Volcano Coffee Works Review (Beans, Pods, Subscription)

So, today, let's dive into an in-depth Volcano Coffee Work review.

But first, does the number of speciality coffee brands make your head spin? 

I know it does for me. 

And that’s not even the funny part. 

The funny part is…they all say they source beans ethically, roast them fresh, and even have similar flavour profiles.

So when I decided to do a review of Volcano Coffee Works, I was a bit sceptical.

Not because the brand looked bad.

But because I’ve tested enough coffee now to know good branding and good coffee are not always the same thing.

I’m James Bellis, founder, barista, and coffee trainer. For over 14+ years, I’ve worked with more than 100 roasters across the UK, brewing coffee for over 199,000 people. I also hold an SCA Coffee Skills Diploma, which reflects my love for clean coffee.

I wanted to know whether Volcano Coffee was good enough for you to stick with long-term.

Or is it just another hyped up speciality coffee brand?

So I put together this Volcano Coffee Works Review with the help of my Balance Coffee taste-testing team.

Quick Verdict

Volcano Coffee Works feels like one of those brands that really understands its everyday coffee drinkers. 

The beans are freshly roasted, flavour-packed, and aromatic.

In this Volcano Coffee Works Review, the brand scored 90/100, which proves Volcano Coffee Works really do live up to their hype.

What Is Volcano Coffee Works?

You would be surprised, but Volcano Coffee Works actually started with a little coffee cart in South London.

Yep. 

It wasn't always a big roastery.

Around 18 years ago, Kurt (the founder) used to serve coffee from his tiny vintage Italian cart.

He was just a guy who genuinely loved coffee and wanted more people to drink better stuff.

Honestly, you can tell how much thought and care go into the coffee.

You can tell these coffees were built around balance and customer likeness.

So more people started to love their coffee, and the company slowly went from that one little cart into a proper speciality coffee roastery.

Now Volcano Coffee Works has cafés, subscriptions, pods, and a full team behind it.

And the best thing is, it still does not feel too corporate.

They roast their beans in London and deliver them all around the country

Its blends still have that small roastery touch in the way they taste, which gives a warm, cosy feeling.

One thing I noticed during my research for Volcano Coffee Works review is that the brand feels very approachable.

Volcano Coffee Works' Sourcing and Sustainability Philosophy

Volcano Coffee Works focuses more on helping people enjoy coffee than on impressing them.

And so they care a lot about sourcing and sustainability.

The International Coffee Organisation states that sustainability is extremely important for our ecosystem.

They get beans from farms in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, and Tanzania, with farms they’ve worked with for years.

Compared to mainstream corporate brands, they are more careful about their environmental impact.

They openly talk about paying above Fairtrade prices too, which is not that common in the coffee industry. 

Their coffee pods are compostable, and they use recyclable packaging.

They even became B Corp certified, which is very important for the environment you and I live in.

I know you guys would find it refreshing when a brand that actually cares about sustainability.

How We Tested Volcano Coffee Works

For this Volcano Coffee Works Review, I used the same testing system that I used for every other brand so far.

I know you guys trust me to give you a helpful guide. 

And you know me, I consider it my responsibility to help you guys sort through all these coffee brands fairly.

That is why I wanted this Volcano Coffee review UK to feel genuinely useful instead of just another rushed coffee review online. 

My team and I used the Balance Coffee Testing Framework to carry out fair and reliable testing.

So that you know, when I suggest something, it actually deserves to become a part of your routine.

We scored the products based on factors that matter in good coffee.

Like, flavour, freshness, sourcing transparency, health and purity standards, brand trust, and overall value for money. 

For pods, we also looked at crema, body, aroma, finish, and consistency between capsules.

I know it's a bit confusing. 

But don't worry, I have included tables at the end of every product review for you.

Brewing Methods Used

I used separate methods for beans and capsules.

For beans and ground coffee, I used:

For testing Pods, I used:

Here, take a quick glance at the protocol we followed for testing pods. So you know how seriously I take my reviews.

