Reads Coffee

Reads Coffee has been roasting in North Dorset since 1999, operating from Limekiln Farm near Sherborne with views across Honeycombe Wood. The business was founded by Giles Read, whose path into roasting ran through the early Seattle coffee boom in the 1990s and a stint as buyer, barista trainer, and quality auditor before he purchased a Turkish-American 15kg Ambex roaster.

That original machine is still in use today. The roastery specialises in single estate Arabica coffees and espresso blends, with award-winning espresso a particular point of strength.

The range spans light African roasts through to dark Italian-style espresso and naturally decaffeinated options. Reads holds Rainforest Alliance membership and has built its customer base almost entirely through word of mouth over more than two decades.

It supplies businesses and private individuals across the UK, including long-standing accounts such as Hamish's Farm Shop, which has sourced from Reads for over eight years.