The Gentlemen Baristas

What The Gentlemen Baristas does

The Gentlemen Baristas is a London-based specialty coffee roaster and coffee-house operator founded in 2014 by Henry Ayers and Edward Parkes. The company roasts award-winning specialty coffee at its 12,000 sq.ft. Maryland Stratford roastery — equipped with an S35 Loring eco-roaster (delivering up to 80% fuel savings versus conventional roasters) and a 12kg Probat roaster for smaller batches — and sells it under a proprietary hat-themed naming system (Satin & Silk, Bright & Breezy, Marbles & Conkers, Tophat, etc.) referencing the historical hat-making heritage of Southwark where the first coffee house opened.

The business operates a hybrid distribution model: multiple owned coffee houses across London (including a flagship on Piccadilly near The Ritz and locations around Borough Market and London Bridge), an e-commerce storefront shipping nationwide, a 12-month minimum coffee subscription service, and a B2B wholesale arm supplying cafes, restaurants, hotels, and pubs with bundled coffee, equipment, SCA-standard barista training, and account management. A flagship co-marketing partnership with De'Longhi bundles home espresso machines with 12-month subscriptions.

Revenue is generated across one-time retail bag sales (200g at £10-£17, 1kg at £39-£63), recurring subscriptions, B2B wholesale contracts, training services at the in-house Coffee School, and limited-edition specialty releases (e.g., anaerobic Pink Bourbon, No Waste Coffee, Christys' collaboration). Customers include discerning individual coffee buyers in the UK, B2B foodservice operators, and visitors to London coffee houses. The company is privately held and bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding.

Name

The Gentlemen Baristas

Legal name

The Gentlemen Baristas

Website

https://thegentlemenbaristas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Gentlemen Baristas is a London-based specialty coffee roaster and coffee-house operator founded in 2014, serving UK consumers via owned London cafés, e-commerce, subscriptions, and B2B wholesale with bundled equipment and SCA training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roastery

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI), Espresso Bars & Coffee Bars (THAFADAD)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roastery
• Wholesale coffee supply
• Coffee subscription service
• Coffee house chain
• Barista training school

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Coffee Products: Direct-to-consumer sales of roasted coffee beans in 200g and 1kg packages. Available as whole bean or ground (cafetiere, filter, espresso). One-time purchase model with prices ranging from $10-$63 depending on weight.
2. Coffee Subscriptions: Home coffee subscription service delivering regular shipments of specialty coffee. 12-month subscription bundled with De'Longhi machine partnership offering £100 off selected machines.
3. Wholesale Coffee Supply: B2B supply of specialty coffee to cafes, restaurants, hotels, and pubs. Includes machine supply, installation, barista training, account management, and quality control services.
4. Training Services: SCA standard training at purpose-built Coffee School. Free barista training for wholesale partners, with on-site and facility-based options available.
5. Equipment Sales: Sale of De'Longhi coffee machines bundled with subscription service. Commercial equipment supply through wholesale channel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Gentlemen Baristas roasts award-winning specialty coffee daily at its Stratford roastery in London and sells it through owned coffee houses, an e-commerce shop with a home subscription service, and a B2B wholesale program supplying cafes, restaurants, hotels, and pubs with coffee, equipment, SCA-standard barista training, and account management. Complementary offerings include an in-house Coffee School, Nespresso-compatible pods, limited-edition micro-lots (e.g., Brazil Pink Bourbon, Tophat x Christys'), and De'Longhi machine bundles.

