Earlier this year I was introduced to Debbie at Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service in Maidenhead. The charity provides specialist care and vital support to children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, along with their families, across Berkshire, South Buckinghamshire and the surrounding counties.
During our first meeting, Debbie shared some exciting news. The hospice was launching a new fundraising initiative: a mobile coffee truck called Connie. When she asked whether Moneyrow Beans could help, my answer was an immediate yes.
What quickly became apparent was that, although this was our first official meeting, our stories were already connected. But more on that later.
Since that first conversation, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside Debbie and her team to help bring Connie to life. Debbie and the team searched for the perfect vehicle and eventually found her – Connie started her working life as an ambulance featured in TV and film – she even starred in BBC’s ‘Call the Midwife’ series!. Connie took the long journey up to Newcastle for her conversion and in the meantime we got busy with the coffee preparations. The team visited our roastery to taste coffees and create their own signature blend, Compassionate Coffee. We also delivered barista training sessions for volunteers and the coffee team, helping them build the skills and confidence needed for launch day.
The day before Connie officially opened, we visited the hospice to meet her for the first time and make sure everything, and everyone, was ready.
When launch day arrived in September, it was nothing short of magical. The sun was shining, Connie looked absolutely stunning, and there was a real sense of excitement in the air. With plenty of special guests stopping by for coffee and conversation, Debbie and her team did an incredible job making the day such a success.
Connie’s first outing after the launch was at the Maidenhead Coffee Festival, where she was warmly welcomed by the local coffee community. Since then, demand has been growing rapidly, and her diary is filling up with events across the region.
You can also find Connie serving coffee at the hospice during the mornings, helping to create a welcoming space for visitors, families and staff alike.
To keep up with Connie’s latest adventures, follow Compassionate Coffee on Instagram:
Follow Compassionate Coffee on Instagram
A Small World, Connected by Coffee
So how were our stories already intertwined?
As it turns out, I had met Debbie’s son years earlier at Metre-Market in Cookham Dean during the Covid pandemic. He was serving delicious food while I was serving coffee, and Debbie later told me the family had been fans of Moneyrow Beans ever since.
There was another unexpected connection too. The company responsible for converting Connie into the beautiful coffee truck she is today is owned by one of my friends from my Dubai coffee days. I lived and worked in Dubai for eight years, and it’s where my coffee journey truly began.
Barbara Croce and her team at Coffee Latino have done a fantastic job transforming Connie into something truly special.
Stories like this remind us that coffee is about so much more than what’s in the cup. It creates connections, strengthens communities and brings people together in ways we could never predict.
We’re incredibly proud to play a small part in Connie’s journey and look forward to seeing where the road takes her next. 💙
To learn more about Connie and the mission behind Compassionate Coffee, visit the Compassionate Coffee website.
