6 independent coffee houses and roasters to visit in Cornwall
Nothing tastes better after a long beach walk or coastal path ramble than a decent hot coffee. And thanks to a host of independent coffee roasters and coffee shops, Cornwall is now well and truly on the UK coffee map.
Serving up ethically selected beans, artisan blends and lovingly made brews, we’ve picked some unique places to try or buy the best coffee in Cornwall. Some of them even have their own clothing and pottery on offer, too.
Here are six independent Cornwall coffee shops and roasters to visit, ensuring your next coastal brew is the perfect pick-me-up.
1. Origin Coffee, Porthleven: the OG independent coffee company
Why they’re different:
Origin is considered one of the pioneers of the speciality coffee movement in the UK and has played a significant role in popularising high-quality coffee in Cornwall and beyond.
They distinguish themselves by sourcing coffee beans directly from the farms that grow them. This direct trade approach benefits the coffee producers by ensuring they receive fair compensation for their products, rather than going through middlemen or brokers. This ethical sourcing model helps support and sustain coffee-producing communities.
Where to find them:
At the roastery and coffee shop in Porthleven, you can relax with a range of local and seasonal food, carefully crafted cocktails and, of course, coffee. You can also stock up on beans from the refill dispensary.
2. Yallah Coffee Roasters, Falmouth: sustainable coffee
Why they’re different:
Yallah roasts specialty coffee from a barn in Falmouth. It imports coffee by sail, buys direct from the farmer and uses 100% plastic-free packaging wherever possible. Plus, the roastery is powered by renewable energy. The brand only showcases single origin coffees which they source from the best and most sustainable farms they can find and roast delicately to ensure the natural flavours are allowed to shine.
The name is derived from a Moroccan word meaning ‘let’s go’, which perfectly encapsulates the brand and the coffee’s energy.
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Where to find them:
Try the coffee for yourself at the cafe in Work Shop Studio, Penrhyn, which is a great place to rock up with your laptop if you’re on a working holiday. Or head down to St Ives and begin your day with a delicious Yallah coffee at the harbourside cafe and kiosk.
3. Lars & Margo, Liskeard: quality coffee over quantity
Why they’re different:
Husband-and-wife team Peter and Mandy set up Lars & Margo to meticulously handroast select green beans in limited quantities to ensure that only top-tier coffee makes its way into your cup. They collaborate closely with coffee bean farmers worldwide, including co-operatives in South America, Central America, Africa and Asia. Their coffee is expertly roasted and the emphasis is quality over quantity.
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Where to find them:
Pick up freshly roasted and ground coffee straight from the roastery. You can grab a takeaway cup there, too.
4. Potterbeans, Truro: wood-fired roastery plus pottery
Why they’re different:
Potterbeans offers freshly roasted coffee beans and hand-thrown pottery. Single origin coffees are wood roasted (an age-old method of preparing beans for brewing coffee) with artisanal skill on the restored vintage coffee roasters, using Cornish oak.
You can pick up a gorgeous espresso tumbler to enjoy your cup of Cornwall coffee back at your self-catered holiday cottage. Each pottery piece is individually hand made by Lucy Brown in the pottery studio in Truro.
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Where to find them:
The roastery and studio are open for pre-ordered collections Monday to Friday at Blackwater Studios, Truro.
5. No 1 Cubs, Cornwall: specialty coffee and casual clothing
Why they’re different:
Friends Matt and Billy met while sharing lifts to rugby training during college. A mutual love for coffee sparked the initial idea to set up a small coffee business. From there, No 1 Cubs has grown from a coffee machine in the back of a VW Caddy van to three cafes in Cornwall.
Serving Origin coffee, you can treat yourself to homemade cakes and pastries, sourdough toasties and smoothie bowls, as well as some new threads.
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Where to find them:
The flagship lifestyle store and cafe at 12 Fore Street in Mevagissey sells coffee and cake and you can browse the collection of hardwearing, stylish clothes designed with wave hunters in mind. There’s another cafe at The Hangar in St Mawgan and a takeaway kiosk at Sea Lane at Watergate Bay (they also sell coffee from their Defender on the beach in the summer).
6. The Roasting Room, Newquay: tales behind the blends
Why they’re different:
The Roasting Room (formerly Grounded) was founded in 2021 by owner, Olly, and partner, Loz. Their first coffee roaster was delivered to the roastery by Olly’s dad on his Jewson’s lorry. The second was taken to pieces and built bit by bit in the shop. Both roasters have a story to tell and could be considered antiques!
The team are passionate about sourcing high-quality, sustainably produced, delicious Cornwall coffee. They believe roasting is an art and a science. Hand roasting in small batches allows them to ensure the quality is consistent from crop to cup. Every coffee has a story to tell, its own distinct characteristics, including its origin, altitude and processing method.
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Where to find them:
You can try their blends – made from beans fairly sourced from Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Colombia – in their three shops at Bank Street in Newquay centre; Killacourt, right on the seafront with beautiful panoramic views of Towan beach; and the Roastery in Lanteague Studios, Truro.
Want to experience a warming and reviving cup of Cornwall coffee after a long coastal walk or bracing surf? Book your winter escape.