Hey! if you haven't come across us, we're Alice and Ben, founders of RISE coffee box and along with our one year old son and dog Molly we took a few days off to get away, relax and have some fun! We headed down to Dorset & Devon for 5 days on a UK staycation. 

Here’s a comprehensive guide to every notable coffee roastery in Devon & Dorset that we found, plus top cafés, standout decaf options, and bonus coastal picks in Lyme Regis, Weymouth & West Bay.

Devon and Dorset are two of England’s most captivating counties offering a blend of breathtaking natural beauty, coastal charm, and thriving artisan culture that make them must-visit destinations for travellers of all types. Here's why you should put them on your travel list:

🌊 1. Stunning Coastlines

• Jurassic Coast (Dorset) – A UNESCO World Heritage Site with dramatic cliffs, fossil-rich beaches, and iconic spots like Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove.

• South Devon Coast – Quaint harbours, sandy beaches, and the picturesque English Riviera (Torquay, Paignton, Brixham).

🏞 2. Incredible Nature & Outdoor Adventures

• Dartmoor & Exmoor National Parks – Open moorlands, tors, ancient woodlands, and wild ponies.

• South West Coast Path – Ideal for hikers and coastal explorers with jaw-dropping views across both counties.

☕ 3. Vibrant Food & Coffee Scene

• Home to some of the UK’s best independent roasters and cafés:

  • Devon: Crankhouse, Coffee Factory

  • Dorset: Grounded Coffee, Bad Hand Coffee, Reads Roasters

• Local produce, farm shops, seafood shacks, and Michelin-starred restaurants make it a foodie’s dream. Home to Jimmys iced coffee, Judes ice cream and Dorset Tea

🧑🌾 4. Charming Towns & Villages

• Totnes, Lyme Regis, Bridport, Sidmouth, and Sherborne all offer indie shops, markets, artsy cafés, and historic charm.

• Explore castles, lighthouses, and fishing villages frozen in time.

🐚 5. Family-Friendly & Relaxing

• Family beaches, farm parks, steam trains, aquariums, and safe swimming spots make it perfect for a stress-free escape.

• Think crabbing in West Bay, fossil hunting in Charmouth, or cream teas in Dartmoor cafés.

🚘 6. Easy to Reach, Hard to Forget

• Both counties are accessible by train or car from London and Bristol, with plenty of scenic drives, coastal trails, and country detours in between.

• You can spend your morning hiking a tor, your afternoon on a sandy beach, and your evening sipping a flat white in a village café.

Whether you're a nature lover, coffee enthusiast, slow traveller or adventure seeker, Devon and Dorset deliver a uniquely rich slice of English countryside and coastal life. Perfect for a long weekend or even better, a leisurely road trip. 

To kick things off, here is our top 3 must visit and most favorite coffee roasters in this area are:

Coffee Factory (Devon)

Address: Unit 3, Shute Road, Axminster EX13 7PW (near Seaton Junction) 
Review Score: ~5.0/5 locally (excellent visitor feedback) 
Coffee Offerings: Signature blends like Black Bear, Big Red, Daily Brew, plus seasonal decaf, single-origin and subscription options 
Who They Are & Sustainability: A family-run roastery igniting East Devon since 2009. Housed in a countryside "factory café," they roast on a restored 1950s Probat machine (“Dorothy”) and small-batch roaster (“Penny”), offering 100% traceability back to farms. Packaging and subscriptions emphasise freshness, transparency, and minimal waste.
Why we love them: Coffee Factory is where artisan roasting and retail join visitors can watch beans roast, purchase freshly ground coffee, or simply enjoy cake and espresso in the café space. Known for bold blends, exceptional service, and deeply sustainable ethos including direct farm relationships and eco packaging. Coffee Factory featured in our June 2025 coffee subscription and you can read more here

Bad Hand Coffee (Dorset – Bournemouth)

Address: 7 Norwich Road, Bournemouth BH2 5QZ 
Review Score: ~4.5/5 across TripAdvisor and Facebook (strong locals’ praise) 
Coffee Offerings: Blends like Shaka (chocolate & orange), Dawn Patrol (bright & fruity), Kahuna (dark roast), French Roast, and a customer-favourite decaf single origin 
Sustainability Commitment: Powered entirely by renewables (solar-roof), home-compostable packaging, local delivery via cargo bike or electric van, reusable bucket returns, and planting trees via Ecologi—climate-positive certified 
Why we love them: Based in a converted warehouse in Bournemouth, Bad Hand Coffee stands for café-quality coffee that’s both bold in flavour and ethical. They roast in-house and serve customers in their tasting room with a strong focus on community, transparency, and environmental responsibility. Coffee drinkers particularly praise their decaf and approachable blends like Dawn Patrol 

Easy Jose Coffee (Shepton Mallet, Dorset)

Address: 17 Waterer Way, Shepton Mallet BA4 5FL 
Review Score: ~4.8/5 across online customer ratings 
Coffee Offerings: Shade-grown, indigenous Peruvian coffees (Community Blend, Seasonal Blend, Mayni Indigenous) plus a Swiss Water Decaf rated ~4.5/5 
Sustainability Commitment: Regenerative farming with Indigenous communities in Peru under Cool Earth partnership; traceable, shade-grown beans preserving biodiversity and canopy; ‘tread-lightly’ ethos with minimal environmental impact ∼ 
Why we love them: Easy Jose Coffee brings rainforest-grown speciality coffee from Peru to Dorset. Focused on community-led, sustainable sourcing, they pay fair prices to Indigenous growers and protect ecosystem health. Their single origins and seasonal blends are celebrated for vibrant fruit and honey flavours, and their decaf option surprises fans with full-bodied taste—no compromise on depth or purpose.

