CONTINUOUS LEARNING
Curious Roo Coffee Roasters has entered a new phase of growth, formally rolling out its expanded service and education model to champion quality, transparency and community within the specialty coffee sector. Committed to supporting independently owned coffee shops across key UK cities and suburbs, the business aims to share its passion and curiosity for specialty coffee with operators, small coffee brands hospitality partners and enthusiasts.Building on the opening of its new Chiswick 5000sq m roastery in 2025 – a two-year brick-by-brick transformation of a former disused scuba diving centre – the business has increased capacity of its UK wholesale and retail operations by 50%.
The expanded facility enables Curious Roo to provide high-quality coffee, including white labelling and equipment support. Professional training through the relocation of sister-brand Artisan Coffee School to the site provides continuous learning and development across origin, roasting and brewing. A community-first model also extends to hands-on commercial expertise through business development workshops, events and partnerships.
Edwin Harrison, Curious Roo Coffee Roasters co-founder with wife Magda Harrison, said: “Curious Roo’s mission to build and enable a stronger specialty coffee community has resulted in the space and capacity to share what we’ve learned over the past 15 years – from working directly with farms to helping independent operators grow, adapt and thrive. This investment allows us to support more businesses, while staying true to the quality, curiosity and relationships that define who we are.”
DOWN UNDER
Curious by name, curious by nature – the roaster’s approach extends beyond its W4 postcode into the world. In February 2026, founders Edwin and Magda are embarking on an ambitious, family-led journey to deepen understanding and explore the culture, people, flavours and experiences that shape the global coffee industry.
Travelling with their three children (aged 6, 8 & 11), the couple will attempt a world-first coffee challenge, delivering a single bag of Curious Roo beans from the UK to Australia entirely by road and sea. Their converted Mercedes van will serve as both a home and mobile coffee stand over six months, crossing 25 countries and covering 21,699km.
Exploring coffee culture around the world, the adventure is designed to highlight how the humble bean is more than a commodity but a connector of people.
From traditional European espresso bar counters to Turkish cezves to emerging coffee culture in Kazakhstan and drying beds in China, they’ll meet roasters, shop owners and growers. The coffee order will be delivered to Magda’s mum in Australia, a leading global specialty market.
“So many of us run on coffee fumes,” continued Harrison. “We wanted to invite people to slow down and reflect the patience, craft and origin behind every cup they enjoy. What started out as a crazy idea while delivering beans to customers, quickly escalated in this full adventure. We wanted to share a real-world understanding not only with our children, but anyone curious about specialty coffee and the communities behind it.”
Alongside the challenge, funds will be raised for the company’s More than a Dent charity initiative, driven through social media awareness and its five independent London coffee shops – operating under its sister brand, Artisan. It delivers long-term infrastructure projects to communities in need.
For info, visit curiousroo.com and follow their travels on Insta: @curiousroocoffeeroasters & YouTube: @CuriousRoo.
