Coffee fans will soon be able to roast their own beans and brew their own coffee as a Stirling business expands.
David McDonald, who owns Stirling Coffee and Burgh Coffeehouse on King Street, has just added a new city centre roastery to his portfolio.
Based in the former Stirling Observer print works at Wellgreen, he plans to open it to the public by summer 2025.
David plans to create the coffee equivalent of a whisky distillery, offering tours and the chance for visitors to create their perfect cup of joe.
People will be able to choose their own beans, roast them and then use the purpose-built espresso lab to brew the coffee.
There will also be live-streamed demonstrations, offering a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes of the enterprise.
The 38-year-old told The Courier that the roastery plans have been in the works for years and he hopes to bring some “quirk and character” to the city.
He said: “We’ve been roasting coffee since 2017 down at STEP [Stirling Enterprise Park], but during lockdown we outgrew STEP and ever since then we’ve been trying to find a building.
“But trying to find a quirky industrial building in Stirling is non-existent.”
When the building came on the market, David knew he had the grounds for celebration.
What was, as he put it, an “early 2000s IKEA office” has been restored back to its former glory and will be the new base for Stirling Coffee’s online sales.
Pigeon-filled space to be renovated
It’s also an exciting time for Burgh Coffeehouse, which is in line for its first major refurbishment in six years.
“There’s a shaft at the back of the building that’s been bricked up since 1950,” David explained.
“At the moment, it’s just full of pigeons. It’s a really weird and funky space.
“We’re going to break into it and turn it into something that’s usable again.”
David decided to open a coffee shop while sitting in cafes unsure of what to do with his life after graduating from Dundee University.
When he realised the answer was quite literally staring him in the face, he returned to his hometown and opened Burgh Coffeehouse.
“Back in the day when we started, Stirling only had four coffee shops  – now there’s 29,” he said.
Burgh will celebrate its 15th anniversary in December, while Stirling Coffee has been operating digitally since 2018.
The cafe – which also sells beans and other at-home coffee essentials – opened in 2021 after online success.
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