About Us

About Us

From Kevin, Founder of Square Bean Coffee

Hi, I’m Kevin – the founder of Square Bean Coffee. Thanks for stopping by.

I started Square Bean because of my near-lifetime obsession with coffee. I first became hooked on good coffee more than 30 years ago when I had my first espresso in an Italian coffee shop in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. In my quest for the perfect espresso, I ordered a La San Marco 85-12 espresso machine directly from Italy (in those days there were no good domestic espresso machines available)! After moving to the UK from South Africa, I started roasting my own coffee on several different roasters including a Diedrich IR 3kg roaster. I am currently using a 1kg Aillio Bullet electric roaster and a Nucleus Link sample roaster for cupping and developing roast profiles for our coffees. 

 

 

Why Square Bean?

I started Square Bean in the UK with one goal: to treat coffee with the care and attention it deserves. We focus on exotic and micro-lot coffees that you don’t often see – the kind of beans that make you excited to brew again. Each coffee we roast comes from a single estate or cooperative, not a wide, generic region. It’s all about traceability, quality, and character. Basically, the coffees I select and roast are the coffees I would love to drink for myself! 

The Square Bean Difference

We're a bit different from most roasteries. We roast on electric machines instead of gas – not only for environmental reasons, but because it gives me more control over each roast. I use a Nucleus Link sample roaster, which lets me dial in every profile with extreme precision. That means each bean gets exactly what it needs to shine – no more, no less.

Fresh, Honest, Transparent

We roast in small batches and pack our coffees in 70g and 250g bags to keep things affordable while giving you a chance to explore more origins. Every order is shipped within 24 hours of roasting, and we always include the roast date on the bag. Freshness is very important to us!

But Square Bean isn’t just about flavour. It’s about stories – the farmers behind the harvest, the communities we’re supporting, and the journey each bean takes to your cup. I want you to know what you’re drinking, and why it matters.

So whether you’re just discovering specialty coffee or have 10 different grinders and brewers at home (no judgment – I get it), I’m glad you’re here. 

Kevin
Founder & Head Roaster
Square Bean Coffee