Square Mile Coffee Roasters
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
London specialty coffee roaster.
Square Mile Coffee Roasters can't show that the people who grow its coffee in Guatemala and Kenya earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
Also worth knowing
It has no full independent audit.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 5 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and a hidden, unaudited supply chain in high-risk countries. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 1 of 5
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsSome of its coffee is grown in Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia, where unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain, partly in countries with poor worker rights
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Estimates for its products
Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Square Mile Coffee Roasters's evidence and, where it has product lines, that line's countries. They're estimates: we don't know which factory made any single item.
- A product carrying the Fairtrade mark: Good
Holding one? Scan its barcode for an estimate that uses its care label or ingredients.
Where its coffee is grown
Square Mile Coffee Roasters says which countries its coffee comes from, but doesn't name the farms or co-operatives.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guatemala | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Kenya | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Mexico | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Costa Rica | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| Ethiopia | Systematic violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Honduras | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Colombia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Peru | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: coffee is on the US Department of Labor child or forced labour list for over a dozen countries, and farm-gate prices often fall below a living income.
Research notes Square Mile says it sources within a sustainable, transparent supply chain built on long-standing relationships, and makes transparency reports available on request, but it publishes no prices paid, producer list or social audits, and its coffees are not Fairtrade certified. Its current range comes from Guatemala, Kenya, Mexico, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Honduras, Colombia and Peru; it gives no split. A coffee guide describes direct long-term producer relationships with forward buying and pre-financing. No labour abuses linked to its suppliers have been reported.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade (incl. FLOCERT and Fairtrade ANZ) | Not listed | Square Mile's coffees are not Fairtrade certified; it names no certification for its range. View |
| B Corp directory | Not listed | Square Mile Coffee Roasters is not a Certified B Corp. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No labour rights allegations against Square Mile Coffee Roasters are recorded. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Square Mile Coffee Roasters (The Way to Coffee) · search the archive · Walthamstow roastery; long-term direct producer relationships, forward buying and pre-financing
Published by Square Mile Coffee Roasters or its owner
- Square Mile Coffee Roasters shop · search the archive · Current coffees from Guatemala, Kenya, Mexico, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Honduras, Colombia and Peru; delivered worldwide
- About (Square Mile Coffee Roasters) · search the archive · Founded 2008 by Moldvaer and Hoffmann; East London roastery; sourcing rooted in long-standing relationships
- FAQ (Square Mile Coffee Roasters) · search the archive · Says it sources within a transparent supply chain; transparency reports on request; ships internationally
- Shipping policy (Square Mile Coffee Roasters) · search the archive · International orders shipped by Royal Mail or DHL beyond the UK and EU
Company details
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Square Mile Coffee Roasters ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/square-mile-coffee, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded beans and roasters
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Square Mile Coffee Roasters.