The Lincoln Tea and Coffee

What The Lincoln Tea and Coffee does

The Lincoln Tea and Coffee Company is a UK-based specialist tea and coffee supplier founded in 2013 by Susie Carlisle and headquartered in Lincoln, England. The company produces and sells signature tea blends — most notably Lincolnshire Tea, a hand-blended East African and Assam black tea formulated to perform well in hard water — alongside roasted Arabica coffee products (Sweet Brazil, Colombian Fairtrade, Guatemalan Single Origin, Espresso No.1), biodegradable 10g single-serve coffee bags, and other tea varieties (Earl Grey, Darjeeling, Jasmine, Rose Congou). Core technology centres on blending and roasting operations with Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade certified sourcing, packaged in compostable paper tea bags, recyclable tubes, and biodegradable coffee bags.

The business operates an omnichannel model combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce (95+ SKUs at thelincolnteaandcoffeecompany.co.uk) with a consultative B2B commercial sales motion targeting hotels, cafés, offices, conference facilities, farm shops, and other hospitality operators across England, Scotland, and Wales. Revenue is generated through four streams: (1) unit-priced retail product sales with free delivery thresholds of £25–£39.99, (2) commercial B2B supply, (3) equipment sale/rental/lease of Bravilor, Jura, and La Spaziale coffee machines (filter machines from £167.50+VAT), and (4) professional services including barista and tea training (with City & Guilds qualifications) and consultancy for new hospitality openings. A distinctive revenue line is the portfolio of official RAF licensed products — Red Arrows Diamond Blend coffee, Typhoon Display Team Jet A-1 coffee, and BBMF Crew Brew tea — which combine revenue generation with brand-marketing exposure. The company holds multiple Great Taste Awards (2020–2025) and Great British Food Awards, is a Guild of Fine Food Producer Member, and operates without external funding as a family-run private limited company.

Name

The Lincoln Tea and Coffee

Legal name

The Lincoln Tea and Coffee Company

Website

https://thelincolnteaandcoffeecompany.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Lincoln Tea and Coffee Company, founded in 2013 in Lincoln, UK, is a family-run specialist tea and coffee supplier serving retail consumers via e-commerce and hospitality businesses via bundled equipment, training, and consultancy services, with a distinctive portfolio of official RAF-licensed branded products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Tea and Coffee

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Tea Blending & Flavoring (AFAFADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coffee Blending & Flavoring (AFAFADAC), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Specialty tea blends
• Specialty coffee roasting
• Coffee equipment supply
• Barista training services
• Tea coffee consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer and commercial online sales of packaged tea, coffee, accessories, and gift products through the company e-commerce website and commercial ordering platforms.
2. Equipment Sales and Rental: Sale and rental/lease of Jura and La Spaziale coffee machines, Bravilor filter and espresso machines, and coffee grinders. Offers rental and lease programs to reduce upfront costs for new businesses.
3. Consultancy Services: Full hand-holding service from initial consultation to opening and beyond for new hospitality businesses. Includes menu planning, layout advice, plumbing/electrical guidance, and ongoing support.
4. Training Services: Barista coffee training and customer service training. Offers access to Barista Skills City and Guilds Qualification. Bespoke sessions for new startups and established businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Lincoln Tea and Coffee Company supplies specialty tea and roasted coffee products directly to consumers and commercial clients. The company blends its signature Lincolnshire Tea (formulated for hard water) and roasts Arabica coffee blends (Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance Certified, single origin), and packages them in compostable tea bags, recyclable tubes, and biodegradable coffee bags. Beyond packaged goods, it sells and rents coffee equipment (Bravilor, Jura, La Spaziale), provides barista and customer-service training (including City & Guilds qualification), and offers consultancy on menu planning, layout, and installation for hospitality businesses.

