About Us

Our Story

Counterpoint Coffee Ltd was founded in 2023 as a way to build something with the things we love – adventure, good coffee, and simple living.

I’m Sarah – I studied Environmental Science and completed my master’s thesis on coffee roasting through the lens of the circular economy. After ten years working in the environmental sector and many in hospitality, I wanted to bring those worlds together: to roast coffee that’s thoughtful, sustainable, and genuinely enjoyable.

Ali is a tree surgeon, arboriculturist, and musician, with experience in cafés and hospitality. He’s also the one who introduced me to real coffee – and the one who inspired this idea from a small coffee project into a working roastery.

We’re both avid outdoors people – runners, climbers, kayakers, and campers – and we wanted to create coffee that fits into that lifestyle. Something you can brew and enjoy wherever you are – at home, on the road, or halfway up a mountain.

Our name, Counterpoint, comes from a musical term for multiple melodies working together – a reminder that balance matters. The musical theme runs through everything we do, from the way we approach roasting (and what music we listen to whilst roasting!!) to the design of our album-art-inspired packaging. Even our dog, Roscoe – a vocal Huntaway with a talent for singing – fits right in with the rhythm of it all.

At Counterpoint Coffee Ltd, we’re not chasing perfection – just great coffee, roasted with care, for people who love what they do and where they are.

The Company

In 2023, in an effort to escape the mundane, we established Counterpoint Coffee. Counterpoint Coffee is a micro-roastery based in Taunton, Somerset. Our aim is to offer a diverse selection of tasty coffees to enthusiasts across the UK.

Who are we?

Well, “we” – Sarah and Ali, are a young couple who do not like spending 5 days a week staring at computer screens. Sarah worked in cafes and then in the environmental sector after graduating. She wrote her thesis on the application of the Circular Economy in coffee roasting and is interested in sustainability and reducing waste production along the supply chain. Ali graduated and then became a tree surgeon and arboriculturist whilst working part-time in cafes and in hospitality. Both of us enjoy hiking, camping, rock climbing and music.

our brand

Our brand is based around music. We thought it would be fun to incorporate musical elements into our coffee, creating a synesthetic blend of taste and sound. An example is our psychedelic logo, which was inspired by sixties album art, and our name Counterpoint Coffee, which is a musical term – the simplified meaning being: multiple melodies used at one time. Our long-term goal is to open a café which hosts live acts. Just like music, your taste in coffee is personal.