A Friendship Forged in Sri Lanka
Ginger Elephant Coffee Company began with a friendship that started more than 20 years ago in Sri Lanka. Richard and Howard met through the expat community while supporting their working spouses and, over time, built a friendship around regular games of squash and tennis, usually followed by a well-earned beer!
A Shared Passion for Quality and Craft
What connected them from the start was a shared enjoyment of quality in all its edible and liquid forms. Food, hoppy beers, fine wine, anything made and sourced with real care. Coffee became a natural extension of that ethos, offering the same depth, variety and craft, but in a way that felt more accessible, familiar and social.
That is a big part of why Ginger Elephant exists. Coffee is something people already know and enjoy; part of everyday life, part of the tea break, part of catching up with friends, part of taking a moment out of their day.
In short, Richard and Howard wanted to create a business that could showcase excellent craft coffee while contributing to a thriving local community in Leamington Spa.
Meet Richard and Howard
Richard’s background spans aerospace component manufacturing and financial advice, bringing a practical mindset and close attention to detail that chimes with small-batch roasting and repeatable quality.
Howard’s background is in electrical engineering, with a disciplined and methodical approach that fits naturally with the technical side of roasting. He is also a redhead, which goes some way to explaining the Ginger part of the name!
Why Ginger Elephant?
Leamington Spa has a historic connection to elephants through Samuel Lockhart, the well-known elephant trainer of the late 19th century. With Richard and Howard’s story beginning in Sri Lanka, the link between their shared past and their new home in Leamington Spa felt too strong to ignore. The name Ginger Elephant neatly weaves those two parts of the story together!
Why we roast in Leamington Spa
We source green coffee from respected global producers and suppliers, then roast it here in Leamington Spa. That gives local customers a roastery they can call their own, and it means online customers receive coffee roasted in small batches and dispatched fresh.
We also chose electric roasting because it aligns with how we want to work. It gives us precise control, helps us achieve reliable consistency, and suits a modern, thoughtful approach to roasting. For us, it is part of a wider commitment to quality, innovation and doing things properly.
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from Ginger Elephant Coffee Company
Good coffee, made carefully, rooted in Leamington Spa
Ginger Elephant is built on three simple ideas: source great quality coffee, roast it with care, and keep our business connected to the place we call home. Every decision runs through those priorities.
Visit our coffee shop in Leamington Spa
We’re creating a vibrant, welcoming space for locals and those visiting the beautiful town of Royal Leamington Spa. Our coffee shop has found its home under the renovated Victorian railway arches; expect exceptional coffee, friendly service, and a roastery atmosphere worth coming back for!
Wholesale coffee for teams who care about quality
If you run a café, workplace, studio, or hospitality venue, we’ll help you serve coffee that will leave its mark. We’ll walk you through dependable house options, seasonal coffees, and a rotating roast of the month.
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