Coffee Founders Panel
Coffee. Everyone knows it; (almost) everyone loves it. It is the first thing we think about in the mornings, and the fuel that keeps us going late at night.
In recent years, specialty coffee – those delicious, single-origin roasts served in trendy coffee shops – has become somewhat of a craze in the UK, prompting many to wonder: wouldn’t it be nice to start my own coffee shop? Travel the world to source the best beans? Maybe become the next Café de Flore and catalyse a second Enlightenment?
In this fireside chat, we take a look behind the scenes at the reality of running a coffee business, entering into conversation with successful coffee entrepreneurs from Cambridge.
Pannelists:
Michael Wells founded Harvey’s Coffee House, located in the beautiful college gardens of Gonville and Caius. Embedded in the university ecosystem, it’s a favourite among students as a spot to work, relax, or catch up with friends. Michael also looks back on years working as a barista in various coffee shops in the region.
Jasmine Jayyousi’s Pages Coffee House is the ‘new kid on the block’. With a background in fashion, she founded Pages Coffee House in September 2023 as a passion project. Although entering an already crowded specialty coffee market, Jasmine has managed to establish Pages as one of the city’s premier coffee destinations.
Matt Harrison: Co-Founder of STIR Matt has achieved what many in the corporate world can only dream of: in 2015, he and his wife Judith - both working full time jobs and with no experience in the sector - founded their own café ‘on the side’. Starting with a single cafe in Chesterton and adding Stir Bakery in 2017, they have grown STIR into the largest cafe and bakery operator in Cambridge. Now employing nearly 100 people in seven outlets across Cambridge and an award-winning craft bakery, Matt will speak about his experience leading a career double-life and scaling a hospitality business in one of the most turbulent times possible.
Moderator: Jonas Spengler is a PhD candidate at the Judge Business School and President of the Darwin Coffee Society. This event was born from the desire to connect his passions: coffee and understanding organisations.
This event is run in collaboration with the Darwin Coffee Society.
WHEN: Thursday, 20 February 2025
5.30 PM – 6.30 PM: Fireside discussion in Keynes Lecture Theatre
6.30 PM – 7.15 PM: Drinks reception and networking in the Bar
WHERE: King’s College, Cambridge
TICKETS: get your free ticket here