Sam is a Production Operative at Rounton Coffee, bringing a barista background and a strong interest in ethical sourcing and flavour to the roastery team.
Getting to Know Sam
Name & Occupation
Sam - Production Operative
How did you get into coffee?
I first got into coffee around the age of 17, spending time revising in cafés. I worked as a barista during university, though I didn’t know much about speciality coffee at the time. It wasn’t until I lived in Melbourne after graduating that I truly discovered the depth of coffee culture. The creativity, the commitment to quality, and the focus on ethical sourcing drew me in. I started to see how coffee could be a platform for positive impact — improving the welfare of the communities behind the very hard labour that makes a cup of coffee possible. I knew I wanted to get more involved after returning to the UK!
What is your favourite part of working at Rounton Coffee?
I am really enjoying the variety in the role — from production to making coffee at events and festivals, barista training, delivering coffee and checking in with customers, and even having a go at fixing machines if you're the first one on the scene. The team is also a big part of why I love working here — everyone’s down-to-earth and great to be around.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned about coffee since you started working here?
Learning how a coffee’s geography — right down to micro factors like altitude and soil — and the way it's cultivated can have such a big impact on its flavour. Tasting notes like blueberry or raspberry naturally coming from a coffee bean was something I never thought possible.
What’s your favourite spot in North Yorkshire to relax or have a coffee?
At mine - I love a home-brewed French press (with a splash of milk).
How do you drink yours?
When out and about - always a whole milk flat white - not too hot cheers.
What is your favourite coffee origin, and why?
Central American/South American, namely Guatemala and Colombia; love how smooth the coffee tastes. I also really enjoy our Colombia Colombia produced by Jorge Mira - which defies the more traditional South American coffee tastes of chocolate/nutty/rich. It has fruity notes of raspberry and mango without forgoing the smooth caramel aftertaste.
If you were not working in coffee, what would you be doing?
I love travelling. I would love to get on the ground in Africa or South America to visit some of the coffee farmers who work very hard to keep our dream alive!
At the heart of the roastery
Sam is part of the production team supporting our wholesale partners day to day.
If you’re a café, workplace, or hospitality business, creating a free wholesale account gives you access to wholesale pricing and lets our team get in touch to discuss working together.