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This Exhale Coffee brand review covers all three products, its subscription and where it falls short.
I have tasted a lot of coffee brands that lead with health first, flavour second. Exhale Coffee is, however, one of the more consistent ones. Its whole case rests on one word: mould.
Over two weeks, I brewed all three Exhale coffees using a cafetiere and an espresso machine.
This is, in fact, the same method I use to test every brand for this site. Here's what we found.
Exhale scored an average of 86.7 out of 100 across the three products. Its Dark(ish) Roast, in particular, came out on top.
One thing worth flagging early. Exhale's 85 out of 100 speciality grade score is self-reported by Exhale.
It is not, however, independently verified by a third party. We have not seen a certificate for it. If Exhale can point us to one, we will update this Exhale Coffee review.
What Is Exhale Coffee?
Exhale Coffee is an organic coffee brand built entirely around one claim. Mould and pesticide-free coffee, backed by lab tests, not just marketing copy.
Founders Al Higham and Kirsty launched Exhale from a London terraced house in October 2020.
Both had left long corporate careers behind. However, it was Al's multi-year recovery from an autoimmune condition that shaped the brand's early direction.
A coffee revelation on a surfing trip to Bali did too.
Where Is Exhale Coffee Roasted?
Every Exhale bag is hand roasted weekly on a small 12kg roaster in Brixton, London. Small batches are Exhale's main freshness argument. This matters because dark roasting can destroy up to 90% of coffee's healthiest compounds if rushed.
Exhale Coffee's Sourcing and Sustainability Philosophy
Exhale sources three single-origin, organic, speciality grade coffees. House Roast comes from Cauca, Colombia.
Similarly, Dark(ish) Roast comes from La Prosperidad de Chirinos in Cajamarca, Peru.
Decaf, meanwhile, comes from the Capitán and Majomut Cooperatives in Chiapas, Mexico.
Balance Coffee takes a similar approach with our own single-origin coffee range.
Packaging is plastic-free and home compostable, aside from a small industrially compostable valve and zipper.
In addition, Exhale is a member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of sales to environmental causes.
Is Exhale Coffee B Corp Certified?
Yes. Exhale holds B Corp certification. In particular, Exhale states this reflects equal weight given to health, taste and sustainability throughout its process.
Is Exhale Coffee Fairtrade?
No. Exhale is not Fairtrade certified. Instead, its own product listings use the phrase "Beyond Fair Trade." This points to prices it says exceed the Fairtrade guaranteed minimum. That said, it is a real distinction worth understanding before you buy.
A Fairtrade certification involves independent, third-party audits of the whole supply chain.
However, a brand's own claim to pay more than that price is different.
It is not the same as holding the certification itself, even when genuine. We take a similar, transparent approach to how we vet our own coffee suppliers.
How Does Exhale Coffee Position Itself vs. Mainstream Brands?
Exhale's pitch is squarely aimed at supermarket and instant coffee drinkers. For example, it claims instant coffee carries roughly four times the average mould load.
Consequently, Exhale frames itself as a "healthy swap" rather than a specialist's upgrade.
That is a different funnel to most speciality roasters, who lead with flavour and terroir first.
It sits within a wider field of mould and pesticide-free coffee brands competing for the same buyer.
For a closer look at how it stacks up against both a fellow health-focused roaster and a mainstream giant, read our Balance Coffee vs Exhale Coffee vs Lavazza Coffee comparison.
How We Tested Exhale Coffee
We scored all three Exhale coffees for this Exhale Coffee review against our fixed six-criteria, 100-point framework.
In particular, health and purity carry real weight here, given Exhale's own positioning.
Our full method sits inside our own Balance Coffee testing framework.
That page also links our independent mould and pesticide lab test results.
Brewing Methods Used
I brewed each coffee two ways. First, a cafetiere at 17g dose with a 5-minute plunge, matching Exhale's own published method. Then, an espresso shot on a Sage Oracle Touch at 93°C, for comparison.
Ground (Fine) samples ran through the espresso machine. Meanwhile, Ground (Medium) samples ran through the cafetiere, each tested across three separate sessions on different days.
Who Did the Testing?
I ran every cupping session myself, alongside Balance Coffee's taste testing team for the cafetiere brews. Additionally, all beans were tested within two weeks of their delivery date.
Exhale Coffee Beans Reviews
Let's dive into each product individually.
Exhale Organic House Roast
House Roast is Exhale's lightest, most fruit-forward coffee. It's the one Exhale recommends for filter brewing and drinking black.
Pros
- Named single farm origin in Cauca, Colombia
- Independently lab tested for mould, pesticides and heavy metals
- Genuinely light, fruity cup that stands up black
Cons
- Lighter roast beans can be harder on budget home grinders
- Exhale does not confirm a printed roast date on the bag
Bean Origin & Sourcing. House Roast is grown on a single organic, speciality grade farm in Cauca, Colombia. Exhale states it is fully traceable back to that farm.
