A HIDDEN gem on a Southend industrial estate is offering a coffee experience “you won’t find anywhere else in Essex”.

Little Fin Coffee Roastery, on Farriers Way in the Temple Farm Industrial Estate, roasts its own “high-quality” coffee beans before delivering customers the rich aromas of fresh coffee. 

Echo: The coffee shop and roastery is hidden away on the Temple Farm Industrial Estate.The coffee shop and roastery is hidden away on the Temple Farm Industrial Estate. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Owner Ian Patterson quit his day job to pursue his passion for coffee, naming the company after his five-year-old son, Finlay.

He and wife Charlotte set up their business with little prior experience but have “refined” it over the last few years, as a “side-hustle”.

Now, they have opened a coffee shop in the industrial estate unit.

Ian said: “The business has spent four years in the background, so we’ve built up our brand and a good reputation in that time.

“The coffee shop adds an extra string to our bow.”

Echo: There is seating available for a total of 25 customers, with seats available on a purpose-built mezzanine floor.There is seating available for a total of 25 customers, with seats available on a purpose-built mezzanine floor. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Since opening a coffee shop at the site on Saturday, it is already making a roaring trade, with seating for up to 25 customers.

Ian added: “My wife and I wanted to create an all-in-one coffee experience. There’s nowhere else in Essex where you can sit and watch coffee beans being roasted, while sipping a coffee, and where you can buy freshly roasted coffee in bags from the same place.”

“I’ve always been interested in coffee, so this started as a hobby in my garage. There seems to be a market for it locally.

Coffee beans are imported via Tilbury port and come from nine different countries, including Brazil, Honduras, Kenya, and Nicaragua.

A 500-gramme bag of in-house roasted and ground coffee costs £15, while a one-kilo bag costs £25. Smaller bags weighing 200 grammes cost £7.

Echo: Coffee and pastries are on offer at the roastery.Coffee and pastries are on offer at the roastery. (Image: Little Fin Coffee)

Little Fin supplies a total of 50 businesses in south Essex, including the IronWorks in Southend.
Barista Imogen Taylor is the coffee shop’s first employee and has praised the surrounding businesses who are “keen” to support it.

Imogen, 24, said: “We’ve had loads of repeat customers already. When Ian said he was setting the shop up, I thought it was a bit of a risk because of its location. But it’s been so busy.

Echo: Customers can sit upstairs and watch coffee being roasted directly below.Customers can sit upstairs and watch coffee being roasted directly below. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

“Everyone’s so lovely, and it feels exciting to have been here when it all started.”

Tony Ricks works nearby and has become a regular customer.

He said: “I love it. The coffee’s great, it’s convenient, and it’s personal.”