8 speciality roasts from 6 London roasters feature grape notes.
Grape in speciality coffee presents as a soft, rounded fruitiness that can range from the fresh, juicy quality of white or green grapes through to the deeper, jammy character of ripe red or purple varieties. It is generally experienced in the mid-palate and often carries a gentle natural sweetness alongside a mild tartness rather than sharp acidity. This note is typically associated with specific aromatic compounds, particularly esters and certain fermentation-derived acids, and tends to emerge most clearly in lightly roasted coffees where delicate fruit character is preserved rather than roasted away.
Grape notes in coffee offer a distinctive fruitiness, ranging from dark berry sweetness to subtle wine-like undertones. Coffees displaying these characteristics most often originate from Colombia, Brazil, and Ethiopia, with natural and anaerobic processing methods being particularly effective at developing these flavours. Across London, six roasters craft grape-forward coffees, including Horsham, Kiss the Hippo, and Acorns, each bringing their own interpretation to this intriguing profile.
Speciality roasts carrying grape notes, ordered by community rating.
London roasters with the most approved coffees carrying grape notes.
Notes that most commonly appear alongside grape in the same roasts.
Origin countries that most often produce grape-forward coffees among London roasts.
Processing methods associated with grape notes in London roasts.
Ethiopian coffees, particularly those from the Yirgacheffe and Sidama regions, often display grape-like qualities, typically as part of a broader complex fruit profile. Natural and anaerobic processing methods tend to encourage this note, as extended contact between the seed and fruit pulp allows fermentation compounds to develop and be absorbed into the bean. Certain washed Ethiopian and some Kenyan lots can also hint at grape, though in a crisper, more restrained way that reads closer to grape skin than ripe fruit.
On a bag or menu, terms such as "stone fruit", "berry", "natural process" or "anaerobic" often signal that a grape note may be present, particularly when combined with an Ethiopian or similarly fruit-forward origin. Filter brewing methods such as pour-over and Chemex tend to highlight this note clearly, as they preserve clarity and allow individual fruit characteristics to be distinguished. Espresso can also express grape well, typically as a jammy, concentrated sweetness, though it is worth dialling down the roast expectation to light or medium-light to keep that character intact.
Take our 60-second flavour quiz and discover roasts across London that are aligned with your palate — including ones carrying grape notes.