Nick Gibb visited Edgcumbes Coffee Roasters in Ford Lane, just outside Yapton.
The company was established in 1981 but turnover has doubled over the last three years, with it now approaching £1 million a year. They employ 20 people and also have a very successful coffee shop.
Brands include “Sussex Barn”, “Riverside” and “Dark Side of the Edge”.
The business is run by Chris and Alice Edgcumbe-Rendle.
Nick Gibb said, “Edgcumbes Coffee Roasters is a hugely successful family business that Chris and Alice have developed into a welcoming and popular local destination. The wonderful coffee shop has a relaxed atmosphere and is becoming a stop off point for picking up a coffee on the way to work.
“Although the coffee beans come from all over the world, (from Brazil, Columbia Guatemala, Nicaragua and Mexico to Kenya and Ethiopia) the coffee is roasted locally in the Old Barn in Ford Lane. It is always freshly roasted and visitors are welcome to see the process, as I did.”
Photo 1: Nick Gibb with Alice and Chris Edgcumbe-Rendle in front of the main coffee roaster.
Photo 2: the coffee roaster in action.
Photo 3: the raw green coffee beans.
Photo 4: the coffee beans after roasting.