Little Coffee Company

What Little Coffee Company does

Little Coffee Company is a UK-domiciled, founder-led social enterprise that sources and sells single-origin specialty coffee from women-led farming communities in Jamaica (Blue Mountain), Cameroon, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. The product portfolio comprises 250g bags, refillable tins, 1kg bulk bags, and home-compostable Nespresso-compatible pods, plus a triple-origin Brazil/Colombia/Ethiopia house blend. Roasting is carried out in the Alps, and the company holds the first licensed trademark for organic Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, a regulated exclusivity that underpins premium pricing.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via a Shopify storefront with a monthly subscription (£16/month, 10% subscriber discount, free UK shipping), complemented by retail distribution through premium UK partners including Selfridges (as the first woman-owned coffee brand stocked there), John Lewis (24-store pod launch that sold out in 4 days), Wholefoods, and Social Supermarket. Pricing ranges from $21 per 1kg to $22-$35 per 250g bag/tin, with limited-edition merchandise and £10-£100 digital gift cards completing the SKU set. The site ships globally in USD, with active negotiations underway for Middle East expansion via a regional distributor.

The model is reinforced by a charity partnership with Solar Aid (£0.20 per coffee sold funds solar lamps reducing 1.1 tonnes CO2 each) and a Direct Trade sourcing model that pays farmers above Fair Trade benchmarks. The company has earned Forbes Top 10 Caribbean Sustainability recognition, Green Spark and Inspiring Innovator (2021) awards, a Great Taste Award for its Tanzania coffee, and selection into Amazon's Black Incubator alongside The King's Trust. No external funding amounts or revenue figures have been disclosed.

Name

Little Coffee Company

Legal name

Little Coffee Company

Website

https://littlecoffeecompany.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Little Coffee Company is a UK-based social enterprise that sources single-origin specialty coffees from women-led farming communities in Jamaica, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, selling through DTC Shopify, monthly subscriptions, and premium UK retailers including Selfridges, John Lewis, and Wholefoods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Single-Origin Coffee

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee
• Single-origin coffee
• Ethical coffee sourcing
• Home-compostable coffee pods
• Coffee subscription service

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Coffee Product Sales: Direct sale of single-origin roasted coffee beans, bags, and tins across multiple origins (Jamaica, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ethiopia) and formats (whole bean, ground, 250g, 1kg)
2. Coffee Subscription: Monthly subscription model delivering single-source coffees to customers' doorsteps with free shipping. Customers can customize frequency and contents.
3. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards delivered by email with denominations from £10 to £100
4. Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including limited edition products like the Heritage Cap Cannes 2026

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Little Coffee Company is a social enterprise that sources, roasts, and sells single-origin specialty coffees from women-led farming communities in Jamaica, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. It sells directly to consumers through a Shopify e-commerce website with a monthly subscription option and ships globally, while also distributing through premium UK retailers including Selfridges, John Lewis, Wholefoods, and Social Supermarket.

