A RURAL Welsh coffee roastery has been named among the world’s best destinations to experience coffee culture.

Coaltown Coffee in Ammanford is one of 16 UK roasteries and cafes featured in travel guide Lonely Planet’s new Global Coffee Tour book.

The firm is expanding from simply being a coffee supplier to opening a “suave roastery”, cafe and barista training school to make the town “famous for black gold again”, the book states.

The roastery, run by Scott James, 24, was praised for “rejuvenating the town with a different sort of black gold” - referencing Ammanford’s mining history.

Scott said it was an honour to be named amongst prestigious company.

He said: “They contacted us and wanted to interview us to see what we are all about.

“They came down, saw the roastery and saw our future plans and asked if we would be interested in being featured in the book.

“We jumped at the chance, it is a fantastic opportunity for us.

“It was a chance for us to put Wales, and particularly Ammanford, on the map which is awesome.

“It is absolutely incredible to be featured alongside such amazing roasters from across the world.”

Coaltown’s Black Gold coffee was voted in the top five coffee’s by Lonely Planet guide.

It is that coffee that provides the foundation of the business, though Coaltown are branching out with a number of naturally flavoured coffees.

Customers can enjoy the tastes of strawberry, chocolate, or even tobacco.

Coffee-loving tourists are advised to seek out “small, indie cafes” such as Colonna and Small’s, Bath; Bold St Coffee, Liverpool, Climpson and Sons, London, and Espressini, Falmouth.

The UK also boasts a “growing list of top-notch small-batch microroasters”, according to the guide, while Edinburgh, Manchester and London all host major coffee festivals.

The book, which features the best roasteries and cafes across five continents, adds: “The story of coffee is intertwined with the history, economy and culture of so many different countries that to understand it fully requires a coffee tour.”