End of summer SALE. Use code SUMMER25 to get 15% off sitewide. Valid until 31st August.
We roast every Monday and Wednesday, dispatching the next day.
BEHIND THE BEAN
We are S U M O.
We cup. We roast. We deliver.
Sumo Coffee Roasters mission is to create a transparent and ethical coffee business, which highlights and celebrates from the producers and farmers who put their heart and sweat into the craft to the baristas who will produce the finished product and everyone in between.
Our goal is to make sure there is a direct trade and that we paid a fair price to the farmers.
By helping educate the consumers about the farmers craft, by telling the story behind the bean and by doing our best to achieve perfection in our roast, Sumo’s plan is to increase the standard and experience for all involved in the industry, innovating the way forward for coffee.
Sumo Coffee Roasters was founded in the summer of 2020 by World Cup Taster Champion 2019, Daniel Horbat.
About us.
Welcome to Sumo Coffee Roasters! We’re Daniel and Alex, the passionate team behind your next favourite cup of coffee.
Our journey began over 20 years ago when Daniel started working with coffee to pay the bills right after university. What started as a necessity quickly turned into a lifelong passion. In 2012, we moved to Dublin and discovered the world of specialty coffee. An Ethiopian coffee with its floral and fruity notes opened our eyes to the incredible potential of coffee, and we were hooked.
In 2020, when the pandemic turned the world upside down, we found ourselves at a crossroads. We decided to take a leap of faith and pour our hearts (and savings) into opening our own roastery, a long-time dream. Sumo Coffee Roasters was born out of our love for coffee, dedication to quality, and a desire to make a positive impact on the coffee industry.
Our journey started modestly, roasting from home on a tiny 50 g sample roaster Ikawa because our first production roaster was stuck in transit due to lockdowns. We roasted over 300 kg on that little machine until it finally gave out. Then, our first production roaster, a 3 kg Mill City, arrived. Today, we roast on a custom-made Probat P12 III series. Each step of our journey has been driven by our commitment to excellence and the pursuit of the perfect roast.
Daniel’s accolades in the coffee world speak volumes. He’s a three-time Irish Cup Tasting Champion (2016, 2018, and 2019) and the 2019 World Cup Tasters Champion, earning a perfect score in Berlin. This victory wasn’t just a trophy on the shelf; it was a turning point that set us on the path to creating Sumo Coffee Roasters.
Alex, Daniel’s partner in life and business, is the backbone of our operation. With her extensive experience in hospitality, along with her skills in marketing and media, she handles everything from packing, to relationships to business operations. Recently, Alex caught the competition bug herself and began competing in Cup Tasting. Her dedication paid off, as she placed third at the 2024 Irish Nationals, a testament to her growing expertise and passion for coffee.
Together, we make a dynamic team, dedicated to bringing you the best coffee experience possible.
Why "Sumo"?
Sumo Coffee Roasters has a special place in our hearts, rooted deeply in our childhood memories. Growing up in communist Romania, our television time was limited to a few hours a day, with only one or two channels available on our black-and-white TVs. Everything changed after the Romanian Revolution when Daniel’s mother returned from abroad with a colour TV. Daniel vividly remembers being the first among his friends to have one. On this new TV, he discovered sumo wrestling and was captivated by Akebono, the first non-Japanese-born sumo wrestler to achieve the highest rank of Yokozuna
Akebono’s remarkable achievements and larger-than-life presence turned Daniel into a devoted fan. He spent much of his childhood watching sumo instead of cartoons, growing fascinated by the sport’s blend of complexity and simplicity. This early connection to sumo wrestling continues to inspire us and shapes the spirit of Sumo Coffee Roasters today.
Being sumo isn’t just about being big or having strength - sumo wrestling embodies discipline, sacrifice, and respect - values that resonate deeply with us and our approach to coffee. Much like sumo training, preparing for coffee competitions requires a strict regimen, focus, and a whole lot of heart. Daniel, inspired by sumo discipline, won the 2019 World Cup Tasters Championship by dedicating himself to the craft with the same intensity and commitment. He always says that sumo wrestling was one of the things that helped him stay motivated during his competitions - eating plain chicken and rice, no alcoholic drinks at all, no smoking, nor going out for six months and living a simple life, all to win a World Championship.
Sumo also represents the beautiful way coffee connects cultures, traditions, and people in one cup. Here we are, a Romanian duo, living in Ireland, roasting beans from almost all the producing countries, inspired by Japanese culture, and sharing our coffee worldwide. Coffee truly brings people together, and that’s what we celebrate with every roast.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. Whether you’re a coffee newbie or a seasoned connoisseur, we hope our coffee brings a smile to your face and a story to your cup.
Stay caffeinated and curious!
Daniel & Alex 💗