Primo Coffee

Primo Coffee and Tea was founded on Christmas Eve 2015 by three partners — Peter, Robert and James (twins Peter and James) — and formally incorporated in early 2016. The roastery is based in a converted cattle shed on a farm between Colchester and Manningtree in Essex.

The founders spent months cleaning and rebuilding the space before beginning production. A significant part of the Primo story is their 1957 Probat UG22 roaster, which they acquired, restored and now use as their main production machine — stripped, shot-blasted, repainted and fully rebuilt.

The business sells direct online and to wholesale accounts including hotels, cafés and restaurants, and supplies espresso machines and bean-to-cup machines alongside coffee and loose-leaf tea. They source through importers who support regenerative farming practices.