By Pascale Schuit & Steven Macatonia Humans influence nature in many ways. What we grow and consume and how we move around affects the earth. The impact of humans on our environment is widespread in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and specific farming techniques used to grow coffee are no exception to this. By being aware of these influences we can take action to reduce the negative effects on the environment as much as possible. This is vital if we want to protect the earth for future generations. But how do we do this? Although not everyone who works with coffee, or in the wider ..read more

At this time of year, we like to add iced coffee into our summer brew rotation and whilst there are many ways to do this using cold brew concentrate or with an espresso shot over ice - one of the simplest, most delicious and refreshing ways to brew iced coffee is using the filter method. The recipe below uses a V60 brewer, but you can apply this to your preferred filter brewer. Essentially it takes your standard recipe but instead of 100% water, we use 60% water and 40% ice, which allows your drink to rapidly cool as it pours into your cup or server – without diluting it! What you'll need Fil ..read more

Who are the Union team? We're a blend of passionate coffee lovers, sourcing, roasting and talking all things speciality coffee. This week, we're celebrating International Women's Day and chatting to Halina Klos, one of our longest-standing Unionistas and Head of Training & Development. How did you start your journey in coffee? My coffee journey started when I was 8 years old. After school I was sitting with anticipation for my mum to give me a sip of her afternoon brew. It was bitter, lingering but strangely enjoyable. It was different that everything I was eating or drinking at that a ..read more

A hot cup of coffee when it’s misty and cold outside, there’s nothing better. But when it comes to festive season, we're going the extra mile! Take Christmas parties drinks to the next level by adding a little something punchy and fragrant. Mulled wine move aside, our best Christmas drinks are here this season... Southbank Winter Warmer We had to start with an interpretation on a classic. Spicy, warming and reminiscent of Christmas Markets – this drink gives you a spin on the classic mulled wine. What you’ll need 50ml spiced Matusalem Rum 25ml Gran Marnier 25ml brown sugar syrup (mu ..read more

Carbonic maceration is a fermentation technique originally used in wine making. Often described as giving fresh fruit flavours and lowering tanins, the technique is famously used to produce wines from the French region of Beaujolais. Despite being used in winemaking since 1934, carbonic maceration only came to prominence in the coffee industry in 2015, when it was used by Saša Šestić in his World Barista Championship-winning routine. Carbonic maceration is a type of anaerobic fermentation – that is, any type of fermentation that takes place under low or no oxygen conditions. Carbonic macerat ..read more

When you know, you know. You’ve taken a sip and realised: this is the coffee for me. With plenty of coffee to choose from, finding your coffee can feel a little overwhelming. With just a few simple pointers, you can get on the right track and have the confidence to explore for yourself. Let us help with the search for your new favourite coffee by asking these three simple questions...    1. Want to skip right to it? If pointers aren’t your thing and you want us to give you the answers...take our Perfect Coffee Quiz. Crafted by our Quality Team, answer five short questions to see whic ..read more

Extra charge for hand luggage? Too much faff? Whether you’re limited on packing or have to leave your full set-up behind, there are easy ways to enjoy coffee wherever you are. Here are three of our top coffees and gadgets to keep you enjoying great coffee all summer long. Cold Brew Concentrate Perfect cold brew coffee in seconds, we mean it. Our Cold Brew Concentrate is expertly roasted, ground and cold brewed at double strength for 24 hours. The result is a sweet and consistent cold brew with notes of cola and caramel. Why is it perfect for your holiday? The ease and deliciousness of maki ..read more

When we say “coffee”, what do you think of? Smooth flat whites, bold espresso or your daily cup of filter may come to mind. But let’s think outside the box and maybe give another box a go instead! Let us introduce our Cold Brew Concentrate. One box, 40 servings inside, and ready to use whenever you feel. Our Cold Brew Concentrate can be used as a smooth base to a classic cold brew or a tasty ingredient in something a little punchier. It's made using just two ingredients, speciality single origin Timana coffee from Colombia and filtered water, our Cold Brew Concentrate is expertly roasted, gr ..read more

It’s official – Union Hand-Roasted Coffee is now a certified B-Corporation! The health of the people and planet has always been at the forefront of our business and remains so today. We are incredibly proud to receive this certification which is testament to the commitment we made in 2001 and the work we continue to do every day. What is B Corp? It’s a certification which examines a company's impact on their workers, community, environment, and customers. The assessment process by B Lab is rigorous, requiring robust evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices. Companies nee ..read more

A hugely proud day for us at Union, we are excited to announce that we have, once again, received The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development. The Queen’s Awards recognise outstanding achievement in the fields of international trade, innovation and sustainable development, and have been the highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by Royal Warrant in 1965. As in 2017, our award in 2022 comes as recognition for our pioneering coffee sourcing policy, Union Direct Trade. Our co-founders, Steven and Jeremy, created Union to challenge a broken and unjust commo ..read more