Cornish Company Origin sells direct to Coffee lovers

It started with 42 beans for the first espresso – now ethical coffee company Origin, which is based near Falmouth, is promoting its brand of coffee across the UK.

The Company is preparing to sell five new types of coffee in user-friendly packs, designed and produced in Cornwall, via the internet and to shops and restaurants nationally.

Coffee-lovers have long enjoyed Origins’ Fair Trade blends in restaurants, such as Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, but this is the first time they can buy their own and take it home.

This is a major project for Origin and A-Side studios in Falmouth, which designed new packaging for the initiative.

Spokesman for Origin, Steve Hickling, said: “It’s an exciting time for Origin. We recently exhibited at the Real Food Festival in Earl’s Court and created a real buzz, not just in London but beyond. Now we’re looking to give the brand a real push.”

It marks the latest in a long line of achievements for Origin Coffee, which prides itself on sourcing the finest beans from plantations that treat workers with respect.

The company also supplies state-of-the-art Dalla Corte machines, which allow users to monitor temperature to the degree; and its coffee was heralded as “excellent” by food critics from The Independent covering the 2008 Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, also known as the Oscars for Tourism.

Alex Rowse and Ross Imms from A-side Studio in Falmouth designed the abstract wave background of the new packets. Their aim was to symbolise the link between frothy cappuccino and the sea.

Ross said: “We love to work with young energetic brands such as Origin Coffee. Our brief was to take the brand to the next level and this meant steering away from the ‘ye-olde’ elements of Cornish tradition. We took aspects of the Cornish lifestyle and illustrated them in a contemporary style”.

Origin was launched in 2003 by Tom Sobey, 31, who went on to win The Hub Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2006. The company now boasts 12 staff, who work from headquarters in Constantine, near Falmouth – which includes a coffee barista school.

The new range features five new blends in Bean, Espresso Grind and Cafetiere Grind format, packed in easy to store packs. The new blends are Origin Triple Certified – supported by Organic, Fairtrade and the Rainforest Alliance; Origin Guatemala Nueva Granada ‘Monte Rosa’ Estate, Origin Honduras La Tigra, Origin Organic Fairtrade Coffee and Origin Fairtrade Decaffeinated Coffee.

Each pack weighs 227g and is priced £2.40 from the website www.origincoffee.co.uk

Notes to editors

Origin pays farmers a premium for the best quality beans. It means it makes less profit but can ensure it always gets the highest quality product.

Origin Organic and Fairtrade coffee is sourced from the remote mountainous areas of Papua New Guinea on the Purosa estate. This coffee has been organically grown beneath the rainforest canopy, producing an intense, well-rounded, fruit flavoured coffee with a lush nutty chocolate after taste.

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