🌍 Comparing the Roasters

If you are heading down to the beautiful South Coast, here is a great 3 or 5 day itinerary for you to see some of the best sights. 

 

🗺️ 3-Day Devon & Dorset Itinerary

A weekend blend of beaches, cafés, and countryside

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☕ Day 1 – Exeter & Dartmoor (Devon)

Morning:

• Arrive in Exeter and grab breakfast at The Exploding Bakery (coffee + pastries)

• Explore Exeter Cathedral and the historic quayside

Afternoon:

• Drive out to Dartmoor National Park for a scenic walk at Hound Tor or Haytor

• Stop at Voyager Coffee in Buckfastleigh for a roastery visit and brew

Evening:

• Dinner in Totnes – try The Bull Inn for sustainable local fare

• Optional drink at The Almond Thief if open late or for a takeaway pastry

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🌊 Day 2 – Lyme Regis & West Dorset

Morning:

• Head into Dorset via the A35

• Breakfast at Town Mill Bakery, Lyme Regis

• Explore the beach, walk the Cobb, and fossil hunt along the Jurassic Coast

Afternoon:

• Scenic drive to Bridport and lunch at Soulshine Café

• Stop at Beanpress Coffee Co. or browse the vintage markets

• Grab a craft beer from Lyme Brewery

Evening:

• Sunset coffee at The Watch House Café, West Bay

• Stay overnight in Bridport or coastal B&B

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🏖 Day 3 – Weymouth & Coastal Roasters

Morning:

• Breakfast in Weymouth – try Coffee Jazz or Dorset Café

• Stroll Greenhill Gardens or visit Nothe Fort (the latter was our favourite spot!)

Afternoon:

• Visit Fountain Rock Coffee Roasters or swing by Grounded Coffee in Blandform Forum or Poole (if heading that way)

• Optional: Weymouth Harbour lunch or ice cream on the seafront

Evening:

• Drive home or train from Weymouth/Poole

☀️ 5-Day Devon & Dorset Itinerary

For slow travel lovers, beach walkers & coffee explorers

Day 1 – Exeter & Totnes

• Explore Exeter Cathedral, independent shops

• Coffee at The Glorious Art House or Crankhouse Coffee

• Head to Totnes, check into eco-accommodation or yurt stay

• Dinner and drinks in Totnes

Day 2 – Dartmoor Hikes & Voyager Coffee

• Breakfast at The Almond Thief

• Walk on Dartmoor (Haytor, Hound Tor, or Bellever Forest)

• Visit Voyager Coffee and pick up beans

• Dinner in Ashburton or nearby

Day 3 – Lyme Regis via Sidmouth

• Drive via Sidmouth or Beer for coastal stop

• Lunch and coffee at Town Mill Bakery, Lyme Regis

• Explore the Cobb, marine aquarium, or fossil hunting

• Stay overnight in Lyme or Axminster area

Day 4 – Bridport & West Bay

• Breakfast at Soulshine Café, Bridport

• Visit Hive Beach, West Bay Cliffs, and Beanpress Coffee

• Optional: Vintage shopping or pottery class

• Seafood dinner at The Oyster & Fish House (Lyme) or Rise Café, West Bay

Day 5 – Weymouth & Poole Roasters

• Coffee crawl in Weymouth: Coffee Jazz, Dorset Café, or Fountain Rock

• Afternoon stop at Grounded Coffee in Poole

• Explore Sandbanks Beach or Brownsea Island (if time allows)

• Drive or train home

🌿 OTHER DEVON ROASTERIES

Voyager Coffee (Buckfastleigh)

Address: Unit 6, Mardle Way Business Park, Buckfastleigh, TQ11 0JL
Widely praised for ethically sourced, small-batch single origins and blends, Voyager also hosts tasting masterclasses in their spacious Dartmoor roastery. Consistently top‑rated by visitors and loved for friendly service and seasonal releases.
Score: 5.0/5 (60+ reviews)

Roastworks (Willand)

Address: Willand Industrial Estate, Willand, Cullompton EX15 2SH
A precision-focused family roasting team supplying clarity-driven coffees to cafés across the UK. While not review-listed, they’re widely respected by baristas for consistency and flavour.
Score: N/A

Crankhouse Coffee (Exeter)

