Grind

Grind is a London-based hospitality and retail coffee company founded in 2011 by David Abrahamovitch and Kaz James. The venture began when Abrahamovitch, after his father's passing, converted his father's former mobile phone shop in Shoreditch into the first Grind location. He partnered with his friend Kaz James, an Australian DJ and producer who was inspired by Melbourne's vibrant coffee scene. The initial concept was a café by day and a cocktail bar by night, a model that proved successful and became a signature of the brand.

The company operates through a multi-channel business model that includes high-street cafés, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) online business, and a grocery and wholesale segment. Revenue is generated from sales across its London cafés, which serve coffee, food, and cocktails, and significantly from its e-commerce platform that sells coffee beans, ground coffee, and its flagship home-compostable coffee pods for Nespresso-compatible machines. The D2C business, which was established just before the 2020 pandemic, experienced explosive growth as consumer habits shifted towards at-home coffee consumption and now represents a larger portion of revenue than the physical café business.

A key product for the company is the UK’s first certified home-compostable coffee pod, which is plastic-free and biodegradable. Grind roasts its own specialty-grade, ethically sourced, and organic coffee at its roastery in London. The brand has also expanded into ready-to-drink canned iced coffees following the acquisition of Bottleshot Coffee. Grind has secured funding through multiple crowdfunding rounds and venture capital, including a significant investment led by Richard Koch, which has fueled its expansion.

Grind serves a broad consumer base, from London commuters and café patrons to a global online customer base. A major milestone was the establishment of a global partnership with Soho House in 2020, becoming its exclusive coffee supplier worldwide and placing its coffee pods in all Soho House hotel rooms. This partnership significantly raised Grind's international profile. The company has since opened its first international location in Los Angeles in partnership with Soho House and has announced plans for expansion into the Middle East and other UK cities like Manchester.

Keywords: specialty coffee, compostable coffee pods, direct-to-consumer, London cafes, coffee roastery, ethical sourcing, sustainable coffee, hospitality, espresso martinis, Soho House partnership, e-commerce, coffee subscription, B Corp, ready-to-drink coffee, David Abrahamovitch, Kaz James, UK coffee brand, coffee and cocktails, online coffee sales, Nespresso compatible pods