The Story
Hasbean Coffee was founded in 2002 by Steve Leighton, whose passion for coffee began unusually early—at age seven, he asked for a filter machine for Christmas . Before entering the coffee world, Leighton worked as a prison guard for 10 years , but his obsession with quality coffee ultimately led him to pursue his dream. The journey began modestly in 1999 with a market stall in Stafford, where Leighton sold just three 250g bags on the first day, taking £7 whilst spending £30 to operate .
From the failing market stall, Leighton opened a very small coffee shop in an awful location in Stafford town center , working nights at his main job to fund the transformation. In 2003, he and his wife bought a two-kilogram roaster and launched their e-shop with the help of his friend Pete . Founded over two decades ago, Hasbean became one of the first roasters in the UK to offer speciality-grade beans, paving the way for other independent roasters with its preference for a lighter roast and Australasian-style serve .
The company’s trajectory changed significantly when New Zealand-founded Ozone Coffee acquired the Staffordshire roaster in July 2018 . Hasbean and Ozone joined forces in 2018, and the two businesses rebranded together as Ozone at the start of 2024, though the company today is built on Hasbean’s foundation . Key to Hasbean’s success has been Dale Harris, 2017 World Barista Champion, who has worked alongside Steve for the past decade and became general manager .
Sourcing & Relationships
Hasbean sources from world-class producers who are paving the way for more sustainable and ethical coffee production, having built long-term, transparent relationships with producers around the world . The roastery sources its green coffee from long-standing partners in Africa, Central and South America and Asia, connecting their producers so they can share their experiences . Founded on great values, their ethical policy affirms the desire to trade fairly and, whenever possible, directly with coffee producers .
Hasbean has a published Ethical Policy pledging to trade fairly and directly where possible with coffee producers, putting people and relationships at the heart of what they do, and they’re certified as a Living Wage Employer . When it comes to packaging, Hasbean use recyclable and re-used materials wherever possible, and they encourage customers to send coffee bags back to their HQ so they can send them on for proper processing and repurposing .
While specific direct trade partnerships aren’t extensively detailed in available information, founder Steve Leighton has written about the importance of maintaining good relationships in the coffee world in his book Coffeeography . The company’s approach emphasizes transparency and quality improvement through sustained partnerships rather than pursuing volume for its own sake.
Roasting Philosophy
Hasbean roasts their coffee on four Probat roasters of different sizes with capacities of 2 kg, 12 kg, 25 kg and 60 kg, allowing the roaster to roast exactly the amount they need that day and send it to customers and wholesale partners the very next day . Having a range of about 30-40 single origin coffees plus four house blends, Hasbean aims to roast to order for both wholesale and home customers, roasting pretty much every coffee every day with batch sizes varying from 1kg to 50kg .
Notably, Hasbean doesn’t use computer roast logging on their machines because they roast so many different coffees and different batch sizes that a computer can’t deliver consistency—instead, they rely on the people operating them to understand the coffees they’re roasting and the smells, sounds and visual clues of roasting . Hasbean roasters roast coffee for espresso, filter or omni (suitable for both espresso and filter coffee), with customers able to choose from two roasting grades: medium and medium dark .
Beans that are roasted medium look a little uneven, usually with a few darker spots, and usually bring out fruity or simple sugar flavors, while medium dark roasting ends just before the second crack of the bean, producing a flavor profile that is usually balanced between fruitier and more chocolatey flavors . This approach reflects a commitment to highlighting each coffee’s inherent characteristics rather than imposing a house style across all origins.
What to Try
Among their standout offerings is Nicaragua Finca Las Escondida, a Red Catuai with tasting notes of red apple, caramel, and cocoa—the name translates to “hidden farm” as it’s screened from the road by native forest and appears to blend right into the side of the mountain . The company has also featured ‘La Chorrera’ Washed Colombia Caturra , demonstrating their focus on traceable, high-quality single origins with distinct character profiles.
For special releases, Hasbean has launched rare geisha coffees from Finca Deborah in Panama, as they’re always exploring what’s driving the industry forward and working with world-class producers who are on the forefront of innovation . Their range is notably wide, always offering around 30-40 coffees, which is supported by the size of their roastery operation .
The company has developed a color-coded system to help customers navigate their vast collection, working with their roastery team to identify seven flavor profiles that their coffees fit within, with a bold color and imaginative flavor notes assigned to each, making it smoother to spot favorites or discover new ones from their extensive single origins . Whether you’re drawn to bright, fruity profiles or prefer deeper, chocolatey notes, Hasbean’s methodical approach to roasting and extensive range ensures there’s something to match every palate preference.