As you read through this Volcano Coffee Works speciality coffee review. You’ll know how dedicated my team and I are to testing these for you. 

Volcano Coffee Works Beans Reviews

Beans are the simplest place to start when you are trying a new coffee.

The actual beans tell you everything you need to know.

The real flavour, roasting quality, and sourcing start showing up.

And so beans were the first thing we tested for Volcano Coffee Works review.

Firehouse Blend

As the name suggests, the Firehouse blend coffee will indeed wake you up.

I’m not going to lie, I was quite excited for the Volcano Coffee Works Firehouse Blend review.

Because whenever a coffee claims to be "traditional espresso”, it could go either way.

Sometimes you get a rich and smooth cup.

But most of the time, it just tastes burnt and bitter.

Luckily, Firehouse Blend stands in the first category.

It is one of those coffees that feels good for fast mornings.

The kind where you are standing in the kitchen half awake, waiting for coffee to wake you up.

To test for espresso, I brewed it through the Sage Barista Pro using an 18g dose, 36g yield, and 93°C water.

Extraction was nearly 29 seconds across testing.

For the secondary brew, I used a Hario V60 with 15g of coffee to 250ml of water at 92°C.

I started with a 30ml bloom, held for 35 seconds, then completed the pour. Grinding was done fresh each time, immediately before brewing.

The first taste felt smooth and sweet in the espresso.

Then the berry notes slowly showed up from underneath.

Near the finish, I got a slight dried orange note that went well with everything.

What I Like

• Rich chocolatey flavour

• Really smooth with milk

• No harsh bitterness

• Syrup-y espresso texture

What I Don't Like

• Heavy for light roast drinkers

• Fruit notes can get hidden in milk drinks

• Less clarity than lighter speciality blends

Bean Origin & Sourcing

The coffee is sourced from mostly family-run farms in Brazil, Colombia, and Tanzania.

Flavour Profile & Tasting Notes

Tasting notes: Milk chocolate, forest fruits and dried orange.

Sometimes multi-origin coffees taste messy.

This one actually felt very well-balanced.

The aroma felt rich and very chocolatey.

With a thick, gold crema that holds well even in espresso.

I also got a dark chocolate flavour with mild orangey notes.

And a soft berry-like sweetness near the end.

Roast Level

It is a medium-dark roast, but it honestly drinks smoother than most darker espresso blends.

Price & Value for Money

This blend will cost you £ 9.00 for a 250g bag.

Customer Feedback

Lisa H Feedback: 

“A great quality every day coffee!’’

Charlotte G Feedback: 

‘’Lovely Taste’’

Verdict

I think this is perfect for those of you who like a smooth yet strong cup first thing in the morning.

Score: 91/100

The Mount Blend

When I was writing the Volcano Coffee Works beans review, I kept thinking how calm and mild this blend tasted.

It instantly felt different from Firehouse.

It is less heavy and very mild.

Almost like a perfect fit for someone who somehow wakes up calm at 6 am for a slow, easy morning.

It is one of the most popular coffees in this entire Volcano Coffee Works review.

And I get why, because it's incredibly easy to like.

For espresso, I brewed it through the Sage Barista Pro using an 18g dose, 36g yield, and 93°C water.

Extraction averaged around 29 seconds across testing.

For the secondary brew, I used a Hario V60 with 15g of coffee to 250ml of water at 92°C.

I started with a 30ml bloom, held for 35 seconds, then completed the pour. Grinding was done fresh each time, immediately before brewing.

The aroma felt like warm milk chocolate with caramel.

The espresso had thick crema and a very creamy texture.

In the sip, I got mild sweetness with fruit notes towards the end.

Nothing about it feels harsh or bitter.

It just tastes balanced in a way that gently keeps you coming back for more.

