7 speciality roasts from 6 London roasters feature walnut notes.
Walnut in the cup presents as a dry, slightly bitter nuttiness with a subtle earthiness underneath, distinct from the creamier quality of hazelnut or the sweetness of almond. It often carries a mild astringency on the finish, reminiscent of biting into a walnut skin, which can add structural complexity to the overall flavour profile. This character is typically linked to naturally occurring chlorogenic acids and lipid compounds in the bean, and is most commonly drawn out by medium to medium-dark roast levels where sugars have developed but brightness has begun to settle.
Walnut in coffee brings a gentle, woody richness with subtle earthiness that settles warmly on the palate. This flavour note appears most commonly in coffees from Brazil, Colombia, and India, processed using either anaerobic natural or washed methods. Six London roasters craft coffees with this character, including Kiss the Hippo, Union, and Acorns, offering a quieter sophistication for those seeking grounded, nutty complexity in their cup.
Speciality roasts carrying walnut notes, ordered by community rating.
London roasters with the most approved coffees carrying walnut notes.
We’re Kiss the Hippo, the UK‘s most innovative and sustainable specialty coffee company. We roast organic, planet-fri...
Very recognisable roaster with American founders bringing some West Coast style to the UK.
Notes that most commonly appear alongside walnut in the same roasts.
Origin countries that most often produce walnut-forward coffees among London roasts.
Processing methods associated with walnut notes in London roasts.
Walnut notes are often found in coffees from Central American origins such as Guatemala and Honduras, where mineral-rich volcanic soils and high-altitude growing conditions tend to produce beans with pronounced nutty and earthy undertones. Wet-processed, or washed, coffees from these regions typically express walnut more cleanly, as the absence of fruit pulp during processing allows the bean's inherent character to come forward without competing sweetness. Natural-processed coffees can also carry walnut as a background note, though it is often layered beneath heavier fruit and fermentation qualities in those cases.
On a bag or cafe menu, look for tasting notes that pair walnut with descriptors such as brown sugar, dark chocolate, or cedar, as these tend to appear together in coffees where this note is prominent. Filter methods such as cafetiere and batch brew tend to produce a fuller body that allows walnut's dry, slightly bitter character to show clearly, while espresso can intensify it into something closer to a roasted nut quality. If you enjoy this note, it is worth asking a roaster or barista about medium-roasted washed coffees from Central America, as these are a reliable starting point.
Take our 60-second flavour quiz and discover roasts across London that are aligned with your palate — including ones carrying walnut notes.