Fortitude Coffee, the Independent Scottish Roaster That is Conquering Edinburgh

From multi-roaster coffee shop to becoming a roaster itself, the story behind the Scottish roastery Fortitude Coffee, pioneering the specialty coffee scene in Edinburgh.

Born less than a decade ago, Fortitude Coffee is already a well established specialty coffee roaster in the Edinburgh coffee scene. Seated atop a short flight of old school stone stairs in a busy corner of York Place, Fortitude is just around the corner from the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (and the central bus station) and very close to many other touristic landmarks, just right in the middle of Edinburgh central area.

When Fortitude Coffee opened its doors in 2014, it was a small and cosy independent coffee shop and was among the first pioneers of the specialty coffee scene in the Scottish city. Opened by Helen Coburn and Matt Carroll, Fortitude was originally a multi roaster shop that featured some of the most famous coffee roasters from across Europe and the U.K. 

After two years of building an impeccable reputation, serving perfectly brewed pour overs and wonderfully prepared flat whites, it was 2016 when Helen and Matt decided that they wanted more. Inspired by the idea of being able to offer something completely unique to their customers, they began roasting their own coffee, sustainably picked and roasted, offering complete traceability throughout the supply chain, from crop to cup. Light roasted to highlight the delicate and complex flavours of the coffee, Fortitude’s coffee are chosen according to seasonality and high quality.

Additionally, Helen and Matt fell in love with the idea of roasting knowing that only following that path they should have been able to learn more about each and every coffee they serve, while at the same time sharing this knowledge with customers. Famous not only for their freshly roasted specialty coffee, but also for their welcoming atmosphere and delicious homemade baked goods, Fortitude Coffee recently opened its third location in the city.