What I Like

• Very smooth and simple

• Sweet without tasting sugary

• Low acidity works well daily

• Good beginner speciality coffee

What I Don't Like

• Lighter body than Firehouse

• Less intense for strong espresso lovers

• Fruit notes can feel subtle

Bean Origin & Sourcing

The Mount Blend uses beans from Brazil, El Salvador, and Colombia.

Flavour Profile & Tasting Notes

Tasting notes: milk chocolate, caramel, and red grapes.

The first thing I noticed was soft caramel, sweetness.

The milk chocolate made the cup feel creamy and softer.

There was a little hint of red grapes.

Nothing was too dominating in the cup.

You still get enough body for espresso.

Yet the blend felt softer and more rounded overall.

Roast Level

This blend is medium roast. It is very easy to brew.

That low acidity makes it very easy to drink daily.

Price & Value for Money

It costs around  £9.50 for a 250-gram bag. 

Customer Feedback

• Emily K  Feedback

“Smoothest coffee I’ve had lately”

• Olivia T Feedback

“Super easy morning coffee’’

Verdict

If you guys want to try a new speciality coffee without shocking your palate. This is the one to start with

Score: (92/100)

Volcano Coffee Works Pods Review

If you ask me, if a brand can perfect their coffee pods, they can perfect anything.

I honestly believe making genuinely good speciality pods is actually quite difficult.

There are so many factors involved like freshness and consistency.

You also need the flavour to still taste alive even after being sealed inside a capsule.

And trust me, most of the brands can get only one or two of those things right.

But rarely all three.

So obviously, this Volcano Coffee Works review felt incomplete without properly testing the pods, too.

Mount Blend Coffee Pods

The Mount Blend coffee pods are the brand's signature pods.

So, I started this review expecting decent quality speciality pods.

But honestly, these pods surprised me more than I expected.

Mainly because most pod coffees usually lose their freshness pretty quickly.

And they end up tasting like instant coffee.

But Mount Blend Coffee pods performed well.

For this Volcano Coffee Works pods review, I used the same testing system I use for every brand.

I tested pods on the De’Longhi Creatista Plus and Breville Creatista Plus machines over multiple mornings.

As always, each pod was brewed three separate times with 90-minute gaps between sessions.

I also used Brita-filtered water throughout testing.

These pods worked in the Original Nespresso machines, Opal & Dualit capsule machines, but sadly not in Vertuo Pop.

The Mount Blend pods came out smooth, sweet, and properly balanced even after multiple brews.

And trust me, this kind of consistency is pretty hard to beat.

What I Like

• Low acidity flavour

• It goes well with milk

• Compostable pods

• Consistent flavour across brews

What I Don’t Like

• Not intense enough for strong espresso drinkers

• Slightly premium pricing

Bean Origin & Sourcing

The Mount Blend pods use beans from Brazil, El Salvador, and Colombia.

Flavour Profile & Tasting Notes

The tasting notes include milk chocolate, red grapes and caramel.

In the espresso, the first thing I got was the caramel sweetness.

It instantly made espresso feel smoother.

Then the milk chocolate followed up, giving it a nice creamy body.

Right near the finish, I tasted red grapes flashing through the coffee.

It was not too fruity.

Just enough to stop the cup from feeling too flat or boring.

Roast Level

These pods are medium roast, which gives a very well-rounded cup.

Price & Value for Money

It costs £6.50 for 10 pods.

Even though the pricing feels high, you get premium flavours with compostable coffee pods.

Customer Feedback

Louise B feedback: 

‘’Great coffee beans, fit the described flavour profile’’ 

Roger H feedback:

‘’I was super impressed. Brilliant service and the best coffee I’ve purchased online this year ’’

Verdict

These pods are for everyday coffee drinkers who want convenience without sacrificing flavour.

Score: (90/100)

Decaf Coffee Pods

I know you guys are probably wondering why I even bothered testing decaf pods in this Volcano Coffee Works compostable pods review.

And honestly? It's a fair question.

Because most decaf pods taste flat, dull and have zero personality.

