FAQS

Where is my coffee?

We deliver and send our freshly roasted coffee Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,(see below for a breakdown).  If you haven’t received your coffee within a couple of days of ordering with us, something is up - please get in touch on 020 3326 9488 or email hey@carnivalcoffee.co.uk

Please place orders before 5:00 am on dispatch days to ensure same-day delivery.

SHIPPING AND RETURNS

How does delivery work?

We keep it green! Local push-bike deliveries in SE London (SE4, SE5, SE6, SE13, SE14, SE15, SE19, SE20, SE22, SE23, SE25, SE26, BR1–BR4) go out on Monday and Thursday.

What if I live outside your cycle delivery area?

No problem at all — we post UK-wide every Monday, Wednesday and Friday using Royal Mail’s Next Day service.
Spend £30 or more and delivery’s on us. For smaller orders, it’s just £3.40 postage.

How do I return my coffee?

We want you to be completely happy with your coffee. If there’s an issue, just get in touch within 14 days of placing your order and we’ll sort a replacement for you.
As every coffee has its own character, if you happen to receive one that’s not quite to your taste, let us know — we’ll happily swap it for something more your style.

How do I brew my coffee?

Please see our brew guide with our top tips on all things brewing coffee
Our Coffee Brewing Recipes

You say you’re eco-friendly – what does that mean?

We’re always looking for new ways to be as environmentally friendly as possible in everything we do.

We’ve recently introduced recyclable coffee bags, and for our regular customers, reusable tins — we simply swap your tin with each new delivery, helping us cut out packaging altogether.

Where possible, we deliver coffee by push bike — clocking up over 300 miles a week around South East London and Kent (and keeping ourselves fit while we’re at it!).

We also make sure nothing goes to waste:

• Our coffee sacks are reused by the local community for gardens and art projects.

• Used coffee grounds are shared with gardeners for composting.

• Coffee chaff (a by-product of roasting) makes great compost or animal bedding.

If you’d like some coffee grounds, sacks or chaff, just get in touch — we’re always happy to share.

Who roasts your coffee?

All our coffee is roasted in-house. Juan can usually be found in our workshop, carefully roasting, tasting, and fine-tuning each batch to bring out the best in every single coffee bean.

He personally tests every roast to make sure you get the best possible flavour in your cup.

Curious about our roasting process? Get in touch — we’d love to tell you more.

How do I know if my coffee is a light or medium roast?

Each coffee we buy is carefully roasted to highlight its unique characteristics and to bring out the flavours we think work best in your cup.

We aim to caramelise just the right amount of the coffee’s natural sugars, balancing acidity, body, and mouthfeel.

Broadly speaking, our roasts fall into two categories:

• Espresso roast – full-bodied, with rich caramel and chocolate notes. Perfect if you enjoy a deeper, more indulgent cup.

• Filter roast – lighter, with brighter acidity. Ideal for most other brew methods such as Cafetiere, AeroPress, or pour-over. We think these are best enjoyed black, but everyone’s tastes are different.

If you’re unsure, check out our “best for espresso” / “best for filter” recommendations in our online shop — they’ll help you find your perfect brew.

Which coffee works best for my cafetiere, AeroPress, or other brew methods?

It really depends on how you like your coffee — and whether you usually drink it black or with milk.

If you’re not sure, get in touch and we’ll be happy to chat and help you find the perfect coffee for your brew.

How best do I store my coffee?

The most important thing is to buy only what you need — little and often — and ideally choose freshly roasted whole beans.

Grind only what you need for each brew, and store your coffee in a cool, dry place in an airtight container.

We don’t recommend keeping coffee in the fridge, as moisture and odours can affect the flavour.

Is your coffee Arabica?

Yes — we only roast speciality Arabica coffee to ensure the best flavour and quality in every cup.

Buying ground coffee – how does that work?

When you purchase a bag or tin of our coffee, you’ll be asked at checkout whether you’d like whole beans or a grind suited to your brew method (Cafetiere, AeroPress, filter, etc.). Every machine is a little different, so while we aim to get the grind spot-on, there may be slight variations.

If the grind isn’t quite right for your machine, get in touch and we’ll happily replace your coffee. For the best flavour, we recommend buying a grinder and grinding your beans fresh — your coffee will thank you!