Product overview

The Gentlemen Baristas is a London-based specialty coffee company offering a unified portfolio of products and services. Core offerings include specialty coffee sold under hat-themed brand names (Satin & Silk, Bright & Breezy, Days-A-Dawning, Apricots & Almonds, Marbles & Conkers, April Showers, and Decaf options), available in 200g or 1Kg bags with grind options (whole bean, cafetiere, filter, espresso). The company operates a subscription service delivering fresh-roasted coffee monthly, complemented by a wholesale B2B division supplying cafes, restaurants, and hotels with coffee, equipment, training, and account management. A partnership with De'Longhi bundles coffee machines (La Specialista Arte, Magnifica Evo variants) with 12-month subscriptions. The company also offers limited-edition and seasonal coffees (Winter Exclusive Pink Bourbon, No Waste Coffee, Christys' collaboration Tophat), operates a Coffee School for SCA-standard barista training, and maintains multiple London coffee house locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Satin & Silk Coffee Signature award-winning specialty coffee from The Gentlemen Baristas, available in 200g or 1kg sizes with whole bean, cafetiere, filter, or espresso grind options; sustainably sourced and traceable.
• Bright & Breezy Coffee Specialty coffee from the hat-named rotating selection, available in 200g or 1kg sizes with whole bean, cafetiere, filter, or espresso grind options.
• Days-A-Dawning Coffee Specialty coffee from the hat-named rotating selection, available in 200g or 1kg sizes with whole bean, cafetiere, filter, or espresso grind options.
• Apricots & Almonds Coffee Specialty coffee from the hat-named rotating selection, available in 200g or 1kg sizes with whole bean, cafetiere, filter, or espresso grind options.
• Decaf Feather & Flip Coffee Decaffeinated specialty coffee available in 200g or 1kg sizes with whole bean, cafetiere, filter, or espresso grind options.
• Marbles & Conkers Coffee Specialty coffee from the hat-named rotating selection, available in 200g or 1kg sizes with whole bean, cafetiere, filter, or espresso grind options.
• April Showers Coffee Specialty coffee from the hat-named rotating selection, available in 200g or 1kg sizes with whole bean, cafetiere, filter, or espresso grind options.
• Winter Exclusive Brazil Pink Bourbon Limited-edition Brazilian Pink Bourbon specialty coffee with vibrant acidity and nuanced floral and fruity notes; fermented 48 hours anaerobically and dried 45 days in controlled conditions for competition-quality cup.
• No Waste Coffee Sustainable specialty coffee produced from test roasts that don't meet the company's exact quality standards; variable blend depending on roasting results, suitable for filter or espresso, sold at a discount.
• Maryland Blend Coffee Pods Nespresso-compatible coffee pods featuring the Maryland Blend, introduced as part of the Christmas collection.
• Good Cause Christmas Coffee Charitable Christmas coffee where proceeds are donated to CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), CRISIS (homelessness charity), and Royal Marsden (cancer hospital).
• Tophat Specialty Coffee Limited-edition specialty coffee created in collaboration with Christys' London (founded 1773) for the Royal Ascot horse racing festival, celebrating the Southwark hat-making heritage.
• Coffee Subscription Service Recurring home coffee subscription delivering 1kg or more of fresh specialty coffee monthly; bundled with a 12-month De'Longhi machine purchase offer (£100 off selected machines) and free monthly coffee tutorials (brewtorials) for a year.
• Wholesale Coffee Service B2B wholesale specialty coffee service for coffee shops, cafes, hotels, restaurants, and pubs; includes machine and equipment supply, installation, SCA-standard barista training, auditing, quality control, account management, and white-label/branded/co-branded custom coffee options.
• Coffee School SCA-standard barista and brew training facility at the Maryland Stratford roastery offering coffee education classes; provides a neutral space for baristas to practice competition routines.
• The Gentlemen Baristas Coffee Houses Owned retail coffee house locations across London serving specialty espresso-based drinks and food, including Borough (Union Street, first opened 2014), Park Street near Borough Market (11 Park Street), and the Piccadilly flagship near The Ritz (opened 2021).
• La Specialista Arte (De'Longhi) De'Longhi domestic coffee machine with built-in barista kit (professional tamper, tamping mat, dosing guide, milk jug, two unpressurised filter baskets); sold via The Gentlemen Baristas storefront as part of the De'Longhi partnership bundle with a 12-month subscription.
• Magnifica Evo Manual Milk (De'Longhi) De'Longhi titanium and black manual-milk coffee machine for barista-style home brewing; sold via The Gentlemen Baristas storefront as part of the De'Longhi partnership bundle with a 12-month subscription.
• Magnifica Evo Automatic Milk (De'Longhi) De'Longhi automatic-milk coffee machine for espressos and easy milk frothing for lattes and cappuccinos; sold via The Gentlemen Baristas storefront as part of the De'Longhi partnership bundle with a 12-month subscription.

