Speciality coffee shop based in the Swindon focused on quality of everything from coffee, tea, hot chocolate and more
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I guess we should tell you a bit about us!
Stephen - Owner /Barista I’ve worked in hospitality for about 23 years now, starting out simply in a department store restaurant, clearing tables and serving people. I stayed for about two and half years before getting a job within the council, working in their catering department. After six years I was asked to manage my own site. This was the first time I ever encountered a “proper coffee machine”. Not fazed (OK a little bit) by the lack of training I took to Youtube to learn all about coffee. For about 2 years I was completely self taught. After that time I was appointed assistant manager at well known Speciality coffee chain Harris + Hoole where I gained a lot of training, in London, on speciality coffee before working in the Swindon store for about a year.
I left Harris + Hoole to join my dream job…..….. Ok it’s this one! I was lucky enough to work as a barista for 3 and half years before having the opportunity to become owner of Darkroom Espresso in March 2019
Dakota - Queen Dee of Darkroom, our head of front of house is a busy bee from keeping our staff (sometimes me) in line she also somehow finds time to play in a very successful local band who played Truck festival this year.
Toby - T.T has been with us for 2 years now and has become one of the most prominent faces in Darkroom, has worked hard to train himself to become our Mr handy man, is either making coffee, charming customers or fiddling with grinders.
Ellie - Has been with us for 3 years now! started off so shy!! we do wonder where that girl has gone ;). Our funniest member of staff (sometimes they much unintentionally) who has earned herself the title of queen of closes (to her annoyance)
Kate - Kate was one of my first member of staff back in 2019 when i took over, she very much was the mum of the group back then and has been on maternity leave twice since then. Second time round for almost 3 years, she rejoins the team this time no longer as front of house but now as a barista. She joins the team up at our Old Town pop up. while this is a new challenge for Kate, before she joined Darkroom she used to be a Barista trainer for a local cafe.
Ella - Our youngest member of staff Ella joined us in the summer of 2024 and has been working Saturdays ever since, not fazed by pressure she works brilliantly with other front of house staff member Ellie. I swear though if i have to hear about a labubu again on a busy Saturday shift i may lose it :P
Molly - Molly has been with us for a while now and she’s bundle of joy and brings the perfect energy to the room. Molly is unique in the fact that she is the one of the only members of staff who didn’t interview for her job. She was a Friday regular while at collage and we thought her energy was just right for Darkroom so…….we offered her a job! We often joke if you want a job in Darkroom just sit in for long enough & we will eventually offer! proof if you ever did need it.
Emilia - Long time customer of Darkroom, i remember her from the days when i was just a barista, she joined my team of Barista’s at the same time as Toby in July 2023. However she left in September 2024 to move back home to Poland where she has just brought property. She’s now back for a bit and is the main driving force behind the Old town after making a joke at the Tattoo show that then turned into a serious idea, all this to get her job back! honestly!
Oliwia- Joined us in September 2024 as a Barista, replacing Emilia when she moved back Poland, funnily enough Oliwia is also from the same area of Poland as Emilia! she had been working as barista Starbucks before joining us and is somewhat of a latte art master and is pushing me to be better haha.
Chloe - Another long time customer, Chloe joined the team in Summer of 2025, shes a little pocket rocket and her positive energy is infectious. Just watch out she is a bit of an up selling queen. she has a love for the theatre what is music to my ears as i have someone to share my musical theatre love with :P
Jaye - Joined us in September 2025 as new barista, hired to work up in the Old Town pop up, so go say hi. I first got to know Jaye when i went to Society Cafe in Cheltenham where he was working at the time, he was serving me and in front of best friend Gemma and said “nice to see you outside of Swindon” and i was a bit confused at first until i realised Jaye was also a Darkroom customer! he is a wiz Graphics and has already done a few small jobs for us.
