North Star Coffee Roasters

Back in June, we achieved something pretty momentous! We, (the Roastery, Coffee Shop and Nova Bakehouse) joined a global community united to use business as a force for good. We first became aware of the B Corp program back in 2015. However, as with a lot of certification systems, particularly in the coffee industry, we were understandably suspicious. Seven years on with a growing team, supply chain network and customer base, the time has come to formalise what we do to ensure we are measuring our impact and most importantly, are kept accountable as we go forwards.  Joining B Corp UK has been no easy feat. It has taken us a year to complete the rigorous process in which our operations across the businesses have been carefully vetted and measured to ascertain how we walk our talk. A difficult thing to map given that much of what we do challenges the usual approaches to working 'sustainably'. You can read more about the areas we were appraised on by visiting the B Corp website. We will be publishing more info on our own website in the coming months but crucially, we have legally changed the structure of our business to state that we exist for the interests of all stakeholders NOT shareholders. This means that no matter what we may face in the coming years, North Star Coffee Holdings is legally obliged to make decisions that will benefit all of those it impacts (suppliers, employees, customers and environment). Quite literally meaning, people and planet first.  We will be publishing our first impact report next year to evaluate all the areas we try to positively impact across our wholesale coffee roastery, coffee shop and bakery. This enables total transparency to review how we work and so that we can seek to make constant improvements on what we do. The world is perhaps the most challenging it has ever been for businesses like ours and those of our customers but, despite rising costs at every turn, we argue that now is the time to take a step up.  We are so appreciative for the support we have been shown from day one, and for the community we have built. We are committing to get better and more impactful as we continue to grow up. Read more about it through our blog > https://lnkd.in/ee7UEXzx #BCorp #BCorpUK #BCorporation #NorthStarCoffeeRoasters #NorthStarCoffee

We love a bit of collaboration.

It's a juicy, impact-led banger!

Check out this amazing episode of 'A Little Bit Radical' (a fantastic podcast by Standing on Giants) to hear more about co-founder Holly Kragiopoulos' journey into coffee...

We're incredibly chuffed to be featured in The Guardian's 'Christmas gift guide: 201 great gift ideas for £50 and under' alongside some other great brands. Check it out > https://lnkd.in/eE9tpsjb

At North Star HQ, we've been hard at work crafting something special, and we couldn't be more grateful for your unwavering support. Today, we're thrilled to introduce this year's edition of our beloved Festive Blend. We set out to create a blend that embodies the spirit of the season – rich, decadent, and full of warmth. The result? A delightful fusion of spiced custard, orange zest, and dried fruit, carefully brought to life by three distinct components, each adding a unique flavour to the festive party. First up, the Brazil Montanari lays a solid foundation, infusing the blend with the comforting notes of milk chocolate and roasted nuts, ensuring a perfectly balanced cup. Next, we turned to the incredible Cyato washing station in the Nyamasheke District of Western Rwanda, combining this year's natural and anaerobic lots. These coffees add a layer of complexity with their exquisite strawberry jam-like character, enhancing the blend's depth and uniqueness. Finally, Finca La Bolsa's natural processed lot takes the spotlight, tying everything together with its bold and irresistible profile, delivering a burst of sticky dried fruit that truly embodies the spirit of festivity. With this year’s Festive Blend, you can expect a well-balanced and smooth coffee, rich in character, and perfect for your cosy moments. It's versatile too, suitable for metal filter methods, and can be enjoyed with or without milk. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting our business this year. It has meant the world to us. We can’t wait for you to try it and let us know what you think > https://lnkd.in/efjZqfvX NS x

It was so nice to have a chat about all things coffee with Sam Hamilton-Turner for his wonderful 'Creating a Positive Impact' podcast for SoundQuake. We recorded this on a Friday afternoon post production QC and it was a really lovely way to round off our week reflecting on this wonderful industry we are a part of. Check it out now wherever you get your podcasts 🎧