[9][10]In the autumn of 2011, Coffee#1 was bought by the Cardiff brewery company SA Brain, who wished to diversify from their pub business.

[11] In April 2015 the company opened their 50th outlet, in Fareham, Hampshire, giving them a total workforce of 380.

[12] At the end of 2015 the chain included 57 coffee shops across Wales and parts of southern and central England.

[6] In mid-2018, SA Brain announced that they wished to sell a majority stake in Coffee#1, after a strategic review.

Caffè Nero bought a 70% stake in the business, which at that time had 92 outlets, in January 2019,[13] and took full ownership in February 2022.