In 1696, William III introduced the Window Tax, a way of taxing property based on the number of windows it had. The idea was simple: the more windows meant a bigger, more valuable house. Some homeowners responded by bricking theirs up, trading light and a view of the world for a lower tax bill.
In the last 21 years, Mozzo’s growth hasn’t exactly been measured in panes of glass, but there’s a certain juxtaposition in celebrating our anniversary through the lens of windows.
We started out in a windowless basement, serving coffee from a Tuk Tuk on the streets of Southampton. Today, we roast coffee at our own state-of-the-art roastery with 31 windows, using some of the most advanced machinery in the country.
At certain times of the day, those windows stop being windows. The light catches the glass and turns them into mirrors. Suddenly, you’re not looking out at the world, but back at what’s in front of you. It’s a small shift in perspective, perhaps, but one that feels right for an anniversary. Because looking back at 21 years of Mozzo means holding two things in view at once: where we started and where we are now.
THE BIRTH
2005: Coffee cart and an idea
- In 2005, our founder, Grant Lang, uses his student finance loan to buy a coffee cart and sets about transforming it into a wind-and-solar powered Tuk Tuk, serving great coffee on the streets of Southampton. The Tuk Tuk showcases work by local artists, while customers vote on which local social causes Mozzo supports each month.
- The idea was there from the very beginning: to create a community hub built around coffee, art and connection. But our little Tuk Tuk needed a name. Looking up the Italian word for ‘hub’, we discovered Mozzo and knew we’d found it.
- With coffees from Mexico and Tanzania, we create our first-ever Mozzo Red Label Espresso Blend, now known as HOUSE.
2006: Coffee cart #2
- The idea gathers momentum as we launch our second coffee cart in partnership with Coventry University, made possible by the support and vision of the artist Liz Read.
2007: Into the basement
- We move into our first office: a basement with precisely zero windows. Not much of a view, but a place to get the business off the ground. From here, we begin sharing Mozzo coffee with independent hospitality businesses across Hampshire.
2009: Mozzo World 1.0
- We move into what will soon become our first roastery, giving us more room to grow and develop our coffee. Then comes a lucky break – a highly regarded 5-star London hotel chooses Mozzo as its coffee partner. That relationship is still going strong in 2026.
THE BUILD
2010: First roaster
- Our first roaster, a 12kg Probat, made possible by the belief and backing of Zac Cogan and his organisation (since sold), CAS. We begin roasting our own coffee, gaining greater control over quality and consistency.
- Mozzo starts getting noticed across London and the South of England, with our coffee appearing everywhere from Kew Gardens to the National Theatre, alongside a growing network of high-quality independent cafes and restaurants.
2011: Second blend
- Raw coffee prices jump from $1.40/lb to $3.00+ in 6 months. It’s a stark reminder of the challenges facing a growing coffee business. As a response, we launch Green Label, now known as CLASSIC blend. Since its launch, it has grown into our second most popular product by volume.
2012: More capacity
- A second roaster arrives: a 25kg Probat, alongside our first automated packaging machine.
- Black Label Espresso is launched, now called SIGNATURE, and completes our core range of espresso blends – our iconic trio.
2014: Life-changing trip to the DRC
- We take a step into the unknown, travelling to remote and challenging parts of eastern DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) to meet coffee-growing communities, often overlooked by the wider coffee industry. We return with a deeper understanding of the challenges facing farming communities and a determination to do more.
2015: The C2C Fund is born
- We launch the Community2Community (C2C) Fund to underpin our entire business model, the Fund grows with every coffee sale, turning our commitment to coffee-growing communities into action. The Fund begins supporting the Muungano project in eastern DRC, laying the foundations for a model that connects everyday coffee purchases with long-term positive change for the people and places behind our coffee.
2017: Bonjour, France!
- We launch in France through our partnership with citizenM hotels. A new country, new community and another opportunity to bring our coffee to a wider audience.
2018: Roaster #3
- Growth calls for greater capacity, so we install our third roaster – a 60kg Probat. Another milestone in our journey towards supplying more coffee partners while maintaining the quality and consistency our coffee is known for.
2019: Mozzo World 2.0
- We move into our second roastery, our new home for roasting and operations. It’s a major step forward, with the space and infrastructure to support the next stage of our growth.
- The world changes. When hospitality shuts down during the pandemic, we lose 97% of our revenue in a single month.
- Despite Covid19, we make a commitment to build the first-ever maternity and paediatric clinic on the Island of Idjwi, DRC in partnership with Rebuild Women’s Hope coffee cooperative.
2020: Ouch
- The world changes. When hospitality shuts down during the pandemic, we lose 97% of our revenue in a single month.
- Decision time: 15 years in the bun or fight to survive, we choose to survive and spend the next 6 years rebuilding the business.
THE REBIRTH
2020: The Hospital of Hope and going online
- We launch our direct-to-consumer website, giving coffee drinkers a way to order directly from us.
- Despite the financial hardship, we find a way to fulfil our commitment to bild the first-ever maternity & paediatric clinic on the island of Idjwi. Through investment from our C2C Fund, the Hospital of Hope opens on Idjwi Island in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In partnership with the Rebuild Women’s Hope coffee cooperative, we open the first-ever maternity and paediatric clinic on the island.
2021: Across the Atlantic and our first Mozzo Coffee Bar opening
- We launch in the USA through our partnership with citizenM hotels, taking our coffee into a new market and opening the door to further international growth.
- In Paris, our first Mozzo Coffee Bar opens, bringing the brand to life in a new format.
2022: New identity
- Rebuilding means more than recovering lost revenue. It means getting clear about who we are and where we want to go.
- We rebrand Mozzo, creating an identity that better reflects our values and aspirations: to be a force for positive change. A new look for business with a deeper purpose.
2023: Mozzo coffee bars
- Our coffee bar journey continues in London, bringing Mozzo to more people. Our partnership with citizenM continues to help us reach customers around the world.
2025: Industrial IMF Roaster installed
- We install our roaster #4, a 120kg IMF roaster, currently the largest IMF made roaster in the UK. Its hot-air recirculation technology gives us greater control over the roasting process while helping reduce gas consumption and emissions.
2026: New York, here we come
- We open our second coffee bar in New York.
2026: £200,000 for coffee-growing communities
- The C2C Fund passes £200,000 in contributions, supporting projects that respond to the needs of the coffee-farming communities.
2026: £80,000 raised for the Hospital of Hope extension
- We reach our $80,000 target for an intensive care unit and operating theatre at the Hospital of Hope on Idjwi Island. The project will expand the hospital's capacity to provide essential care for mothers and children.
2026: Next phase of Mozzo World
- Phase two of infrastructure development begins at our roastery, continuing our investment in the facilities that support our coffee and the business around it.
21 years on
From a wind- and solar-powered Tuk-Tuk on the streets of Southampton to a roastery with serious capacity and growing customer base who choose a coffee that truly makes a difference, Mozzo has come a long way since 2005.
We've weathered difficult years, have done plenty of rebuilding and found new ways to connect people through coffee. And still have plenty to figure out. But coffee has always been our vehicle for change; that is what drives us forward. And when you choose Mozzo, you’re part of it too… every sip you enjoy is helping us create tangible opportunities for coffee-growing communities and work towards a fairer world through business. Thank you. Here’s to the next 21 years of coffee, community and connection.