Our Story
At Sacred Bean Coffee we’re all about great-tasting coffee and we’re all about people.
Sacred Bean Coffee is a non-profit social enterprise that was pioneered by people overcoming life-controlling issues. We were set up to bring you great tasting coffee that helps from the farm to the roasting room. That means that everyone benefits:
the small coffee producers around the world who we trade with directly, and our Sacred Bean team who are facing diverse barriers to work, and you our lovely customers who are looking for a great cup of coffee. We want to do things differently to make a positive difference from bean to cup.
From small beginnings, we set up as a Community Interest Company in mid-2019. After moving our roasting operation around several church-based locations in Derby as we grew, we found our permanent home at Derby City Mission.
In 2022, with the help of some really amazing grants, we installed our fantastic new gas roaster and set up our office and packing area there.
But that was just one part of our journey. In July 2021, we also opened a small café at the Shot Tower in Derby City Centre, in partnership with Derby City Council and Community Action.
It was just after Covid and we were able to employ some great young people who have gone on to other things. We also ran a Winter Warm Hub on Saturday afternoons at the café and then at Ozzy Road Church, in partnership with Community Action. We have now closed our cafe but continue to supply cafe and churches in and around the city.
But things move on! In 2025 we started to talk with our friends at Jericho House now called the Living Recovery Foundation, and have formed a partnership. We have rebranded our coffee to mark this milestone. So from 29th November, we will be called Living Recovery Roasters. As part of this, we’ve trained four new roasters from the Living Recovery Foundation. Exciting times! We are very grateful to Foundation Derbyshire for their continued and generous support. A bit shout out to Derby based alt design studio who have done the rebrand for us, free of charge – you are all wonderful talented people!
It’s been a challenge, it’s been fun, and there’s plenty more we’d love to do.
We hope you’ll join in the journey by buying or gifting our coffee, setting up a subscription, having us cater for your event or follow us on social media! Contact us if you’d like to find out more.
“Create the right culture and it will flourish,”
Darren Howie, Founder of Sacred Bean Coffee
Thanks to the following organizations for their amazing support:
About Community Action Derby
Community Action Derby is a registered charity providing support and guidance for voluntary and community groups such as ourselves. They run the Volunteer Centre in Derby and have a host of initiatives under their umbrella. We at Sacred Bean Coffee are a part of Community Action Derby’s ‘Derby Food 4 Thought’ programme. Initially set up to help respond to people in Derby’s needs during the pandemic, the initiative has grown and is now searching for long-term solutions to the root causes of local poverty.
About Derby City Council
Derby City Council are committed supporters of our work. Like us, they are committed to creatively tackling the issues of homelessness and addiction that effect people’s ;ives and society. We look forward to collaborating with them more in the months and years to come.
About Foundation Derbyshire
Foundation Derbyshire uses donations to help fund hundreds of small community groups and charities. Over nearly three decades, Foundation Derby has made over £14 million grants in the Derbyshire area. Sacred Bean Coffee has benefited hugely from grants from Foundation Derbyshire and we’re incredibly grateful for their support. Find out more about the wonderful work these guys do here.
