Thomson's Today

We take immense pride in being an independent Scottish family business with a rich heritage. Our guiding principles have always been quality and integrity, echoing the pioneering spirit David Thomson embodied. While we honor our past, we are not confined by it. We have modernized our operations by investing in cutting-edge roasting technology, ensuring the coffees we produce are of the highest quality, with verified provenance.

Our team, comprising both long-standing members and new talents, is our greatest asset. We continue to offer training programs that build on decades of expertise, keeping us at the forefront of roasting coffee and serving our ever-loyal customers.

1841

The Vision

In 1841, 24-year-old David Thomson, a passionate tea and coffee merchant from Edinburgh, made a bold move. He relocated with his young family to Glasgow, setting up his inaugural shop on St Vincent Street. Remarkably, at this point in history, the American Civil War was still two decades away, and innovations like the car, the telephone, and the electric light bulb were yet to see the light of day.

1841 – 1888

An Institution Emerges

Thomson’s Coffee didn't take long to become an integral part of Glasgow's social and business scene. The shop started supplying freshly ground coffee to Glasgow’s bustling coffee houses.During the early 1840s, David Thomson also took to manufacturing the Naperian vacuum coffee pot, invented by another Scot, James Napier. The innovative coffee pots were an instant hit and shipped worldwide, laying the foundation for modern syphon brewers.

1892 – 1960

The Legacy Continues

After David Thomson's passing in 1892 at the age of 75, William Addison, who had been managing the shop for the Thomson family, took over. Under Addison's guidance and later, that of his descendants, the business switched locations multiple times but always stayed true to its mission of providing high-quality coffee.
Thomsons coffee roasters and tea blenders storefront with green awning

1960 – 2005

A Modern Era

Responding to the growing demand, Thomson’s constructed a custom-designed roastery on Glasgow’s Southside, where it still operates today. During this period, Thomson's expanded its reach by opening stores in Ayr, Edinburgh, and Troon.

2005 – 2011

New Beginnings

The iconic Thomson’s store on Renfield Street closed in 2005, and the Addison brothers retired. The business went up for sale in 2009 and in 2011, the Jenkins family stepped in, becoming only the third family to own this esteemed Glasgow institution since its inception.

2015

Embrace The Future

In 2015, Thomson's achieved a pivotal milestone with the installation of Scotland's first Loring Kestrel S35 roaster, a modern counterpart to our vintage Whitmee roaster. This transformative investment allowed us to focus on roasting in smaller, more specialized batches. Consequently, we launched our Core and LAB ranges—carefully curated collections that reaffirmed our position at the forefront of specialty coffee.

2018-2019

Return to the City

Thomson's marked a triumphant return to Glasgow's retail scene when we launched a popup café in the first arch of the city's iconic Glasgow Arches. This reopening signified our first retail endeavor in the city since the closing of our renowned Renfield shop a decade and a half earlier and although the popup was a brief venture, it set the stage for future expansions and further solidified our commitment to serving Glasgow's coffee aficionados

2020

1841 - Westend

In collaboration with Grant Dick, a longtime friend and former Thomson's team member, we launched 1841 amid the height of lockdown. Situated in the tranquil atmosphere of Glasgow's Westend, 1841 serves as a community-focused café. This initiative represented a significant new chapter in our expanding retail presence, reaffirming our commitment to quality coffee and community engagement.

2022

Thomson's Giffnock

In response to rapid growth at our roastery, and the exciting addition of our in-house bakery venture, Burnfield Bakery, we proudly opened the award-winning Thomson's HQ in Giffnock, just a brief stroll from our warehouse. This modern space hosts our top-floor offices and showroom, while the ground level is home to our flagship espresso bar and retail shop. a comprehensive Thomson's experience for both team members and customers alike.