We've brought our sustainable coffee brand to Sunderland train station

Named after the Spanish word for Caribbean, Caribe has just completed its first month of trading in the Southern entrance to the city centre station.

It’s currently the only food and drink operator trading within the entrance, which reopened in December 2023 following a £27m revamp, but Caribe business development manager Quincy Docherty says he hopes they will be joined by others.

“It always has to start with one and it would be fantastic to see this place full of local businesses that people want to buy from. We keep calling it a station, but that is downstairs, we should see this area more as an indoor market and we really want to play our part in building that up.

“Word is still getting out there that we’re here, but we’re pleased with how it’s gone so far, we’ve sold 1300 cups of coffee in the first month.”

Last month, City Central MP Lewis Atkinson wrote to Network Rail about the new station entrance, citing a “failure over the last two years to deliver the functioning station that the people of Sunderland deserve”.

Posting on his social media pages, however, the MP praised Caribe, saying the independent business is an important step forward, and said he will push for more facilities and life at the station such as this.

Caribe, which brews all its coffee with Arabica beans from Honduras, was founded by husband and wife team Will and Ellie Carcamo who met on the Cayman Islands.

Will hails from Honduras and grew up on a coffee farm in the Central American country, giving him a great understanding of good coffee, as well as the farms where the beans are harvested.

After he moved to Ellie’s native North East with their son, they launched their business to bring great coffee to the North East - as well as supporting farmers who produce the beans in an eco-friendly way - and they even pitched their idea on Dragon’s Den.

Caribe cuts out the coffee brokers and, instead, deals directly with the farmers themselves to give them a fairer price.

The cups and coffee bags used are also fully compostable and their coffee vans 100% electric.

Caribe, which has its roastery and warehouse in Morpeth, originally started life for the wholesale market, as well as pop ups at markets, but more recently expanded into grab and go kiosks.

“The idea has always been to create great grab ‘n’ go coffee with great chat, instead of sit in coffee shops,” said Quincy.

Sunderland is their second kiosk in the North East and they’re in talks for a third.

Speaking about what appealed about Sunderland, Quincy said: “We have links to this area. Ellie is originally from Seaham and her dad, Fred McIver, actually used to play for Sunderland.

“I’m from Sunderland myself and all the regeneration in the area really fits in with what we want to bring to the coffee market.

“I moved away in 1998 but coming back to Sunderland has made me appreciate just how friendly it is, with a strong sense of community. There’s been a couple of negative comments about the station, but other than that people have been so welcoming and say they’re glad to have us here.”

Caribe serves a range of coffees, including nitro cold brew, with prices starting from £2.50 for an Americano. You can also pick up a range of snacks, cookies and cold drinks.

Caribe is open Monday to Saturdays from 8am to 5pm and Sundays from 8am to 4pm.

The train station entrance also hosts Mackem Market, featuring unique gifts, artists and local goods, every Friday from 10am to 2pm.