Coffee Snapshots | Over a Brew with Tommaso Vecchi

Coffee Snapshots | Over a Brew with Tommaso Vecchi – Owner of Tao Cafe

Our Coffee Shop Snapshot series showcases the people who make the coffee industry tick, and shares stories & insights from coffee shop owners, baristas, roasters & more.

Meet Tommaso Vecchi, owner of Tao Cafe in Croydon.

How did you get started in the coffee industry, and what did you do before?

I moved to the UK in 2016 and started working in hospitality to settle into the city and improve my English. The world of specialty coffee fascinated me more than I expected, and I ended up loving it even more than what I had studied back in Italy. After nine years spent between coffee and design, I decided to bring everything together and create my own coffee shop.

Where do you source your coffee from and why did you choose it?

We source our coffee from Plot, and we’ll soon start featuring guest roasteries for batch brew and retail as well. A friend of mine recommended them, and after visiting the roastery, we loved both the coffee and the service we received. We decided straight away to move forward with them.

What makes your coffee shop stand out?

It’s all about the balance between great coffee, good food, and good vibes. A friendly chat and a smile are just as important as a well-made coffee or a delicious meal.

How did you choose your brand/shop name?

I like the concept of Taoism, harmony with nature and balance between Light and Darkness. Specialty coffee is all about balance between sweetness and bitterness, and our colour palette and food offer also reflect these values.

What’s your coffee of choice?

Filter coffee is always my preference, but I also enjoy milky drinks depending on what I’m eating or how I’m feeling at the time.

Follow Tao on Instagram @taocafecroydon

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