A potentially controversial question, but one worth exploring, nonetheless.
Firstly, it’s basically impossible to know the exact amount, but there are several sources suggesting that the number of speciality coffee roasters in the UK is somewhere around the 650 mark. That number may feel high or low depending on your point of view and where you live but it certainly feels high to me.
Next, what does too many even mean? I guess you could argue this from a few perspectives; If there is enough consumer demand for all roasters to thrive then there aren’t too many. On the other hand, if the economy is struggling and consumer spending is down, roasters may struggle with lower demand. On top of that, if roasters are struggling to survive, it might suggest that there is too much fierce competition which may indicate there are too many.
But what about from a consumer point of view? Well, it’s no secret that Dave and I founded Limited Coffee on the premise of discovery. Somewhere within the realm of needing help with discovery lies a simple reality: finding the next coffee to buy was a challenge for us. This fact may also suggest there might be too many.
What about from a roaster’s point of view? You could argue the barrier to entry in 2024 to start a coffee roasting business has never been lower. The SCA courses are pretty affordable or you could even find a friendly local roaster to support you in learning your new skill, you could also try spot roasting at your local roaster and throw together a Shopify store to get started.
More competition can also mean more focus on quality, service, education and innovation. You, the customer, will benefit as roasters have to go above and beyond to establish themselves as rookie roasters in the market. Things like picking out the best green coffee, offering coffee consumers may not have tried before (like co-fermentation 😋) or simply incredible service may be the thing to give you an edge in the market.
So, are there too many coffee roasters in the UK? I would say there are probably not too many, and in my opinion, a competitive marketplace is a breeding ground for innovation and some wild and funky treats if you know what to look out for. Equally, it can be a minefield to find and trust a roaster you’ve never heard of which of course leads to a shameless plug for beans on deck 🤷we do truly care about finding the best of the best by sampling every coffee we offer and building lasting relationships with our roasting partners. Give us a try next time you’re feeling overwhelmed with choice and see if we help simplify your life, just a little!
