Union Hand-Roasted Coffee

Union Hand-Roasted Coffee is a British specialty coffee roaster founded in London in 2001 by Steven Macatonia and Jeremy Torz. The company built its reputation on small-batch hand roasting and direct, long-term relationships with coffee farmers, an approach it has promoted under the banner of ethical sourcing and traceability. Its range spans whole-bean and ground coffee, espresso blends, single-origin lots, capsule coffee compatible with home and office systems, and ready-to-drink or filter formats. Union sells through its own online store, wholesale partnerships with cafés, restaurants and offices, and selected retail listings in the United Kingdom and beyond. The brand positions itself in the premium, craft segment of the coffee market rather than the mass-market commodity aisle. Its marketing emphasises roast freshness, cupping quality and the provenance of each lot, and it has been an early British adopter of specialty-coffee practices such as lighter roasting profiles and seasonal micro-lots. Union has also operated cafés and training or tasting spaces in London, using them to showcase its roasts and to educate baristas and consumers. As a privately held company, Union does not publish detailed financial results, but it is widely recognised as one of the longer-established specialty roasters in the UK. It competes with both independent roasters and larger branded coffee companies, and it has expanded its capsule and office-coffee business as demand for convenience formats has grown. The company continues to trade under the Union Hand-Roasted name and to supply both domestic and international customers.

Union Hand-Roasted Coffee was founded in London in 2001 by Steven Macatonia and Jeremy Torz, two figures in the British specialty coffee scene. From the outset the company differentiated itself through hand roasting in small batches and through direct sourcing relationships with coffee producers, an approach that was less common in the UK market at the time. Rather than buying anonymously on the commodity market, Union sought to work with farms and cooperatives over multiple harvests, paying premiums for quality and helping to fund improvements at origin. During the 2000s the business grew from a small roastery into a supplier for cafés, restaurants and offices, while also building a consumer following through its online shop and retail listings. The company adopted the language of ethical trade and traceability, publishing information about the farms and regions behind its coffees. It also invested in roasting equipment and quality control, and it developed a range of espresso blends alongside rotating single-origin offerings. As the UK coffee market expanded in the 2010s, Union responded to changing consumer habits by adding capsule coffee and other convenience formats, targeting both home users and the workplace coffee segment. It continued to operate its own cafés and training spaces in London, which served as brand showcases and as venues for barista education. The company also maintained wholesale relationships with hospitality businesses and expanded its international sales through distributors and online channels. Union remains a privately held British roaster. It has not been acquired by a large multinational, and it continues to trade under the Union Hand-Roasted name. Its long history in specialty coffee, combined with its focus on origin relationships and roast quality, has made it a recognisable name among UK coffee professionals and enthusiasts.

• 2010

  Expanded into capsule coffee and office coffee solutions as convenience formats grew.

• 2001

  Founded in London by Steven Macatonia and Jeremy Torz.

• 2000

  Built a reputation for hand roasting and direct trade sourcing during the 2000s.

Premium specialty coffee roaster focused on hand roasting, ethical sourcing and freshness.

• Espresso blends

  Signature blends roasted for espresso and milk-based drinks.

• Single-origin coffee

  Rotating lots from specific farms and regions.

• Coffee capsules

  Capsule formats for home and office systems.

• Filter coffee

  Roasts suited to filter and pour-over brewing.

1. 1Union Hand-Roasted Coffee official websiteunionhandroasted.com