Tell us about Cup Pro.
Cup Pro is a barista tool that revolutionises the way cafés serve coffee in reusable cups. A beverage preparation vessel, Cup Pro’s unique features allow baristas to prepare, hold and transfer coffee orders without the need to handle a customer’s cup. The standardised and contact-free serving system supports reusable cups for a more climate-friendly fix, whilst setting a new standard for businesses, baristas and coffee-lovers alike. Cup Pro is all about making a baristas life easier, work environment cleaner, and establishing an important step in the evolution or reusable cup adoption.
What inspired you to start Cup Pro?
Servicing reusables in a commercial environment has always been problematic for cafés and baristas. I started Cup Pro with my brother Chris after identifying issues surrounding hygiene, efficiency and consistency. We’ve both worked in the hospitality and café industry for many years, so we know how much a product like this would be useful for baristas. We recognised the need for a universal system that seamlessly integrates into the existing operation of every café. One that creates harmony between cafés and reusables to help take adoption to the next level and rewrite the narrative for the future of baristas.
Tell us about your career and background.
I’ve been working in the café industry for quite some time. Being in the service sector, I have always been passionate about improving the customer experience in any way that I can. This started as ensuring my own café was inviting and efficient, and it’s led me to exploring innovation in hospitality. I have loved the journey this new product has taken me on and it’s exciting to be able to give back to an industry that has given me so much over the years.
Describe a typical workday for you.
As you could probably guess, I always start my day with a coffee. After that, it’s a mix of sales and supplier calls and meetings to help get Cup Pro onto more barista benchtops. I love meeting all our clients and getting to hear the stories behind the local cafés and their baristas, it’s the best part of my job.
Launching a new business means that my schedule is pretty jam-packed, but I love being on the move and busy – I guess that’s a testament to my hectic days working the coffee machines!
What advice do you have for those wanting to start a business?
Be prepared to not have much sleep, and to have a lot of coffee! It’s a tough grind to start something from scratch but if you really believe in your product, it helps other people to believe in it too. Your passion is the key to getting other people excited about your product. It takes time and dedication, but it is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had.