Address: Unit 6, Beacon Court, Exeter EX4 9QG (HQ)
Crankhouse delivers award-winning single origins and blends frequently featured by specialty cafés. They’re SCA members and known for clean, dynamic roasts.
Score: N/A

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☕ DEVON CAFÉS

The Exploding Bakery (Exeter)

Address: 1 & 2 The Crescent, Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3SB
Charming bakery café with incredible pastries and rotating guest espresso roaster menus. Famous for its polenta lemon slice and strong flat whites in a cosy, friendly atmosphere.
Score: ~4.5/5

The Almond Thief (Totnes)

Address: The Courtyard, Dartington Sawmills, Totnes TQ9 6RB
Home to Chalice Coffee, this laid-back café–bakery delivers artisan sourdough, pastries, and brunch in lush gardens. Its community spirit and excellent coffee are local favourites.
Score: ~4.7/5

Mol’s Coffee House (Exeter)

Address: 1 Cathedral Close, Exeter EX1 1HS
Historic Exeter institution located in a Grade I listed building. Expect classic brews in atmospheric surroundings, though with more traditional coffee than speciality.
Score: ~4.3/5

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🌿 OTHER DORSET ROASTERIES

Grounded Coffee Roasters (Poole & Blandford)

Address: 12–14 Kingland Crescent, Poole BH15 1TB & 33 Salisbury Street, Blandford DT11 7AU
Dorset-based family roaster known for ethical sourcing and direct delivery. They also operate Decaf Nation—a sister brand offering high-quality decaf blends and single origins. A standout decaf option in the region.
Score: ~4.8/5 across both sites Finca Coffee+9grounded-coffee.com+9grounded-coffee.com+9

The Eco Coffee Co. (Wimborne)

Address: 22 Liberty Close, Woolsbridge Industrial Estate, Wimborne BH21 6SY
Roasts using 100% renewable energy, compostable packaging and electric roasters. Their blends (Coastal, Forest, Hillside Decaf) deliver bold, ethical flavour.
Score: ~4.9/5 for eco credentials and roast quality The Eco Coffee Roasters+1Fountain Rock Coffee Roasters+1

Carve Coffee Roasters (Swanage)

Address: Shore Road, Swanage BH19 1LA
Weave of café & roastery by the sea. Their Swanage café serves single origins and blends right beside the beach—fuelled by coastal inspiration and local ice cream.
Score: ~4.7/5

Beanpress Coffee Co. (Winterborne Kingston)

Address: North West Farm, West Street, Winterborne Kingston, Dorset DT11 9AT
Local favourite roasting direct-trade, single-origin beans since 2010. Supplying cafés and emphasising farmer relationships and flavour clarity.
Score: ~4.8/5

Finca Coffee (Dorset)

Address: Multiple cafés—first opened Portland Road, Weymouth; roastery elsewhere in Dorset
SCA-graded single origin roasts brewed daily in their own cafés across Dorset. Known for quality control from roast to cup.
Score: ~4.6/5

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📍 LYME REGIS CAFÉS

Town Mill Bakery

Address: Riverside Workshops, Coombe Street, Lyme Regis DT7 3PY
Artisan bakery & café in a historic mill building. Famous for brunch (Turkish eggs, sourdough pancakes) and great coffee in a buzzy setting.
Score: ~4.7/5

The Lyme Bay

Address: Church Street, Lyme Regis DT7 3AD
Beachside café-bistro with strong brews and sea views. Brunch menu, friendly staff and perfect spot for relaxed sipping.
Score: ~4.4/5

🏖 WEYMOUTH & WEST BAY CAFÉS

Coffee Jazz (Weymouth)

Address: Weymouth Town Centre (search online)
Inclusive café with artisan coffee and homemade bakes. Known for accommodating vegan/gluten‑free diets and community feel.
Score: ~4.5/5

Dorset Café & Restaurant (Weymouth)

Address: Weymouth Town Centre
Reliable breakfast & lunch spot with solid coffee, full menu and friendly service before or after garden strolls or beach visits.
Score: ~4.6/5

Fountain Rock Coffee Roasters (Weymouth)

Address: 6 Albany Road, Weymouth DT4 9TH
Roaster & café with compostable packaging, seasonal blends (Burning Cliff, Chesil Deep), and regenerative roasting practices powered by renewables.
Score: ~4.9/5 

✅ Suggested Routes by Day

• Lyme Regis: Breakfast at Town Mill Bakery, stroll the Cobb, coffee re‑charge at The Lyme Bay.

• Swanage & Weymouth: Lunch at Carve Coffee, take in beach views, then sweets & brews at Coffee Jazz or Fountain Rock in Weymouth.

• Dorset inland: Visit roasteries Grounded Coffee, Reads, or Beanpress for tours or tasting bags.

• Devon stretch: Roastery sessions at Voyager, then brunch at Exploding Bakery, followed by cider shops in Totnes.

Whether you’re chasing beachside brews or hunting down single-origin excellence, Devon & Dorset serve up a diverse, vibrant coffee scene. And with Grounded Coffee / Decaf Nation highlighting that decaf can be exceptional, every coffee lover can find something to love.