From Farm to Flat White: A Brazilian Coffee Journey to the UK
When you serve a cup of coffee to a customer, it’s easy to forget just how far those beans have travelled. But for us at Ringtons, knowing the story behind every brew matters. That’s why we were thrilled to recently welcome Rafael Fonseca from COOMAP, our Brazilian coffee partner, to the UK — for a full-circle visit from farm to final cup.
Meeting the People Behind the Coffee
Rafael Fonseca is the Export Manager for COOMAP, a Fairtrade-certified cooperative in the coffee-rich region of Paraguaçu, Minas Gerais. We’ve proudly sourced coffee from COOMAP since 2019, and over the years, our partnership has blossomed — including several visits to Brazil by our coffee team.
This was Rafael’s second time in the UK, but the first chance we’ve had to give him the full Ringtons experience — from our heritage and production facilities, to the customers and venues who serve his coffee every day.
A Heritage Steeped in Stories (and Tea)
No visit to Ringtons would be complete without tea — and we kicked things off with a tea tasting, guided by our own Jake. Rafael was fascinated to explore our tea blends and origins, and even more intrigued by the stories in our Archive Room at Algernon Road, where over a century of tea and coffee heritage lives on.
He left not just with a greater understanding of our traditions, but a few ideas he’s planning to take back to Brazil to share with COOMAP farmers.
Seeing the Supply Chain in Action
After tea and tales, it was time to get practical. We headed to the Port of Tyne — the crucial entry point for COOMAP coffee in the UK. With thanks to Marco for his expert tour, Rafael got to see how beans are unloaded, stored, and managed before roasting — a side of the journey producers rarely witness firsthand.
It’s moments like these that connect the dots and reinforce the care and precision that goes into every kilo of coffee we handle.
From Bean to Bottle: Meeting the End Users
One of the most exciting parts of Rafael’s visit was showing him where his coffee ends up — in some of the most dynamic parts of the UK coffee scene.
We visited CRL Foods, a new Pure Coffee customer producing ready-to-drink (RTD) formats for brands like Perfect Ted, M&S, and Co-op. Several of their blends now use our Brazilian coffee, so it was eye-opening for Rafael to witness the product transformation first-hand.
A big thank you to Stephen for organising and Liam at CRL for the warm hospitality!
(L-R Steven, Rafael, John and Sadie)
A Full Circle Moment in Newcastle
To wrap up the trip, we hit the city with John Broad to visit two standout accounts: Fenwick and Newcastle University. Fenwick serves a 100% Brazil single origin espresso, while the University offers a Fairtrade blend — both sourced from COOMAP.
This wasn’t just a supplier visit. It was a powerful “farm to flat white” moment — bringing together the producer, roaster, wholesaler, and end user.
Rafael even gifted Newcastle Uni’s Food & Beverage Manager, James, a special book marking COOMAP’s 5-year Fairtrade milestone — a gesture that highlighted the real-world impact of ethical sourcing.
(L-R John, Rafael and James)
Why This Matters to Your Business
As a hospitality buyer, knowing your supply chain is more than a box-ticking exercise — it’s about confidence, quality, and connection. When you choose Ringtons, you’re not just buying coffee; you’re investing in people, partnerships, and a product you can be proud to serve.
Our visit with Rafael was a reminder of the care that flows through every part of our process — from the farms of Brazil to your espresso machine.
Contact our friendly team
If you’d like to know more about how we work or how we could help your business, we’d love to chat.