Health credentials. Exhale tests every shipment at an independent lab for pesticides, mould, yeasts, mycotoxins and heavy metals. This is separate from Soil Association organic certification, which does not test every batch for contaminants.
Flavour & taste. The result? In the cafetiere, House Roast gave a smooth, honeyed cup with clear green apple and mango notes. As a filter-style coffee, therefore, it held its fruit character well.
On espresso, however, the acidity became sharper and less balanced. This is consistent with Exhale's own advice to drink it black or through a filter brewer.
Customer Feedback
Trustpilot reviews consistently praise House Roast's smoothness and lack of jitters. That said, a handful of reviewers found the price high next to supermarket beans.
"The flavour of Exhale's organic house roast is exquisite."
Jane, TrustpilotPrice
At £16 for roughly 30 cups, House Roast costs about the same as five café cups. Indeed, that is Exhale's own comparison, and it does hold up.
Verdict
Buy this if you drink coffee black or through a filter and want a lighter cup.
Skip this if you take milk daily. Try the Dark(ish) Roast instead.
Exhale Organic Dark(ish) Roast
Dark(ish) Roast is Exhale's bestseller and its co-founder Kirsty's own favourite. It's a stronger, more chocolatey cup built for milk drinks and espresso.
Pros
- Named single farm origin, La Prosperidad de Chirinos, Cajamarca, Peru
- Holds its flavour clearly against milk, unlike House Roast
- Same independent lab testing as the rest of the range
Cons
- Only one dark roast option, with no second espresso blend to choose from
- Exhale does not confirm a printed roast date on the bag
Bean Origin & Sourcing. Dark(ish) Roast comes from a single washed, organic lot at La Prosperidad de Chirinos in Cajamarca, Peru.
Health credentials. As with House Roast, every shipment is independently lab-tested. Similarly, mould, mycotoxins, pesticides and heavy metals are all checked before dispatch.
Flavour & taste. Here's where it gets interesting. On espresso, Dark(ish) Roast produced dark chocolate and dried berry notes with a syrupy, creamy mouthfeel. It handled milk without disappearing.
In the cafetiere, the same chocolate and butterscotch notes came through, though slightly softer. Even so, this is Exhale's most versatile bean across brew methods.
Customer Feedback
Trustpilot reviewers frequently describe Dark(ish) Roast as smooth without bitterness. In particular, several specifically mention no jitters after switching from supermarket coffee.
"I'm in love. No blood sugar crashes, no IBS stuff."
Magdalena M, TrustpilotPrice
Pricing matches House Roast exactly. Consequently, the deciding factor between the two is purely how you drink your coffee, not cost.
Verdict
Buy this if you take milk, drink espresso, or want Exhale's most popular bean.
Skip this if you strongly prefer a light, filter-style cup. Try House Roast instead.
Exhale Organic Decaf
Exhale's decaf uses the Mountain Water Process, avoiding the chemical solvents most decaf brands rely on.
Pros
- Decaffeinated with glacial water, not chemical solvents
- Named cooperative origin in Chiapas, Mexico
- Same independent lab testing as the caffeinated range
Cons
- Loses some of Exhale's core caffeine and polyphenol energy pitch
- Slightly less complex on the palate than the two caffeinated roasts
Bean Origin & Sourcing. Decaf is sourced from the Capitán and Majomut Cooperatives in Chiapas, Mexico, then decaffeinated near the farm.
Decaffeination Process. Exhale uses the Mountain Water Process, drawing on glacial water from Mexico's Pico de Orizaba. As a result, this avoids solvents like methylene chloride entirely.
Flavour & taste. The short answer? In the cafetiere, this decaf gave silky maple syrup and almond notes with a medium body. Consequently, it is genuinely closer to a caffeinated cup than most decafs.
On espresso, the flavour flattened slightly, though the syrupy sweetness remained. Nonetheless, this is a strong decaf, even if it trails the caffeinated roasts on complexity.
Customer Feedback
Several Trustpilot reviewers specifically bought Exhale's decaf for sensitive stomachs. Accordingly, they cite reduced IBS symptoms compared with other decaf brands.
"My IBS is gone. Exhale has been only beneficial for my gut."
HannaP, TrustpilotPrice
Decaf is priced the same as the caffeinated range. However, the extra processing step behind Mountain Water decaffeination is not reflected in a premium. It is a genuinely strong showing next to our own decaf coffee range.
Verdict
Buy this if you avoid caffeine but still want a lab-tested, organic single origin.
Skip this if flavour complexity matters more to you than avoiding caffeine.
Exhale Coffee Subscription Review
Subscription Options and Pricing
Every Exhale coffee is available as a one-off purchase or a subscription. Subscribing, however, cuts the price by 20% for life, bringing a 450g bag down to £12.80.
Delivery Frequency & Flexibility
Subscribers can choose delivery every one, two, three, four, six or eight weeks. In addition, frequency, coffee variety and grind size can all be changed at any time.