Where can I drink Carnival coffee when I’m out and about?

Carnival coffee is served in a variety of coffee shops, events, hotels, restaurants, offices, and other businesses.

You’re also very welcome to visit our highly rated own coffee shop and roastery at:
9 Central Parade, London, SE20 7TN, United Kingdom

Our shop is warm, inviting, and full of the aroma of freshly roasted coffee — the perfect place to relax, grab a cup, and explore our range of coffees. If you’d like, our friendly team can even show you how the roastery works and walk you through the coffee roasting process.

For a full list of our current partners, get in touch — we’d be happy to help.

Are you Fairtrade?

We always pay well above Fairtrade prices for our beans, supporting farmers and quality.

What is speciality coffee?

Speciality coffee refers to high-quality, carefully graded coffee (scoring 83 points or above out of 100 by Q Graders). It covers the entire journey from farmer to cup, including single-origin beans, roasting, and extraction. All of our coffees are graded 84+ points.

It’s worth noting that “speciality coffee” isn’t a regulated term, but it reflects the care and attention we put into every stage. Get in touch if you’d like to learn more.

How do I find out more about the art on your packaging?

All the artwork is created by local artist Rosie Lovelock. To see more of Rosie’s work, check out her Instagram @rosielovelockart or visit www.rosielovelock.com.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Why join the Carnival coffee subscription?

Joining our subscription means you’ll never run out of coffee — deliveries are planned around your consumption, so you don’t have to faff around placing an order each time.

As a subscriber, you’ll:

• Be the first to try new coffees.

• Benefit from our minimum price band of £13.95, while our coffees retail up to £15.95.

• Enjoy a chance to taste exciting coffees from different origins, processes, and varieties throughout the year.

• Receive free cycle delivery in South East London or UK Royal Mail delivery.

Can I change, pause, or cancel my subscription?

Yes — just get in touch at hey@carnivalcoffee.co.uk or call 020 3326 9488 to change your frequency, take a holiday, or cancel your subscription.

When will payment come out for recurring subscriptions?

Payments for monthly subscriptions are taken from your nominated account on the same day each month that you signed up.

I have purchased a gift subscription; how can the recipient activate it?

All the information needed to redeem the subscription will be on the gift voucher, including a code to activate the subscription. The recipient can also share their coffee preferences with us to personalise their deliveries. If they need any help, they can simply contact us at hey@carnivalcoffee.co.uk and we’ll guide them through the process.

The recipient will receive an email with instructions to activate their subscription. If they need any help, they can contact us at hey@carnivalcoffee.co.uk

WHOLESALE

Wholesale & Partner Support

What support and training do you provide?

We provide Barista training for all of our wholesale partners and regularly run tasting and brewing workshops that you’re very welcome to attend. Keep an eye on our social media and event pages for upcoming sessions, or drop us a line at hey@carnivalcoffee.co.uk to find out more.

Wholesale Deliveries & Ordering

Deliveries are made each Wednesday to help you keep your stock topped up.

Our wholesale products are available at prices that reflect our commitment to quality and value. Don’t delay — complete the wholesaler application form to get started:
https://carnivalcoffeeroasters.orderspace.com/signup

We also offer machine and equipment rental as well as great purchasing deals to get you fully set up and ready to serve amazing coffee.

As part of our partnership, we provide:

• Social media promotion

• Café setup support

• Free tastings and workshops for your customers

• Reusable tins to cut out packaging completely

• And much more — get in touch for a friendly chat.

How do I get my local café to stock Carnival coffee?

Tell them how much you love our coffee! Then ask them to contact us on 020 3326 9488 or hey@carnivalcoffee.co.uk to request free samples or book a tasting.

Why are you called Carnival Coffee Roasters?

The name Carnival Coffee Roasters was inspired by the vibrant colours and celebrations found in many coffee-growing regions. We’re also incredibly lucky to work with local artist Rosie Lovelock, who illustrates each coffee with a unique mask design inspired by the movement and colour of these local carnivals.

Contact us

If we haven’t answered your question, or you’d just like a chat (we’re always up for a coffee chat), please get in touch:

• Phone: 020 3326 9488

• Email: hey@carnivalcoffee.co.uk