Rounton Coffee Ethiopia Natural Filter Review

Rounton Coffee Roasters are based in East Rounton, a village in North Yorkshire, where founder Dave Beattie converted a beautiful old granary into one of the most quietly impressive specialty roasteries in the UK. Dave left engineering to pursue coffee after travelling to Sumatra and working with coffee farmers, and he brought an engineer’s precision to every aspect of the operation. Rounton roast on Loring convection roasters (the S35 Kestrel and S15 Falcon), which use less energy and produce more consistent results than conventional drum roasters.

This Ethiopia Natural is the coffee that best demonstrates what Rounton are capable of when sourcing and roasting align.

Ethiopia Natural: Origin and Process

This coffee comes from the southern Ethiopian highlands, most likely the Guji or Sidama zone, at altitude above 1,800 metres. Natural processing means the whole cherry is dried in the sun over three to six weeks before the fruit is hulled away, imparting intense fruit sweetness to the bean. At this altitude and with Ethiopian heirloom varieties, the results are reliably extraordinary.

Rounton source with full traceability, working with importers who maintain direct relationships with co-operatives and washing stations. The transparency is part of the point.

Aroma

Opening the bag of freshly roasted Rounton Ethiopia Natural is one of the finer coffee experiences available in the UK right now. The aroma is vivid: blueberry and peach dominate, underpinned by a delicate floral note that reads as jasmine. It smells like something that has no business being a coffee.

In the Cup: V60

Brewed on a Hario V60 at 93°C with a 3-minute total brew time, 15g coffee to 250ml water:

• Blueberry upfront: vivid, wine-like, intense
• Peach emerging in the mid-palate: ripe and sweet
• Jasmine floral note running throughout
• Body: medium-light, silky
• Acidity: bright and present but never sharp
• Sweetness: high, almost confectionery at 60°C

This is a coffee that genuinely rewards attention. Let it cool to around 60°C and the fruit notes intensify further. At room temperature it resembles a cold-brew fruit tea more than anything recognisable as coffee.

In the Cup: AeroPress

AeroPress (16g, 200ml, 3 minutes, coarse grind, inverted) produces something richer and more concentrated: the blueberry becomes jammy, the peach recedes, and a dark chocolate note emerges underneath. Two entirely different coffee experiences from the same bag.

Value

At £13.00 for 250g (£5.20/100g), the Rounton Ethiopia Natural sits at the higher end of specialty pricing. Given the sourcing transparency, the Loring-roasted precision, and the quality in the cup, it’s fair value. You would pay as much or more for equivalent quality from London roasters.

Who It’s Best For

• Filter coffee enthusiasts: V60, AeroPress, Chemex, batch brew
• Natural process and Ethiopian coffee fans
• Anyone who wants to explore what specialty coffee can taste like
• Coffee drinkers who serve it black and like something genuinely complex

Not for: espresso-first households, those who prefer washed coffee clarity, or anyone who finds natural-process fruitiness overwhelming. For a washed alternative, try the Hasbean Colombia El Paraíso Washed.

Verdict

Rounton Coffee Ethiopia Natural is among the best light-roasted single-origins available from a UK specialty roaster. The blueberry, peach, and jasmine profile is textbook Ethiopian natural, but Rounton’s sourcing and precise light roasting elevate it beyond the ordinary. Outwith the major cities, it’s remarkable what quality you can find from a converted granary in North Yorkshire.

Rating: 4.6/5

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Rounton Coffee based? Rounton Coffee is based in East Rounton, a village in North Yorkshire. The roastery occupies a converted granary and is open to visitors. They also attend local farmers markets and food festivals.

What roasting equipment does Rounton use? Rounton roasts on Loring S35 Kestrel and S15 Falcon convection roasters. Loring equipment is particularly valued by specialty roasters for its energy efficiency and the cleaner, more consistent profiles it produces compared to conventional drum roasters.

Does Rounton Coffee offer subscriptions? Yes. Rounton offers flexible coffee subscriptions allowing you to choose the coffee, frequency, and grind. They currently offer 20% off the first three orders for new subscription customers.