Collection: Rascal 🇬🇧

The Story of Rascal: A London Roaster with Guatemalan Roots

Rascal is a London roaster with a deeply Guatemalan soul. Behind the brand is Alexandra "Alex" Dalton, the sixth generation of a family for whom coffee is more than a trade: it is a story spanning a century and a half, several countries and many crises.

The Origins: The Legacy of a Family of Pioneers

It all began in the 1860s in Guatemala. As the cochineal-based economy collapsed, Alex's great-great-great-grandfather, Manuel Matheu Sinibaldi, obtained land in Antigua in 1864 to devote it to a crop that was still emerging: coffee. He planted the region's first coffee trees, then travelled to London to sell the family's first harvest. His success would make him a major figure in the development of coffee growing in Guatemala.

Generations Shaped by Coffee

The story then continues in El Salvador, where Alex's parents grew up on neighbouring farms. Coffee shaped their daily lives, forged their values and their bond with the land. This culture of a job well done, passed down from generation to generation, would become the very soul of Rascal.

Alex, born in Guatemala, spent her childhood between Central America, Miami and then the United Kingdom. This path gave her a rare dual understanding: the socio-economic realities of producing countries and the expectations of European consumers.

The Birth of Rascal: A New Vision of Coffee

Coffee Bird: The Professional Roots

Before founding Rascal, Alex worked with her mother and sister at Coffee Bird, a family importer specialising in direct trade Guatemalan coffee. For years, they built close relationships with producers, supported quality projects and committed to fair pay.

This closeness to the farms and local communities would become Rascal's ethical and human foundation.

2020: The Decisive Year

In 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, Alex decided to create Rascal in Hackney, East London. The name reflects the brand's character: cheeky, playful, attached to its roots but determined to shake up the conventions of specialty coffee.

Rascal focuses exclusively on coffee from Guatemala, a bold choice that shines a light on the richness, diversity and history of a single territory. This single-origin approach is an open tribute to the Dalton family and their deep ties with Guatemalan producers.

A Committed, Accessible Brand

A Direct, Transparent Model

Rascal works directly with the farms, often the same ones for several generations. This relationship of trust allows fairer pay, more stability for producers and coffees of very consistent quality.

Alex also insists on one point: coffee should remain a pleasure, not a test of competence. Unlike some of the elitist discourse in specialty coffee, Rascal stands for a relaxed approach. The best coffee is the one each person enjoys drinking, whether black, sweet or with milk.

A Visual Identity Rooted in Mayan Culture

Rascal's visual world draws on Guatemalan culture. The bags feature patterns inspired by traditional textiles and Mayan symbols. The illustrations are made by a Guatemalan artist, further strengthening the link between the brand and its origins.

Rascal also works with a local seamstress to turn traditional fabrics into bags and accessories, supporting craftsmanship and communities.

Rascal Today: A Living Heritage

Rascal is both a continuation and a reinvention of more than 150 years of family history. By taking up the torch, Alex Dalton offers a modern vision of Guatemalan coffee: committed, joyful, transparent and deeply human.