Astro started with a simple question.
What would your dream flat white taste like?
Smooth and vibrant. Zingy but easy to love. A coffee that feels approachable if you are new to specialty coffee, yet exciting enough to keep long time fans coming back.
That question brought our team together. We asked Mero, our Head Roaster, to develop the idea alongside James, our Coffee Programme Manager, and John, our Head Trainer. They cupped together, adjusted the components and refined the profile until it felt right.
For months we called it The Mero Blend. Today it has its name. Astro.
It is vibrant. It is flavourful. It was built for flat whites but it will never feel predictable.
Built By Our Team
Astro sits in our Explore Range, a space for coffees that celebrate curiosity and creativity.
It was developed by people in our team who live and breathe flavour. Mero led the roasting development. James brought a programme perspective, ensuring the blend works across service and brew methods. John tested it through training sessions and early tastings to make sure it delivered in the cup.
Together they shaped a coffee that feels joyful, expressive and unmistakably North Star.
Astro is bold but grounded. It is something you can brew every day and still feel excited about. It is reliable to dial in, consistent to serve and forgiving enough to brew at home, without losing the detail that makes it special.
Its purpose is simple. To show the most vibrant side of specialty coffee in a way that still feels familiar. Built for routine. Designed to spark exploration.
The Partnerships Behind Astro
When creating Astro, we wanted its components to come from partnerships that matter to us. Relationships we invest in year after year and grow alongside.
Each coffee in the blend reflects work we are proud to support.
Colombia – La Colmena (Washed)
This is one of our newest partnerships, but it already feels significant.
We were the first roastery in the UK to bring coffee from the La Colmena producer group to market. We work closely with import partner Semilla and the Monkaaba smallholder empowerment initiative, which supports the 30 producers contributing to this coffee.
Semilla and Monkaaba provide guidance, feedback and education. They help the group improve quality, access the specialty market and achieve better prices for their coffee.
The impact is real. Producers gain knowledge and opportunity. We gain exceptional coffee with purpose.
In Astro, the Colombia component forms the base of the blend. It brings stone fruit sweetness and orange notes that anchor everything else.
Brazil – Montanari (Pulped Natural)
Brazil is the largest coffee producing country in the world. It is often associated with volume rather than quality.
Marcelo Montanari proves that both are possible.
He focuses on biodiversity, worker wellbeing and sustainable farming practices. His approach is carbon neutral and deeply aligned with our values. He actively protects the land while producing consistent, high quality coffee at scale.
We have worked with Marcelo since 2014. Over more than a decade, his dedication to quality and sustainability has remained constant.
In Astro, the Brazil component adds depth. It brings nutty sweetness and chocolate richness that give the blend structure and balance.
Rwanda – Cyato Natural
Our Rwanda coffee comes from the Cyato Washing Station, owned by Tropic Coffee and led by Chris Rugira and his wife Divine.
Cyato processes cherries from farmers in the Abadatezuka cooperative, based around the Nyungwe Forest. The region is known for outstanding coffee production thanks to its fertile soil and strong ecosystem.
Bee populations play a key role here. During pollination, bees leave behind microorganisms that influence flavour development in the coffee. Because of this natural impact, synthetic fertilisers and pesticides are not used. Farmers are educated on organic practices that protect pollinators and preserve biodiversity.
The result is a natural processed coffee with vibrant red berry character and a gentle booziness.
In Astro, Rwanda acts as the highlight component. It lifts the blend with brightness and fruit expression.
The Blend
Mero describes developing Astro like drawing a picture.
Colombia La Colmena forms the base with stone fruit and orange notes.
Brazil Montanari adds depth with nutty chocolate richness.
Rwanda Cyato brings brightness and red fruit as the highlight.
Blended together in a carefully balanced ratio, each component has space to shine. They work in harmony rather than competing for attention.
The outcome is a seasonal espresso that feels intentional and expressive.
Tasting Notes
In Milk
Astro was designed with flat whites in mind.
In milk you will taste red berries, malted milk biscuits and vanilla. It is smooth and sweet with a round body.
As it cools, red apple and citrus come through. There is a grapefruit finish that keeps balance and freshness in the cup.
The mouthfeel is sticky, plush and heavy. It feels like raspberry jam spread over buttered toast.
It delivers comfort while still carrying complexity.
Brewed Black
When brewed without milk, Astro becomes punchier and brighter.
The chocolate depth remains, but clarity increases. The fruit notes shine more clearly.
Think dark chocolate tart. Sharp. Bold. Structured in all the right ways.
It works beautifully as espresso and as filter, proving it is more than a blend built for one method.
Expect
Red berries.
Dark chocolate.
Malted milk biscuits.
A coffee that is bold but balanced. Expressive but approachable.
Astro Is...
Astro is reliable yet exciting.
A seasonal espresso designed for everyday flat whites but capable of delivering something special in any brew method.
It represents meaningful partnerships with producers we respect. It reflects collaboration within our team. It captures what we love about specialty coffee and makes it accessible for daily use.
Whether it becomes your everyday go to or your entry point into exploring more of the specialty coffee world, Astro is here to bring energy to your cup.
It belongs in our Explore Range.
And it is ready to be brewed.