Why New Ground is the Best Cafe in Oxford | Mates of the Month

In honour of B Corp Month, we wanted to take the opportunity to spotlight another local B Corp for March’s Mates of the Month. Just down the road from our Y.O.U Oxford Shop is the wonderful New Ground on Ship Street, where they’re brewing up coffee with conviction. At New Ground, they believe that coffee can go beyond the cup and can be used as a catalyst for change, which, in our opinion, makes theirs the best coffee in Oxford! We reached out to the team to find out more about the mission behind their espressos! 

What does ethical coffee mean?

New Ground is leading the charge for ethical coffee, as the 8th coffee roaster in the UK to become B Corp certified. Using only ethically sourced, high-grade coffee and working with small-scale farms around the world, New Ground is working hard to be a force for good, meeting B Corp’s high standards for social and environmental impact. Y.O.U Underwear shares the B Corp pride with New Ground, having re-certified last year. For more information on what being a B Corp means, check out our recent blog!

Coffee shop with a mission

A central part of New Ground’s mission is their focus on creating employment opportunities for ex-offenders across the UK. Through their charity, the New Ground Foundation, they work to reduce the rate of reoffending, by going into UK prisons to provide in-depth coffee and barista training, equipping people with industry-standard skills and an understanding of the coffee process from farm to cup. They support prisoners with upcoming release dates to secure employment ahead of time, working with their industry network, as employment is proven to be one of the most effective ways to reduce chances of reoffending. 

People are also at the heart of Y.O.U Underwear’s mission. Our story began when our founder, Sarah, visited Uganda in 2016 and was struck by the number of women without access to underwear, and our Buy One Give One model was born.

A small business for the local community

One thing we love about New Ground is their strong community focus. Last year they launched On The Run Club. A social run club in Oxford, ending the route with great coffee - what could be better? All about community over competition, New Ground’s running club is for those wanting to run with a laid-back, supportive crowd.

And, finally, in this coffee addict’s opinion, the BEST roast in Oxford.

If you’re in Oxford, make sure to check out New Ground on Ship Street for a brilliant cup of coffee. New Ground Coffee has just been commended for Fair Work at the Oxfordshire B Local Spotlight, where Y.O.U Underwear was spotlighted for our work in Human Rights, so now is the perfect time to go and show them your support.

For more recommendations, keep reading with our previous Mates of the Month:

Meeting the Schoolchildren Running the Show at Eco Kiddies | You Underwear

Is Water Free Skincare the Key to Long Lasting Hydration? Neve's Bees'

Y.O.U Loves: Our Top Sustainable Picks This Month

Author: Evie Tucker, Comms and Retail Team, Y.O.U Underwear