Union Hand-Roasted Coffee launches Excelsa from Uganda - a species that could help shape the future of coffee
London, 1st October 2025 - Union Hand-Roasted Coffee is proud to announce the UK’s first release of Excelsa from Uganda, a rare and resilient coffee species that could help safeguard the future of coffee.
Although, in the wild, there are more than 100 different coffee species, with Arabica and Robusta being the most well-known , Excelsa is special because it thrives in harsher, hotter and drier climates. As climate change reshapes coffee-growing regions, with 50% of existing lands disappearing by 2050, this resilient species could safeguard farmer livelihoods and the future of coffee itself. This coffee is grown in agroforestry conditions by smallholder farmers in Uganda’s Luwero District, it’s a UK-first release that highlights both Excelsa’s adaptability and its exciting flavour potential.
Excelsa offers a very distinctive flavour profile that sets it apart from Arabica and Robusta. The cup has layered sweetness with the undertones of dark fruits followed by a spicy and cocoa like finish. With a caffeine content lower than Arabica you get a smoother cup with lower bitterness, it offers a deliciously easy-drinking experience.
This UK-first release is the result of a collaborative project with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew alongside Ugandan farmers, academics and exporters. Together we are exploring how Excelsa can help safeguard the future of coffee.
Steven Macatonia, Co-Founder of Union Hand-Roasted Coffee, comments:
“Excelsa represents possibility – for farmers facing the realities of climate change and for coffee drinkers eager to explore new flavours. We’re excited to share this coffee with the UK, as a coffee to enjoy today, but also a glimpse of what the future of coffee could look like.”
Excelsa, Uganda is available now at London, 1st October 2025 - Union Hand-Roasted Coffee is proud to announce the UK’s first release of Excelsa from Uganda, a rare and resilient coffee species that could help safeguard the future of coffee.
Although, in the wild, there are more than 100 different coffee species, with Arabica and Robusta being the most well-known , Excelsa is special because it thrives in harsher, hotter and drier climates. As climate change reshapes coffee-growing regions, with 50% of existing lands disappearing by 2050, this resilient species could safeguard farmer livelihoods and the future of coffee itself. This coffee is grown in agroforestry conditions by smallholder farmers in Uganda’s Luwero District, it’s a UK-first release that highlights both Excelsa’s adaptability and its exciting flavour potential.
Excelsa offers a very distinctive flavour profile that sets it apart from Arabica and Robusta. The cup has layered sweetness with the undertones of dark fruits followed by a spicy and cocoa like finish. With a caffeine content lower than Arabica you get a smoother cup with lower bitterness, it offers a deliciously easy-drinking experience.
This UK-first release is the result of a collaborative project with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew alongside Ugandan farmers, academics and exporters. Together we are exploring how Excelsa can help safeguard the future of coffee.
Steven Macatonia, Co-Founder of Union Hand-Roasted Coffee, comments:
“Excelsa represents possibility – for farmers facing the realities of climate change and for coffee drinkers eager to explore new flavours. We’re excited to share this coffee with the UK, as a coffee to enjoy today, but also a glimpse of what the future of coffee could look like.”
Excelsa, Uganda is available now at unionroasted.com
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Union Hand-Roasted Coffee is one of the leading, independently owned specialty coffee roasters in the UK.
Union is available through Retail (Supermarkets), Foodservice (independent and multiple site cafes, business catering) and e-commerce direct-to-consumer activity through . Union ranks within the top roast and ground coffee brands in UK retail channels.
Union has a mission to make the world discover the joy of specialty coffee. From farmers to coffee lovers, we enrich life through our relentless focus on great quality, sustainable sourcing and sharing the culture of delicious coffee.
We believe that great coffee starts with respect - for the environment, for the craft and most importantly, for the people who grow, harvest and process our coffee.
Union is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), which promotes respect for workers’ rights throughout supply chains. The ETI Base Code is the foundation of Union Direct Trade, our responsible sourcing initiative.
Union is B Corp certified, verifying high standards of social, and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, that benefits all stakeholders - workers, customers, communities and the planet.
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