Quantifiable outcome

• Roastery capacity doubled with new Stratford facility
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• De'LonghiflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2023Partnership with De'Longhi, the world's leading domestic coffee machine maker, offering £100 off selected machines when customers sign up for a 12-month home coffee subscription. Includes 12 months of free coffee tutorials (brewtorials) from The Gentlemen Baristas team. Machines offered include La Specialista Arte (£429), Magnifica Evo Manual Milk (£319), and Magnifica Evo Automatic Milk (£479). Subscription must be minimum 1kg per month.
• SCA (Specialty Coffee Association)coreOthers · 5 June 2023SCA member since 2014. SCA standard training facility at Stratford roastery. Competitions and championships including SCA U.K. Coffee Roasters Championship. Senior Roaster Alexandru-Catalin Marin competed in 2023 championship.
• Christys' HatsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 May 2023Limited-edition specialty Tophat coffee collaboration for Royal Ascot horse racing festival. Christys' London, founded in 1773, is the historic British hat maker with notable wearers including Winston Churchill, Kate Moss, Indiana Jones, and Brad Pitt. The collaboration celebrates the hat-making heritage of Southwark where The Gentlemen Baristas' first coffee house was located.
• CALM, CRISIS, Royal MarsdenminorOthersCharitable partnerships for Good Cause Christmas Coffee - proceeds donated to CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), CRISIS (homelessness charity), and Royal Marsden (cancer hospital). Part of social impact and community engagement initiatives.
• Pharmacie Coffee RoastersminorOthersVenue host for 2023 SCA U.K. Coffee Roasters Championship held at Pharmacie Coffee Roasters location in Lewes.
• Loring Smart RoastcoreTechnology or IntegrationEquipment provider for S35 Loring roaster - most eco-friendly roaster on the market of that size, delivering up to 80% fuel savings and reduction of greenhouse gases compared to conventional roasters.
• ProbatcoreTechnology or IntegrationEquipment provider for 12kg Probat Roaster used for smaller batches and special lots.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Square Mile Coffee Roasters: London-based specialty roaster with a strong wholesale and barista-training reputation. Competes head-to-head for B2B accounts and the same specialty coffee consumer base in London.
• Pact Coffee: UK specialty coffee subscription and wholesale business focused on direct-to-consumer recurring delivery. Highly comparable on subscription D2C mechanics, though more DTC-weighted than Gentlemen Baristas.
• Monmouth Coffee: Iconic London specialty roaster with multiple coffee houses in the Borough Market and Covent Garden area. Comparable as a multi-site London specialty roaster-cafe with a focus on single-origin coffee.
• Workshop Coffee: London specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator with its own wholesale program serving cafes, restaurants, and offices. Closest direct competitor combining roastery, multi-site retail, and B2B wholesale in the same London market.
• Caravan Coffee: London specialty roaster with all-day restaurant-cafe locations and a wholesale program. Comparable hybrid roastery/retail/wholesale model in the same London market.
• Origin Coffee: UK specialty coffee roaster with a strong wholesale and barista training business. Competes for the same B2B hospitality accounts and shares the SCA-training and education angle.
• Hasbean Coffee: UK specialty roaster with strong direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels. Comparable specialty positioning and DTC subscription mechanics, though more nationally distributed.

Broad incumbents

• Caffè Nero: Major UK coffee chain with a UK-based roastery and a strong high-street coffee house presence. Competes for London specialty-leaning customers and the wholesale hospitality channel.
• Costa Coffee: UK's largest coffee chain with thousands of locations and a major UK roastery. Sets the competitive baseline in the UK coffee retail and wholesale market and competes broadly for footfall and B2B accounts.

Emerging players

• Curators Coffee: UK specialty coffee subscription brand competing for the same discerning DTC coffee consumer. Smaller and more DTC-focused, but overlapping on subscription and curated single-origin offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thegbswhatwhat
• Facebookfacebook.com/thegentlemenbaristas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Gentlemen Baristas