Getting to know Josh Brown - Commercial Director of WatchHouse.
What’s the story behind WatchHouse and how did it all start?
WatchHouse started in Bermondsey, London in 2014 with a clear ambition: to build spaces where coffee, design and hospitality are taken seriously. From the very beginning, the focus was on quality and experience in equal measure.
As we’ve grown across London and into New York, that principle has remained constant. Every new House is an extension of that original idea, just refined.
Can you share more about your approach to sourcing and roasting coffee?
Our sourcing is built on long term relationships and transparency, looking to grow our relationships and purchasing from origins in step with our own growth. In practice this means we work closely with producers and import partners on coffees that show clarity, structure and character as well as innovation in agronomy and processing.
Roasting is handled in House, with a wide QC program to ensure consistency across all formats. The goal is simple: to respect the work done at origin and present it with precision, whether it’s brewed in House, at home, or as a capsule.
What motivated WatchHouse to explore the capsule coffee format?
Capsules are about meeting guests where they are. We wanted to offer the same standard of coffee that people experience in our Houses; quality coffee in a different context. The coffees are selected and profiled specifically for capsule brewing, ensuring they hold their character and balance.
We all have our morning routines, and coffee is often a crucial part of it. What is your morning ritual like?
Mornings start at home, with a batch brew while I’m walking my dog Barney and saying bye to the kids. Once I’m in House, I’ll look to taste across the spectrum of the six core coffees we’re currently showcasing and checking in with our Food and Coffee teams in London and New York. It keeps me close to the product and how it’s showing up across the business.
What are you most excited about right now and for the future of WatchHouse as a brand and business?
We’re focused on building depth and expertise as much as scale. That means strengthening our producer relationships, continuing to invest in our roasting capability, and ensuring every House operates with confidence and clarity - always with the guest in focus.
