Ground Theory Coffee Roasters has expanded its Colombo roastery and is marketing locally grown Arabica to coincide with International Coffee Day, observed on 1 October.
The company, which began roasting in 2020, says it sources green coffee from producers in Sri Lanka’s central highlands, using Arabica grown at elevations above 1,200 metres. It selects lots before roasting them in small batches.
Its current range includes wet-processed and naturally processed Arabica supplied to wholesale and retail customers for preparation as espresso or filter coffee. The company said it wanted consumers to assess Sri Lankan coffee on its quality, linking that to bean selection, roasting and brewing method.
The move to a larger property is intended to provide additional room to manage supply and respond to demand, while retaining the focus on small-batch production. The company said it is developing new coffee profiles to complement its existing range, and has a further project taking shape at the roastery.
Ground Theory is backed by the management of Cauldron & Co, the business behind THE CAULDRON, which serves the roaster’s coffee. The company also supplies cafés, restaurants and barista academies.
Coffee remains a minor crop in Sri Lanka relative to tea, though it was the island’s dominant export commodity until leaf rust destroyed the plantations in the 1870s. Recent efforts to rebuild a specialty sector have centred on smallholder Arabica in the central highlands. Ground Theory did not disclose the size of the new premises, its roasting volumes or the number of producers it buys from.