Discovering the independent coffee shops, roasters and people making coffee worth talking about.

Coffee is more than what’s in your cup. It’s the people behind it, the places where it’s served, the craft that goes into roasting it and the little discoveries that make you want to come back for another.

And that’s exactly why we created The Cup Guide.

We wanted to create a place dedicated to discovering independent coffee businesses — from welcoming neighbourhood cafés and hidden local gems to independent roasters and the businesses supporting the coffee industry.

Independent coffee deserves to be discovered

Across the South East of England, there are independent businesses doing interesting things with coffee.

Some are creating beautiful spaces for people to meet. Others are experimenting with different beans, roasting techniques and flavours. Behind every business there is a story, a passion and often years of hard work.

We believe these businesses deserve to be seen, discovered and celebrated.

The Cup Guide is here to help people find them.

Starting in Hampshire, exploring the South East

Our journey begins in Hampshire.

We’ll gradually explore the surrounding areas and discover independent coffee businesses across the South East of England.

From small village cafés to destination coffee spots, local roasters and specialist coffee suppliers, our aim is to bring together a growing collection of places and businesses worth knowing about.

This is just the beginning.

What will you find in The Cup Guide?

Our directory has three main areas:

• Independent Coffee Shops – places to enjoy great coffee, discover new favourites and experience local hospitality.
• Independent Coffee Roasters – the people sourcing, roasting and bringing coffee to life.
• Coffee Equipment & Services – the businesses supplying, installing and maintaining the equipment that keeps the coffee industry moving.

Alongside the directory, our Journal will share coffee stories, discoveries, industry insights and conversations about the world of coffee.

A guide that grows with every discovery

The Cup Guide is an independent project built around curiosity and a genuine appreciation for coffee.

We’re not here to rank every cup or tell people what they should like. We’re here to help people discover more — and to give independent coffee businesses a place to be found.

We’ll be adding new businesses, exploring new areas and sharing more stories as we go.

If you know an independent coffee shop, roaster or coffee-related business that deserves to be discovered, we’d love to hear about it.

The journey starts here.

The Cup Guide — Discover coffee differently.