This month we are delighted to introduce our team spotlight series. This is where we interview our team and ask them to share a little more about their perspective of Moneyrow Beans. First up is an interview with our Founder, Vicky Weddell, the brains and passion behind Moneyrow Beans. Here is what Vicky had to say:
1. When did you set up Moneyrow Beans?
I started working on my coffee business in September 2019 when we moved back to the UK from Dubai, for a few months I visited local events and networked, did coffee pop ups and began sample roasting in my garden shed. I discovered I really liked roasting coffee and started travelling to London to roast on a bigger machine. I would drive into London roast coffee and drive back with a mini full of beans. I officially registered the business on a Friday in March 2020 and was planning to start selling beans to local businesses and shops. The following Monday the first COVID lockdown was announced and that changed the course of my business – for the better!
2. Please explain what drove you to set up Moneyrow Beans?
I have always had a dream of running a café and I decided to learn about coffee in preparation. I had planned to continue into food and tea but got totally drawn in to the coffee community! I had been part of an amazing coffee community in Dubai, I could see the potential coffee has for communities, people at origin where the coffee is made and for consumers. I wanted to create a coffee business that would be part of my local community here in Berkshire.
3. Please explain more about what goes on behind the scenes at Moneyrow Beans?
No two days are the same. Sourcing beans, roasting, packing, processing orders, visiting our business customers, delivering coffee, barista training, coffee experiences, markets, events! There is always a lot going on. Then there’s all the things that go with running a business: admin, accounts, emails, social media etc. I now have a small team to help me, they are a young and diverse team who are amazing! I am also passionate about engaging with different groups and collaborating with other local businesses.
4. What career path did you take to get here?
I started my career by studying Russian and Linguistics at Edinburgh University, which I loved – they were some of the best days of my life including a transformational year living abroad in Russia and Ukraine. When I graduated I moved to London and started my career in international events and training with Adam Smith International. I then moved to Berkshire and I retrained to be a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language. I have finally combined all of my past skills and talents into learning how to be a coffee trainer when I lived in Dubai. The rest is history!
5. What do you most enjoy about your role?
I love all elements of my role, but probably the connections and the impact of creating positive change, are the things that stand out the most.
6. What do you least enjoy about your role?
Well, when I say I love everything about my role, I do except for the admin. I find it overwhelming sometimes but it is an important part of what we do. That combined with needing to be in more than one place at the same time, which is literally impossible.
7. Describe yourself in five words
I would say: friendly, driven, creative, determined and caring.
8. Tell us something about you that we may not know
I was born in Yorkshire. Something you may not know about me though, is that I have been a judge many times for the UK National Barista and Brewing Championships. I absolutely love that I get to be part of this brilliant community and encourage some of the new, up and coming talent in the industry.
9. What is the one learaning you would tell your younger self, or those wanting to work in the coffee industry?
Trust your instincts, follow your dreams and don’t be afraid to make changes, you don’t need advice from people who haven’t walked the path that you’re taking.
10. What is next on the horizon for Moneyrow Beans?
We are growing!
There are lots of exciting plans on the horizon from Moneyrow Beans over the next 12-months. The key thing being that we are looking at is how we deliver events. I am looking at an enhanced mobile set up . . . so, watch this space!
Aside from that, even more coffee with meaning, connecting coffee throughout the chain with nature conservation at its origin AND locally. Plus watch out for the Maidenhead Coffee Festival 2025, which will include the second Maidenhead Coffee Shop Awards!
Thank you Vicky for taking the time to speak to us today. Next time you sip your morning coffee, you will know a little more about how the business was set up.
To discover more about our full range of coffees, please click HERE to visit our website. This month we are also offering 10% off your first subscription box “Moneyrow Mix” so you can try a different selection of coffees, click HERE to place your order and use the code “Coffeelover10” when you checkout.