Product overview

Little Coffee Company is a social enterprise e-commerce company specializing in single-origin coffees sourced from women-led communities. The product portfolio includes single-origin coffees from Cameroon, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Jamaica (Blue Mountain), plus a house blend combining Brazil, Colombia, and Ethiopia. Products are available in 250g bags, reusable tins, 1kg bulk bags, and home-compostable pods compatible with Nespresso machines. The company offers a subscription service for recurring deliveries. Core offerings are complemented by gift cards and branded merchandise. The company positions itself as an ethical, sustainable brand focused on empowering women farmers and environmental responsibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cameroon Coffee Bag (250g) Single-origin coffee from Cameroon with notes of pecan and spice, medium body. Available in whole bean or ground format in 250g bags; priced at $35.00.
• Cameroon Coffee Tin (250g) Single-origin coffee from Cameroon in a refillable reusable tin with notes of pecan and spice; priced at $35.00.
• Tanzania Coffee Bag (250g) Single-origin coffee from Tanzania with notes of chocolate and caramel, subtle sweetness with light acidity. Great Taste Award winner; priced at $22.00.
• Tanzania Coffee Tin (250g) Single-origin coffee from Tanzania in a refillable reusable tin with notes of chocolate and caramel; priced at $22.00.
• Ethiopia Coffee Bag (250g) Single-origin Ethiopian coffee with notes of blueberry and apple, featuring bright acidity and floral notes; priced at $22.00.
• Brazil, Colombia and Ethiopia House Blend Coffee Bag (250g) Triple-origin house blend combining Brazil, Colombia, and Ethiopian coffees with notes of floral and spice, light acidity and full body; priced at $22.00.
• 1 KG Wholebean Coffee Larger 1kg wholebean pack of triple-origin coffee combining Brazil, Ethiopian, and Colombia beans; priced at $21.00 (sale price $18.90).
• Home-Compostable Coffee Pods Plastic-free, home-compostable coffee pods compatible with Nespresso machines. Nitrogen-flushed for aroma retention; encased in durable, biodegradable material with no plastic.
• Coffee Subscription Monthly coffee subscription service delivering single-origin coffees to customers' doorsteps with free shipping. Customers can customize frequency and contents; pricing starts at £16.00 per delivery with a 10% subscriber discount.
• Digital Gift Card Digital gift cards delivered by email in denominations of £10, £25, £50, and £100, redeemable on coffee products with no processing fees.
• The Little Coffee Company Heritage Cap Cannes 2026 Limited Edition Limited edition premium washed cotton heritage cap with embroidered logo, inspired by the Cannes Lions 2026 journey; priced at $48.00.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 solar lamp reduces 1.1 tonnes of CO2, saves family £159, and provides 300 extra reading hours
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Solar AidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partner providing solar lamps to women and families in East & West Africa. Solar lamps replace toxic kerosene lamps, provide safe lighting for women traveling home at night, and give children extra reading time. 1 solar lamp reduces 1.1 tonnes of CO2, saves family £159, and provides 300 extra reading hours. Little Coffee Company donates £0.20 from each coffee sold.
• SelfridgescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium department store partnership - Little Coffee Company is the first woman-owned coffee brand stocked in Selfridges. Products available in-store and online through Selfridges website.
• John LewiscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor UK retailer partnership. Coffee pods launched in 24 John Lewis stores and sold out in 4 days, demonstrating strong market demand.
• WholefoodssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium health food retailer partnership for sustainable coffee distribution in the UK market.
• Social SupermarketsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEthical and sustainable products marketplace stocking the brand as part of their mission to support social enterprises.
• Amazon Black IncubatorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSelected as one of 12 businesses for Amazon's Black incubator program alongside The King's Trust, providing business development and scaling support.
• The King's TrustsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership through Amazon's Black incubator program for supporting entrepreneurs and business development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Blue Bottle Coffee: Global third-wave specialty coffee brand with DTC subscriptions, premium retail and single-origin emphasis — directly comparable on premium single-origin positioning and subscription-led growth.
• Counter Culture Coffee: US specialty coffee roaster focused on sustainability, single-origin sourcing and direct trade — comparable on ethical-sourcing narrative and premium DTC/wholesale model.
• Square Mile Coffee Roasters: London-based specialty coffee roaster serving both wholesale and DTC channels — directly comparable as a UK third-wave roaster targeting premium retail and foodservice customers.
• Hasbean Coffee: UK specialty single-origin coffee roaster with strong DTC e-commerce and subscription presence — comparable in single-origin sourcing, premium pricing and direct-to-consumer delivery.
• Volcano Coffee Works: UK specialty coffee roaster focused on ethical sourcing and sustainability credentials — closely comparable to Little Coffee Company's sustainability-led, single-origin positioning.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Specialty single-origin coffee roaster with DTC e-commerce, subscriptions and wholesale — directly comparable on premium single-origin positioning and direct-trade sourcing narrative.
• Origin Coffee: UK specialty coffee roaster operating DTC, subscription, and wholesale channels including premium retailers and foodservice — directly comparable in product category, customer mix and roasting model.
• Pact Coffee: UK direct-to-consumer specialty coffee brand with direct trade sourcing, subscription model and online storefront — the closest business-model analogue to Little Coffee Company in the UK market.
• Caravan Coffee Roasters: UK specialty roaster with retail locations, subscription and wholesale — comparable in third-wave positioning, premium retail partnerships and DTC distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Nespresso: Dominant incumbent in the coffee pod category with which Little Coffee Company's home-compostable Nespresso-compatible pods directly compete — provides the category benchmark for pricing, distribution scale and consumer expectations in pods.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-little-coffee-company
• Instagraminstagram.com/littlecoffeecompany

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 Little Coffee Company