Where it all started...
John Green (Coffee Bay Founder) was renowned around Surbiton for his hot dog stands. Loyal customers recollect stories of John flipping the burgers into the early hours of the morning as punters fell out of pubs looking for sustenance. But it was in the late seventies that John developed his love for coffee and tea when he spent all his free time helping Francois in “Sunleaf”, a Coffee & Tea Retail shop in Richmond upon Thames. In 1980 John’s partner, Jill convinced him to follow his passion and open a Coffee & Tea retail shop in Victoria Road, like the one his friend Francois owned. By 1986 John embarked on roasting his own coffee on a 3lb Uno roaster, doubling the roasting capability by acquiring a 7 pounder. It is John’s energy & hard work that allowed him to build his Coffee business during the 80s & 90s, working at coffee during the day and tending his beloved hot dog stalls at night. In 1988, John opened the first café and tearoom using the space above the shop on Victoria Road. This coincided with Costa’s first coffee shop opening in Waterloo station. Before long, cafés and restaurants were asking John to supply them with his excellent hand-roasted coffee and equipment.