Our story
About Ctrl Alt Caffeine
We started out selling mechanical keyboards. Then we noticed everyone at our meetups was holding a coffee.
Where we came from
From keyboards to coffee
Ctrl Alt Caffeine is the coffee side of Prototypist Keyboards, a UK keyboard shop based in West Yorkshire.
Keyboards and coffee have more in common than you'd think. Both are for people who obsess over tiny details: switch weights and grind sizes, lubed stabilisers and latte art, the perfect sound and the perfect shot. Most of our community turned out to care about both. So did we.
We started making coffee for anyone who popped into our weekly Keyboards and Coffee mornings. Then we started roasting it.
2023
Typists Brew: where it started
Sold out in three days.
In 2023 we launched Typists Brew, a coffee made for the keyboard community. That's far better than a keyboard shop's coffee had any right to do, and it showed us there was a real appetite for proper coffee among people who care about the details.
That turned into Jae's Roastory. Now it's Ctrl Alt Caffeine.
Why the new name
A name that finally fits
The old name was built around books. Ctrl Alt Caffeine says what we actually are: keyboard people who take coffee seriously. The coffee in the bag hasn't changed. Same beans, same roast, same care.
How we roast
Specialty coffee, roasted in West Yorkshire
Every bag is roasted locally in West Yorkshire on Loring roasters, in small batches, and sent out fresh.
The range covers light to dark espresso blends, single origins, a Swiss Water decaf and a vegan hot chocolate, in bags from 250g to 1kg, with free UK mainland delivery. Every bag lists its roast level, tasting notes and a brew recipe.
Sustainability
Sustainability, without the waffle
We'd rather tell you exactly what we do than slap "eco-friendly" on the bag.
Carbon offsetting
We offset the carbon emissions from our roasting, packaging and shipping.
Renewable electricity
Our electricity comes from a 100% renewable tariff.
Efficient roasting
Loring roasters burn their own smoke and recirculate their heat. Loring says that uses up to 80% less fuel than a conventional roaster with an afterburner.
Recyclable bags
Our coffee bags are made from recyclable plastic. Check your local council's rules for soft plastics.
Chemical-free decaf
Our decaf uses the Swiss Water Process, with water instead of chemical solvents.
The team
Meet the team
Jae
Founder
Runs Prototypist Keyboards, roasts the coffee and owns more espresso kit than is strictly reasonable.
Sharon
Project manager
Keeps the whole operation on track and our prices sensible.
Mel
Customer experience
Makes sure every order and every question gets looked after properly.
Gigi
Head of Biscuits and Treats
Workshop dog. Quality control is strict and entirely self-appointed.
Come and say hello
Seriously into coffee
We're the sort of people who own lever espresso machines on purpose. We argue about ratios, rest our beans properly and write brew recipes for every coffee we sell.
If you're local, pop into Prototypist Keyboards for a free coffee on our ACS Vostok. If a bag isn't up to scratch, let us know and we'll refund you.
Questions about coffee, wholesale or anything else? Use the form below.