Coburn and Baker Opens New Café in Bevendean with Views into the Working Bakery

A Bakery Success Story

It all started by accident nearly 30 years ago when Joab Coburn walked into Food for Friends in Brighton looking for work as a kitchen porter. What happened next changed the course of his career. "They said, 'We're actually looking for a chef — can you cook?'" he recalls. "So I made a meal, the kind I would make at home with my mum. And they said, 'Yeah, you've got the job'."

That chance encounter blossomed into a thriving business. Today, Coburn and Baker employs 45 people and operates six vans that deliver fresh bread and pastries across Sussex every morning. The bakery has become a trusted supplier to some of Brighton's most beloved cafés and restaurants, including Café Coho and Trading Post.

A Window into Artisan Baking

After five years operating from Hyde Business Park in Bevendean, Coburn and Baker has just opened a brand new café inside its headquarters — adding another exciting chapter to the bakery's story. What sets this café apart is its unique feature: a window that looks directly into the working bakery next door.

Customers can now watch skilled bakers shaping dough, filling trolleys with golden croissants, and loading the ovens with fresh loaves. It's a rare opportunity to see the craft and care that goes into every item produced by the bakery, transforming a simple coffee stop into an educational and inspiring experience.

Affordable Quality

Beyond the theatrical appeal of watching bakers at work, the café also offers something increasingly rare in Brighton's café scene: genuinely affordable prices. A flat white costs just £3, making quality coffee accessible to everyone in the community.

The menu features a range of freshly made delights, from croissants to sandwiches, all made using the bakery's own baked goods. The café also boasts a lovely outdoor seating area, perfect for enjoying your breakfast or lunch while taking in the Bevendean location.

Building Community

Joab Coburn's journey from accidental chef to owner of a major artisan bakery reflects the kind of grassroots success story that makes Brighton's food scene special. By opening this new café, Coburn and Baker is inviting the local community to become part of their story — to see the dedication that goes into each loaf and pastry, and to enjoy quality food without breaking the bank.

For residents of Bevendean and beyond, the new café represents more than just another place to grab coffee. It's a chance to connect with a local business that has grown organically over three decades, and to appreciate the artistry of traditional baking.

Source: Meet the owners behind new café where you can see bakers work and coffee is £3