James Fisher founded Clifton Coffee in Bristol in 2001, initially servicing espresso machines before Ed Buston joined and expanded the business into wholesale. Several of their earliest multi site customers in Bristol remain clients over two decades later. In 2013, Clifton invested in an in house production roastery and a training facility that was among the first of its kind in the UK. By 2022, it had become Bristol's largest roasted coffee wholesaler, supplying around 850 customers including specialty shops, Michelin starred restaurants, and five star hotels across the UK, EU, and Middle East. Ninety percent of the coffee is bought directly from origin through the company's own sourcing relationships. Clifton achieved B Corporation certification in 2023 and holds SCA Premier Campus status.