May RISE coffee box
MEET THE ROASTERS,
DISCOVER THE COFFEES,
GO BEHIND THE SCENES.
Written by Alice & Ben — co-founders of RISE Coffee Box. This month we're judging at the Guild of Fine Food's Great Taste Awards — Alice on filter, Ben on espresso. Between us we've spent years sourcing specialty coffee from growers across Brazil, Congo, Colombia, Ethiopia and beyond.
May is a big month at RISE. We're heading to the Great Taste Awards as judges for the first time, we took subscribers inside Caravan's London roastery, and this month's box features two extraordinary coffees... a rare 48-hour anaerobic from Brazil and a washed Bourbon from the Democratic Republic of Congo that genuinely stopped us in our tracks. Buckle up.
TWO ROASTERS, TWO STORIES
River Coffee
📍 Winchester, Hampshire · Est. 2018Will from River Coffee has become one of our favourite people in the industry. What started in 2018 as a tiny tabletop roaster in Winchester has grown into a proper roastery on a beautiful farm in the Hampshire countryside — and Will's approach to sourcing is everything we look for.
He operates a direct trade model, visiting producers in origin countries regularly and paying well above Fairtrade prices to make sure the money actually reaches farmers. When Will recommends a coffee, it's because he's stood on the farm, shaken the producer's hand, and tasted it at source. He buys direct from farmers he's met in person.
Caravan Coffee Roasters
📍 London · Est. 2010 · B Corp CertifiedCaravan began with three friends — Laura, Miles and Chris — who met working in restaurants across New Zealand before finding their way to London. They opened their first café on Exmouth Market in 2010, roasting downstairs from day one.
What really sets them apart is their female producer programme — over 50% of their coffee is sourced from female producers. They've also partnered with The Chain Collaborative, supporting coffee-growing communities through their Community-Led Development Program. B Corp certified, London roasted, and genuinely doing things right.
THIS MONTH'S COFFEES
Rio Brilhante
Brazil · Minas Gerais · Mundo Novo varietyAnaerobic
Process
The coffee: Deep in the hills of Minas Gerais, Inacio Carlos Urban has been farming coffee since 1984. Will from River first visited in 2019 and has bought from Inacio every year since and that relationship is everything.
This lot is the Mundo Novo variety is a cross between Typica and Bourbon and put through a 48-hour anaerobic fermentation. The fruit is sealed from oxygen, the sugars concentrate, and the result is a depth of flavour that's genuinely hard to find anywhere else. Rich, complex, and extraordinary.
This is the kind of coffee that makes you put down your phone and just drink.
Kisunga
Democratic Republic of Congo · Washed BourbonFemale
Producers
The coffee: This comes from the Kisunga Washing Station in the DRC, run by Virunga Coffee Company to set up to transform the lives of smallholder farmers in one of the world's most challenging regions.
Virunga have trained over 11,000 farmers in sustainable farming practices, distribute three million seedlings a year, and have 35 agronomists working across the region, all with the goal of producing better coffee and getting more money directly into farmers' hands.
A washed Bourbon variety is a bold, rich, punchy, with gorgeous milk chocolate and raspberry that makes DRC coffees so distinctive.
🌙 For the decaf drinkers
Finca La Laja
A Rainforest Alliance certified farm owned by the Sampieri family — three generations farming 500 hectares at 1,100 MASL. Decaffeinated using the 100% natural Mountain Water Process. Tasting notes: chocolate, red berries, and zesty lemon.
Cacua
Grown in the mountains of Cauca, Colombia and decaffeinated using the sugarcane process — using byproducts from local sugarcane production to preserve full flavour. Notes of chocolate brownie, pear, and maple syrup. As good as any caffeinated coffee, any time of day.
WHAT ARE PROCESSING METHODS?
We talk about washed, natural, honey, and anaerobic a lot. Here's a plain-English guide to what it all actually means and why it completely changes what ends up in your cup.
Washed
Wet ProcessFruit removed quickly, beans washed and dried. Clean, bright, crisp — you taste the coffee itself, not the fruit. Think the Kisunga in this month's box.
Natural
Dry ProcessThe whole cherry dries in the sun for weeks. The bean soaks up fruity sweetness. Jammy, rich, full — often reminds people of berries or boozy wine.
Anaerobic
Fermentation MethodCherries sealed in airtight tanks with no oxygen, then ferment before drying. Creates complex, unusual flavours you can't get any other way — like the Rio Brilhante.
Honey
Semi-WashedSkin removed but sticky pulp left on the bean while it dries. Natural sweetness without full fruitiness. Approachable, smooth, and sweet — sits between washed and natural.
WE'RE GREAT TASTE JUDGES
Alice & Ben are now Great Taste Award coffee judges
After five years of obsessing over every coffee that goes into the RISE box, both Alice and Ben have been invited to judge at the Great Taste Awards 2026.
We've spent five years debating and searching for the best independent roasters in the UK — so to be recognised by the most respected food and drink awards in the country as people whose palates are worth listening to is genuinely humbling.
Alice judges filter coffee in May. Ben is on espresso duty. We can't wait. We won't be featuring any coffees we award stars to — full integrity, always.
WE TOOK SUBSCRIBERS INSIDE CARAVAN'S ROASTERY
The RISE x Caravan Roastery Tour
This month we did something a little different — we hosted a group of RISE subscribers at Caravan's stunning London roastery and brew bar for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. We took 15 people into the roastery and had an amazing day tasting coffee, learn how best to brew at home and tour how it all works.
It was a reminder of why we do what we do — connecting coffee lovers directly with the people and places behind their cup. More experiences like this are on the way.
WIN TWO TICKETS TO A BARISTA COURSE AT CARAVAN
We've teamed up with Caravan to give away two tickets to their Barista Brew Class at their London roastery — worth £80.
Refer a friend, win a barista course
Simply refer a friend throughout May and you're in the draw. Each successful referral counts as one entry.
EXCITING UPDATES FOR YOU
We've been busy behind the scenes. Here's how to stay closer to the world of RISE.
☕ WhatsApp Brew Line
We've launched our first ever WhatsApp brew line — direct to Alice and Ben. Got a question about grind size for the anaerobic? Scan the QR in your box and ask us directly.
💬 Join our Facebook Group
We've launched a community Facebook group for daily brewing discussion. Chat with Alice & Ben, share your morning cup, and get advice from the wider RISE community.
🎬 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram
We've taken you to Binky's house (yes, from MIC), inside a roastery in Oxford, and into Glasgow Coffee Festival. Follow @risecoffeebox.
🎪 London Coffee Festival
14–17 May · Truman Brewery, Brick Lane. Come and find us. We'd love to meet you in person and drink something excellent together.
KNOW SOMEONE WHO'D LOVE RISE?
When your friends sign up using your referral link, they get £10 off their first box and you get £10 credit. Plus every referral in May enters you to win the Caravan barista course.
Refer a friend, get £10
Share your personal referral link and you both win. Great coffee is always better shared.
Refer a friend →COFFEE THAT DOES MORE.
This month's box is a reminder of what coffee can be when it's done right. A 48-hour anaerobic from a Brazilian farm Will has visited every year since 2019. A washed Bourbon from the DRC that supports over 11,000 farmers. Two roasters who genuinely care about where their coffee comes from and who it helps.
Every cup you drink this month supports people doing things the right way. That means something to us — and we hope it means something to you too.
Enjoy every single cup. We'll be back next month with more.
— Alice & Ben ☕
MONTHLY COFFEE DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR
Leave a comment