About Us
Our Story
Founded with a vision to create premium coffee while empowering communities, our brand is intricately connected to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our goal is to maintain complete control over our supply chain from the beginning, cultivating and sourcing our own beans to ensure unparalleled quality and ethical practices. Our commitment to sustainability and social responsibility will be woven into every aspect of our operations, from eco-friendly packaging to fair-trade initiatives. We envision a world where quality and conscience go hand in hand, creating a positive ripple effect that benefits our customers and our communities.
Creator’s Legacy
The inspiration behind our brand comes from a passionate individual, James Mbemba, whose dedication to sustainable and ethical coffee production was unwavering. While James lived in the United Kingdom for the majority of his life, he was heavily influenced by his Congolese father and his close roots in the DRC inspired James’s love for coffee and commitment to social justice.
Sadly, he passed away in 2021, but his legacy lives on through this brand. In his will, James entrusted his fortune to bringing this vision to life, ensuring that his commitment to social justice and environmental stewardship would continue to make a meaningful impact. By channelling his resources and passion into this brand, we honour his memory and strive to fulfil his dream of delivering the finest coffee while uplifting the communities in the Congo.
Following James’s vision, we named our brand Liloes as a tribute to a woman who inspired James’s most admirable qualities – his mother, Liliane Oesterlein. Although she passed away when James was just a young man, her passion, generosity and genuine spirit were infused in his character and guided every decision he made and will continue to be the grounding values that drive Liloes Coffee.