But here’s the thing, sometimes you just want a warm, comforting coffee late at night.

But without the fear of lying awake all night, questioning every life decision you made since 2017.

And that is actually one of the biggest pros of decaf pods.

No sleeplessness or jitters or anxiety spikes.

So for this Volcano Coffee Works review I used the same Nespresso Original Line machines, mainly the De’Longhi Creatista Plus and Breville Creatista Plus.

In the espresso, I got a soft, dark chocolate flavour on the first sip.

This was followed by a light maple syrup sweetness.

Near the end, a hint of tiny green grapes made the cup feel light and easy.

As a lungo, the whole thing became much creamier.

The chocolate softened, and the sweetness came through.

What I Like

• Flavourful decaf coffee

• Smooth dark chocolate finish

• Compostable pods

What I Don’t Like

• Lighter body than caffeinated espresso

• Less punchy than darker espresso pods

Bean Origin & Sourcing

These decaf pods use Brazilian beans processed through the sugarcane decaf method.

The sugarcane decaf gives it a better flavour.

Flavour Profile & Tasting Notes

The tasting notes are maple syrup, green grape and dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate came through first.

It had a deep cocoa flavour, which made the espresso feel really rich.

Better than most decaf coffees I have tried so far.

It also had a soft maple sweetness, with a slight green-grape flavour in the cup.

That tiny bit of fruitiness made the coffee refreshing.

It still stayed smooth and flavourful.

Roast Level

These lean towards medium-dark, but it feels softer than most darker decaf pods.

Price & Value for Money

These pods cost around £6.50 for 10 pods.

Customer Feedback

Rebecca L Feedback: 

‘’Great coffee and arrived quickly ’’

Nathan T Feedback:

‘’Brilliant coffee, with a range of blends that I really like.’’

Verdict

If you guys like a comforting cup of coffee at night, these pods are worth a try.

Score: 88/100

Volcano Coffee Works Subscription Review

Nobody talks about how most coffee subscriptions are so complicated that they become an unwanted burden on your wallet.

Hence, I decided to include a Volcano Coffee Works subscription review for you guys as well.

Luckily, Volcano’s coffee subscriptions are quite simple.

It doesn't feel like it's forcing you guys into auto-payments for something you won’t even enjoy.

Roaster's Choice Subscription — What You Get

The Roaster’s Choice subscription is for those of you who get bored drinking the same coffee every month.

You basically get a different speciality coffee selected by their roasters and delivered regularly.

Sounds fun, right? Like a little surprise waiting for you every new month.

Bean & Ground Subscription Options

Volcano Coffee Works has quite a few bean and ground coffee subscriptions.

One thing I really appreciate is that you’re not limited to one flavour style.

You can choose the blend depending on your mood.

Pod Subscription Options

Honestly, my favourite thing in this Volcano Coffee Works pods review is their build-your-own-box subscription.

You can add your own flavours and skip what you don't like. 

Pretty amazing, right?

Price & Value for Money

Compared to other speciality coffee brands, Volcano Coffee Works pricing seems pretty reasonable, with really good subscription offers.

You can even choose flexible delivery options every 2, 4, or 6 weeks, as per your convenience.

How It Compares to Other Coffee Subscriptions

Compared to other UK speciality coffee subscriptions, Volcano feels much more approachable overall.

Most coffee subscriptions are not as flexible and simple as this brand.

Volcano Coffee Works actually gives you guys options to choose your subscriptions.

Verdict 

Honestly, these are some of the better subscriptions I have seen so far.

They are simple, flexible and have solid coffee quality.

Score: (89/100)

Volcano Coffee Works Coffee Products Compared

Is Volcano Coffee Works Worth It?

Yes, in my opinion, Volcano Coffee Works is worth it for anyone who prefers well-balanced, well-rounded coffee.

It is simple, smooth, and very easy to enjoy without tasting boring or too commercial.

The pods surprised me even more.