Product overview

The Lincoln Tea and Coffee Company operates as a tea and coffee products and services business with a diversified portfolio. Their core offerings center on Lincolnshire Tea™ (signature hard-water-optimized tea blend) and specialty coffee products including the Sweet Brazil Blend, Colombian Fairtrade, and Espresso No.1. They hold official MOD licenses producing RAF Typhoon Display Team and Red Arrows branded coffees, plus Battle of Britain Memorial Flight tea products. Beyond packaged goods, they supply commercial coffee equipment (Bravilor, Jura, La Spaziale machines), provide barista and tea training services with City & Guilds qualifications, and offer business consultancy for tea/coffee operations. Their product range spans tea bags, loose leaf, coffee beans, ground coffee, coffee bags, accessories, and gift sets. They serve both retail (online/shop) and commercial (hospitality, offices, events) segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lincolnshire Tea™: Signature tea blend of high-grown East African and Assam black teas, specially blended to brew well in hard water. Features a biscuity flavour with notes of malt.
• Fuddled Food Co.

Products and services

• Lincolnshire Tea (signature hard-water blend) A proprietary blend of high-grown East African and Assam black teas, blended in a blending drum, taste tested and hand packed by The Lincoln Tea and Coffee to brew well even in hard water. Sold to retail consumers, hospitality operators, and as official licensed products. Lincolnshire Tea is 100% sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.
• Sweet Brazil Blend Coffee 100% Arabica medium roast coffee with buttery, caramel sweetness and vanilla notes, sold as roasted beans (500g) and ground coffee (250g). Great Taste 2022 1-star award winner.
• Finest Colombian Fairtrade Blend Coffee Medium-dark roast Fairtrade certified 100% Arabica coffee with rich roasted tones and natural nutty sweetness, sold as 250g ground coffee.
• Arabica House Blend Fresh Coffee Bags 100% Arabica medium roast coffee in biodegradable 10g coffee bags individually wrapped in recyclable packaging, allowing fresh coffee brewing with only hot water; offered in 10-pack and larger multi-pack sizes.
• RAF Typhoon Display Team Jet A-1 Coffee Official licensed product for the RAF Typhoon Display Team: medium roasted 100% Arabica Latin American blend with balanced body, notes of dark cocoa, and bittersweet finish, sold as 10g coffee bags.
• Red Arrows Diamond Blend Coffee Official licensed product: 100% Arabica medium roast coffee with nutty and caramel sweetness, sold as 250g ground coffee in tin and 500g whole beans. Great British Food Awards 2022 Highly Commended.
• Espresso No.1 Blend Coffee Medium-dark roast blend of Arabica and Robusta beans from Brazil, Central America and India, offering rich toffee sweetness and hints of cocoa. Fairtrade certified, sold as 500g roasted beans.
• Guatemalan Single Origin RFA Coffee 100% Arabica Rainforest Alliance Certified single-origin coffee from Finca La Pastoria in Guatemala, with mellow sweetness, refined acidity and smooth espresso character; sold as 500g roasted beans. Great Taste 2025 Award winner.
• Specialty Tea Range (Earl Grey, Darjeeling, Ceylon, Rose Congou, Lapsang Souchong, Jasmine Green, G&Tea, Winter Spice) A selection of specialty leaf teas including Rose Congou, Lapsang Souchong, Darjeeling, Ceylon Uva Orange Pekoe, Jasmine Leaf Scented Green Tea, Earl Grey, G&Tea, and Winter Spice, for retail and hospitality customers.
• BBMF Crew Brew Tea Blend Official RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight tea blend sold in a box of 80 compostable paper tea bags for crew and event use.
• Coffee Equipment (Bravilor, Jura, La Spaziale, grinders) Supply of Bravilor Bonamat filter machines, Jura bean-to-cup machines, La Spaziale espresso machines, and coffee grinders available for purchase, rental or lease. Bravilor filter machines start from £167.50 + VAT, with loan-machine options under loan contract.
• Barista and Tea Training Services Barista coffee training, customer service training, and tea and coffee education covering growing, processing, and preparation. Delivered via access to City and Guilds Barista Skills Qualification, plus bespoke sessions for new startups and established businesses.
• Tea and Coffee Operations Consultancy Consultancy for new and existing hospitality businesses covering menu planning, layout planning, plumbing/electrical guidance, equipment specification, installation, and ongoing support from initial consultation to opening and beyond.
• Tea and Coffee Accessories Tea and coffee accessories including ceramic mugs, teaware, and grinding tools sold via the company's e-commerce storefront to consumers and commercial customers.
• Gift Sets and Hampers Curated gift sets and hampers combining teas, coffees, mugs, and accessories, including Wrendale Designs collaborations and Valentine's Day themed sets, sold to retail consumers and used in corporate gifting.
• Other Drinks (Hot Chocolate, Woodland Tea Blend) Ancillary drinks including Fuddled Food Co. Indulgent Hot Chocolate products, Woodland Tea Blend (Wrendale collaboration), and Zuma Beetroot Powder sold via the company's e-commerce platform.

