily max)
- Double Espresso (18g): 85mg (21% of daily max)
- Filter (15g): 71mg (18% of daily max)
All Day Decaf - Colombian Single Origin (SCA Score 85 out of 100)
Tasting Notes: Toffee & Mollases
The Story: A medium roast, filter-friendly coffee that proves decaf doesn't mean compromising on quality. Sugar cane decaffeinated with exceptional notes that defy expectations – this is definitely not your regular decaf!
The Farm & Region: Cultivated along an isolated mountain range within the central cordillera of the Andes, this remarkable coffee spans the municipalities of Pitalito, Acevedo, Palestina, Timaná, and Suaza. This exceptional offering represents the dedicated craftsmanship of over 50 committed producers who share an unwavering commitment to quality and excellence.
Each farm takes meticulous care in hand-sorting and processing their harvest, with particular attention devoted to the drying process. This careful approach ensures remarkable consistency, uniformity, and the clean cup profile that defines outstanding coffee.
The Decaffeination Process: Processed at the renowned Descafecol plant in Manizales, this Natural EA decaf represents the pinnacle of chemical-free decaffeination. The innovative process uses ethyl acetate derived 100% from sugar cane, combined with pure mountain water, to remove 99.7% of the caffeine while preserving the coffee's essential character.
The genius of the Sugar Cane Process lies in its ability to maintain the coffee's original flavours while introducing delightful fruity notes and added complexity. The result is a decaf with soft acidity and a lingering aftertaste that challenges everything you thought you knew about decaffeinated coffee.
Perfect For: Evening coffee lovers, those sensitive to caffeine, afternoon coffee drinkers who don't want to affect their sleep, or anyone who wants exceptional coffee flavour without the caffeine. Delicious as a black coffee or perfectly paired with milk.
Caffeine Levels:
- Single Espresso (7g): 2mg (0.5% of daily max)
- Double Espresso (18g): 6mg (1.4% of daily max)
- Filter (15g): 5mg (1.2% of daily max)
Why This Matters for Your Coffee Experience
Fresher Coffee, Maximum Flavour
Same-day dispatch means your coffee arrives at peak freshness, when all those complex flavour compounds are at their most vibrant. No more stale coffee that's been sitting in warehouses.
Complete Transparency
Know exactly where your coffee comes from, how it was processed, and who grew it. Our direct trade relationships mean we can tell you the complete story behind every cup.
Consistent Excellence
Direct relationships with farms ensure reliable quality batch after batch. When we work directly with producers, we can maintain the exact standards and processing methods that create exceptional coffee.
Ethical Impact
Your purchase directly supports farming families and sustainable agricultural practices. Every cup contributes to better livelihoods for coffee farmers and environmental conservation.
Environmental Responsibility
From solar-powered roasting to recyclable packaging, every aspect of our operation considers environmental impact. Your daily coffee ritual can now be part of a more sustainable future.
Our Commitment to Caffeine Clarity
Each coffee comes with lab-tested caffeine levels, so you can make informed decisions about your daily intake. Whether you need a morning boost with our Wake Up! Espresso or want to wind down with our All Day Decaf, you'll always know exactly what you're getting.
The 300-400mg daily recommended allowance means you can plan your perfect coffee day – perhaps a double espresso of First Thing Filter in the morning (164mg), followed by an Easy Afternoon Half Caf filter in the afternoon (71mg), keeping you well within healthy limits whilst maximising enjoyment.
The Future of Counter Coffee
This isn't just about launching new products – it's about fundamentally elevating how specialty coffee can work. By combining direct trade relationships, transparent sourcing, peak freshness delivery, and absolute caffeine clarity, we're creating a new standard for what coffee lovers should expect.
Every improvement we've made serves our core mission: delivering great coffee with caffeine clarity, so you can pick the best coffee that will work for you and boost your mood, while supporting sustainable practices and farming communities.
Ready to experience the difference? Explore our full range of direct trade coffees at countercoffee.uk, where specialty coffee meets complete transparency, delivered at peak freshness to your door.
All our packaging remains LDPE4 recyclable, and our roastery now operates entirely on solar power – because exceptional coffee should also be kind to the planet.