If you care about sourcing, compostable packaging, and small-batch roasting, this brand is for you.

But for those of you, who like to go with darker roasts, this might feel a bit too safe flavour-wise.

For you, there are many other Espresso Coffee Beans, you can look into.

And if you prefer organic, clean products, this one is not for you either.

Where to Buy Volcano Coffee Works?

If you ask me, the best place to get freshly roasted coffee is directly through the brand's website.

That is where you’ll find everything from beans and pods to subscriptions to their limited coffees, too.

You can also find Volcano Coffee Works on websites like Amazon and Trolley.co.uk.

Some independent coffee shops and speciality retailers stock Volcano too.

But if you want a specific blend or pod subscription, the official website is the best option.

Volcano Coffee Works Alternative — Balance Coffee

If you are someone like me who prefers their coffee well-balanced yet health-focused, you need an alternative brand.

But before I go on more, I want to be transparent with you guys here.

Balance Coffee is my own brand.

So trust me when I tell you, one area where Balance shines more is the health side of speciality coffee.

And honestly, Volcano makes genuinely good speciality coffee, but they don't have organic or health-focused products

They don’t publish mould, mycotoxin, or pesticide testing results.

But we do.

So if you guys specifically care about clean, organic coffee, mould-tested beans, and transparency about what is actually in your coffee.

Then Balance speciality coffee is a better option for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Volcano Coffee Works Good Quality?

Yes, Volcano Coffee Works offers good-quality speciality coffee with a strong focus on freshness, sourcing, and flavour consistency. During testing, the coffees felt balanced, smooth, and properly roasted. Even the compostable pods performed much better than most supermarket coffee pods I have tried recently.

Where Does Volcano Coffee Works Source Its Beans?

Volcano Coffee Works sources beans from several coffee-growing regions, including Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, and Tanzania. The company works closely with many smaller farms and long-term producer partnerships, which helps keep sourcing and quality more consistent across its speciality coffee range.

Is Volcano Coffee Works Ethically Sourced?

Yes, Volcano Coffee Works places a strong focus on ethical sourcing and long-term relationships with farmers. The company openly discusses paying above Fairtrade prices and supporting farms that invest in sustainability, community projects, and better environmental practices, rather than simply buying the cheapest coffee available.

Is Volcano Coffee Works B Corp Certified?

Yes, Volcano Coffee Works became B Corp certified in 2021. This certification means the company meet standards for sustainability, ethical business practices, environmental responsibility, and community impact. It also reflects the brand’s wider focus on responsible sourcing and lower-waste packaging initiatives.

Does Volcano Coffee Works Offer A Subscription?

Yes, Volcano Coffee Works offers subscriptions for coffee beans, ground coffee, and compostable pods. You can choose a delivery schedule based on how often you drink coffee. The subscription system is also flexible, allowing you to pause, change, or cancel your orders when needed.

Are Volcano Coffee Works Pods Nespresso Compatible?

Yes, Volcano Coffee Works pods are compatible with Original Nespresso machines as well as Opal and Dualit capsule systems. However, they do not work with Vertuo machines, so it is important to check your coffee machine model before ordering the pods.

What Is The Best Volcano Coffee Works Product To Try First?

Honestly, the Mount Blend is probably the easiest place to start for most people. It has a smooth, balanced flavour with notes of milk chocolate, caramel, and red grapes. The lower acidity also makes it very approachable for everyday speciality coffee drinking.

Conclusion

Honestly, after spending weeks putting together the Volcano Coffee Works Review, I can see why they have such a loyal following.

Volcano Coffee Works deserves its popularity.

Their coffee is smooth, flavourful, and genuinely enjoyable to drink daily.

Their compostable pods are up to the mark too.

So if you guys prefer a speciality flavour, café-style espresso, Volcano does a really solid job.

But if you specifically want speciality, organic, and healthy coffee, then Balance Coffee should be your next try.

Because your choice should always align with your values.