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Wrendale Designs (Hannah Dale)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2024Collaboration with Wrendale Designs by Hannah Dale to create the 'Woodland Tea Blend' - a special tea featuring woodland creature illustrations. Collaboration extended to Mother's Day gifting and Sara Miller London crossovers.
• Royal Air Force Red ArrowsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor and licensed product partner of the RAF Red Arrows aerobatic display team. Supplies the 'Diamond Blend' Red Arrows branded coffee products. Based in Lincolnshire, the company sees the Red Arrows practising from their office windows.
• Royal Air Force Typhoon Display TeamflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor and licensed product partner of the RAF Typhoon Display Team. Supplies the 'Jet A-1' branded coffee blend. Sponsorship acknowledged as key marketing visibility for the company.
• Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, supplying 'Crew Brew' branded tea blend products for crew and events.
• Guild of Fine FoodcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProducer Member of the Guild of Fine Food - a key trade organisation for specialty food and drink producers in the UK.
• Select LincolnshirecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAward-winning member of Select Lincolnshire, an organisation which celebrates Food and Drink businesses in Lincolnshire. Won Wholesaler of the Year 2017 and Business of the Year 2019.
• DIY SOS (BBC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupplied DIY SOS with an endless supply of tea and coffee during a build project, described as a standout charity moment. Company actively seeks charity and good cause involvement.
• Fuddled Food Co.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplies Fuddled Food Co. Indulgent Hot Chocolate products through the Lincoln Tea & Coffee e-commerce platform. Fuddled Hot Chocolate & Coffee Bag Gift Set listed on site.
• Rainforest AlliancecoreOthersRainforest Alliance Certified - tea sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms meeting rigorous environmental and social standards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ringtons: Long-established UK family-run tea and coffee supplier with a comparable D2C doorstep and B2B hospitality model. Highly comparable on heritage positioning, family ownership, and multi-channel tea/coffee retail plus foodservice supply.
• Origin Coffee: UK specialty coffee roaster focused on wholesale and barista training, supplying hospitality and offices. Comparable on B2B wholesale, training services, and specialty-grade product positioning.
• Hasbean Coffee: UK specialty coffee e-commerce roaster with strong single-origin and blend portfolio. Comparable on small-scale UK roaster positioning, e-commerce-first model, and specialty-grade focus.
• Paddy & Scott's: UK specialty coffee roaster of similar scale, with e-commerce, B2B hospitality supply, training, and consultancy. Directly comparable on product category, target customer mix (independent hospitality and retail), and integrated service model.
• Bird & Blend Tea Co. UK specialty tea brand with e-commerce, branded retail stores, and B2B supply. Directly comparable on tea specialism, premium positioning, awards-led marketing, and gift/hospitality product extensions.
• Tregothnan Tea: UK-grown tea producer with e-commerce and B2B trade supply. Comparable on tea specialism, single-origin provenance storytelling, and premium positioning.
• Rave Coffee: UK specialty coffee roaster selling via e-commerce and wholesale to hospitality. Comparable on product format (roasted beans, ground coffee, single-origin and blends) and B2B/D2C dual-channel strategy.
• Round Hill Roastery: UK specialty coffee roaster with e-commerce and B2B wholesale supply to hospitality. Comparable on product category, roasting/blending activities, and dual-channel GTM targeting independent cafés and offices.
• Hopper & Copse Tea Co. UK small-batch tea blender with e-commerce and B2B/hospitality supply. Comparable on specialty tea blending, UK regional focus, and trade + DTC dual-channel distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Whittard of Chelsea: Large UK specialty tea and coffee retailer with broad product portfolio across tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. Comparable on product categories and gift-led retail, but operates at significantly larger scale with broader assortment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LincolnTeaCoffe
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheLincolnTeaAndCoffeeCompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/lincolnshiretea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-lincoln-tea-and-coffee-company-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Lincoln Tea and Coffee