FAQ

What does Uprising taste like and is it bitter?

Rich body, dense crema, low acidity, smooth finish. Bitterness in dark coffee is a roasting decision, not an inevitability: we push the roast as far as it goes for body and crema, then stop before it tips. If your cup does taste bitter, it's almost always the grind or the shot time — see How do I dial it in?

So how strong is "strong"?

Strong in flavour, body and crema. Not strong as in a caffeine arms race. Roast level has very little effect on caffeine content — the brands selling "3x caffeine" are leaning on robusta beans, not a better roast. Uprising is a blend of Ethiopian Djimmah and Yirgacheffe arabica with Ugandan robusta, and a double shot lands at roughly [insert figure] mg.

Can I drink it black? Does it work with milk?

Black is what it's built for. Most people who tell us they can't drink coffee black have been drinking coffee that needed hiding. It also holds its shape under milk rather than disappearing into it, so flat whites and cortados work well. It just doesn't need milk to be drinkable.

How do I dial it in?

Start at 18g in, 36g out, 25–30 seconds, medium-fine grind. Then change one thing at a time: running fast and tasting thin or sour, grind finer; running slow and tasting harsh, grind coarser; everything right but a bit flat, try 19g in.

Whole bean or ground?

Whole bean, if you own a burr grinder — ground coffee starts losing aromatics within minutes, and espresso is the least forgiving brew method there is. If you don't have a grinder, our ground option is set medium-fine for espresso machines. Tell us at checkout if you need it for something else. [Needs a Format option on the product — see note.]

Should I brew it the day it arrives?

Give it a few days. Freshly roasted coffee releases CO₂, which makes shots gush and taste sharp. Uprising is at its best from roughly day 5 to day 21 after roasting — and the roast date is printed on every bag, so you're never guessing.

How should I store it?

Airtight, cool, dark, out of the sun. The original bag with the valve, rolled and clipped, is fine. Not the fridge — it's damp, and coffee absorbs odours. If you're stocking up on more than one bag, freeze the ones you're not drinking in airtight weekly portions; just don't thaw and refreeze the same beans.

When will it arrive, and what does delivery cost?

We roast on Saturdays and dispatch on Mondays, so your coffee is only ever a couple of days off the roaster when it leaves us. Delivery is free on every order, with no minimum spend — subscriptions included. Parcels go out with Royal Mail or DPD and take up to 5 working days from dispatch, with tracking. We ship within the UK only. Full details on Shipping & Returns.

Can I pause or cancel a subscription?

Any time, from your account skip a delivery, change the frequency, or cancel outright in one click. No contract, no minimum, no phone call. You'll get a reminder 3 days before each charge.

Something's wrong with my order, or I didn't like it.

Email [address] with your order number. Damaged or wrong: we replace it, no forms. Not to your taste: tell us why and we'll [insert policy] — we'd rather know than have you quietly not reorder. If the shots just aren't tasting right, send us your dose, yield, time and grinder and we'll help you dial it in.