Our Story
Hard Lines began as a tiny pop-up in Cardiff, Wales in 2016, started by Matt and Sophie. Since then we’ve grown, welcomed some brilliant people into the team, and built what we like to think is a rather exciting crew — but one thing hasn’t changed: we believe great coffee should be fun, inclusive, and something people genuinely look forward to.
Coffee Roasting
We started roasting in our cafe in Canton before moving into the dedicated roastery we run today. Now we work closely with producers around the world, choosing coffees with real character and roasting them with a modern approach. Our range spans seasonal single origins, playful limited releases, and the everyday favourites our community comes back to again and again.
A big part of what drives us is our coffee subscribers and coffee partners — people who receive our coffee day in and day out and trust us to keep things fresh, exciting, and delicious. Their support pushes us to seek out new producers, explore different regions, and bring home coffees that surprise and delight. They’re a huge part of why we keep moving forward.
Community
We’re proudly Welsh. Our identity, voice, and approach to hospitality are shaped by where we’re from — optimistic, a bit cheeky, and always focused on doing things properly. Being based in Wales also means we get to collaborate with an incredible network of cafés, restaurants, and independent retailers across the country and beyond.
Community sits at the heart of what we do. Through our Ground Level Initiative, we support grassroots projects and organisations making a real difference in Wales — from creative programmes to social action groups. We also donate 1% of our annual revenue to environmental and community causes as part of 1% for the Planet, with a focus on Welsh charities working to protect local ecosystems and improve access to nature.
In Good Company
You might’ve seen our coffee featured in places like The Guardian, GQ, the Financial Times, and MOB Kitchen, and we're really proud of that — but what matters most to us is the community around Hard Lines: the partners who serve our coffee, the customers who return every week, the subscribers who brew us at home, and everyone who believes in the value of well-sourced, delicious coffee.
About us FAQ's
Where is Hard Lines Coffee based?
Hard Lines is proudly based in Cardiff, South Wales. We’re a Welsh coffee roaster with a few unique spots across the city that you can visit to enjoy our coffee, food, and community.
What does Hard Lines sell?
We sell speciality coffee, subscriptions, coffee pods, equipment, gifts, merchandise and barista courses.
We also wholesale coffee, machinery and training services, visit Wholesale Coffee
Do you roast your own coffee?
Yes. Our coffee is roasted at the Hard Lines roastery in Gwaelod y Garth, Cardiff.
Can i visit Hard Lines?
Yes. You can visit our Canton cafe, our Cardiff Central Market espresso hatch, or our roastery shop. To see locations visit Locations