Free Trial Terms
Exhale also runs a free trial offer through its own site. Additionally, a standard 30-day money-back guarantee applies, limited to one bag per customer.
How It Compares to Other Coffee Subscriptions
A 20% lifetime discount with no minimum term is a genuinely competitive offer. By contrast, most UK speciality subscriptions offer 10 to 15% off, often only for an introductory period.
Exhale Coffee Products Compared
Is Exhale Coffee Worth It?
How Much Does Exhale Coffee Cost Per Cup?
A 450g bag makes around 30 cups at 17g a serving. Therefore, that works out to roughly £0.53 a cup at full price. Subscribers, meanwhile, pay closer to £0.43 a cup.
What Exhale Coffee Does Well
Exhale's independent lab testing is real, dated and genuinely rare among direct-to-consumer coffee brands. Similarly, its founders' health-journey story is authentic, not a marketing invention.
Where Exhale Coffee Falls Short
So what does that mean for you? Exhale's core "1 cup equals 55 oranges" claim is Exhale's own marketing figure, not an independently verified one. Its 85 out of 100 speciality grade score is, similarly, self-reported.
Additionally, Exhale offers no pods and only one dark roast option. As a result, this limits choice compared with larger speciality roasters.
Who Should Buy Exhale Coffee?
Exhale suits anyone currently drinking supermarket or instant coffee who wants a lab-tested, mould-aware upgrade. In particular, based on repeated customer feedback, it also suits IBS-prone drinkers.
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
If you want a wide range of roasts, blends, or a Nespresso-compatible pod, look elsewhere. Otherwise, Exhale's three-SKU range will feel limited quickly.
Where to Buy Exhale Coffee
Exhale Coffee Website
Exhale sells directly through exhalecoffee.com, offering next-day UK delivery and free shipping over £45.
Third-Party Stockists
Exhale is also listed by a small number of third-party retailers. However, some have previously mislabelled the brand as Fairtrade certified, which it is not. Therefore, check Exhale's own site for accurate claims before buying elsewhere.
Subscription Options Available
All three coffees are available as a subscription directly through exhalecoffee.com. Accordingly, the same flexibility outlined above applies.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Is Exhale Coffee good quality?
Yes, based on our testing for this Exhale Coffee review. Exhale scored 86.7 out of 100 on average across its three coffees. Every bag, in particular, carries independent lab results for mould and pesticides. Flavour is solid rather than exceptional. The Dark(ish) Roast was, however, the strongest of the three in our brewing.
Where does Exhale Coffee source its beans?
Exhale sources three single-origin coffees. House Roast comes from Cauca, Colombia. Similarly, Dark(ish) Roast comes from Cajamarca, Peru. Decaf, meanwhile, comes from Chiapas, Mexico. Each is fully traceable to a named farm or cooperative. All three are also independently lab tested for pesticides, mould and heavy metals.
Is Exhale Coffee B Corp certified?
Yes, Exhale holds B Corp certification, alongside Soil Association organic status and 1% for the Planet membership. Exhale states these reflect, in particular, equal weight given to health, taste and sustainability throughout its process. Exhale was founded in 2020 by Al Higham and Kirsty, following Al's own health recovery.
Is Exhale Coffee Fairtrade?
No, Exhale is not Fairtrade certified. It describes itself as "Beyond Fair Trade" instead, claiming to pay above the Fairtrade guaranteed minimum. This remains a brand claim, not third-party certification. A third-party stockist has previously mislabelled Exhale as Fairtrade certified, despite Exhale's own site stating otherwise.
Does Exhale Coffee offer a subscription?
Yes. Subscribing gives 20% off for life, bringing a 450g bag down to £12.80. Delivery, additionally, runs every one to eight weeks, with no minimum term or cancellation fee. House Roast, Dark(ish) Roast and Decaf are all available this way, each priced at £16 one-off.
What is the best Exhale Coffee product to try first?
Dark(ish) Roast scored highest in our testing, at 88 out of 100 overall. Exhale itself, similarly, lists it as the bestseller. It suits milk drinks and espresso best. House Roast and Decaf, meanwhile, scored close behind, at 87 and 85 out of 100, respectively.
Is Exhale Coffee suitable for espresso or home grinders?
Dark(ish) Roast is Exhale's recommended espresso option, and it works well. Exhale advises it over House Roast for budget home grinders. Lighter roast beans are genuinely harder to grind evenly. House Roast, by contrast, suits filter brewing and drinking black, based on Exhale's own guidance.
Conclusion
This Exhale Coffee review confirms it delivers on its core promise.
Genuinely lab-tested, genuinely organic, genuinely traceable coffee, with a founder story that holds up under scrutiny.
Where it stretches further, however, is the antioxidant marketing.
Treat the "55 oranges" figure as Exhale's own claim, not an independently verified fact.
Even so, the rest of the case stands on solid ground.
