OUR STORY

STARTING IN THE YEAR 1996...

I always knew I wanted to be a pilot. As cringeworthy as it might sound, my first word was apparently plane. As a kid, I spent hours at airports watching aircraft take off and landing, attending airshows—your classic pilot origin story.

On my 12th birthday, I had my first trial lesson, and from that moment, I knew this was the career for me. To fund my flying lessons, I worked after school and on weekends at a supermarket, and by 16, I was flying solo in a Piper PA-28. As soon as I finished school, I went straight into pilot training, and by 20, I was flying passengers across Europe in an Airbus.

Then came COVID. Like many in the industry, I was made redundant. But that period sparked something unexpected—I discovered a love for building brands, creating businesses, and fostering communities. After stepping away from my business during the pandemic, I found myself without an income, so I took a job packing coffee at a local roastery. That’s where my love for coffee truly began. I soaked up everything I could about the craft, and deep down, I knew that one day, I’d launch my own coffee brand.

When I eventually returned to flying, the idea hit me—why not combine my two passions: aviation and coffee? And just like that, Jet Bean Coffee was born.

'JET BEAN COFFEE TAKES OFF'

Planes and great coffee don’t often go hand in hand. After nearly a decade of flying commercially, I’ve had more cups of bad coffee than I can count—some so rough they make a straight tequila shot seem smooth!

So why should the aviation community settle for weak, bitter coffee at the local aerodrome or yet another hipster brand with no real connection to flying?

That’s where Jet Bean Coffee comes in.

We’re on a mission to fuel your passion with top-quality, freshly roasted coffee, sourced locally in Sussex for aviation enthusiasts. Inspired by history’s most legendary aircraft, each roast reflects the spirit, colour, and flavour of the planes that shaped aviation.

More than just coffee, we honour the personal stories of the engineers, manufacturers, and pilots behind these iconic machines—bringing history to life, one cup at a time.

Jet Bean Coffee took off in 2025, and we’re just getting started.

Our journey begins with a collection of 10 specialty coffees, each inspired by one of history’s most groundbreaking aircraft. But we’re not stopping there.

We’re building a community of aviation and coffee enthusiasts—hosting meet-ups, fly-ins, and events that bring people together over a shared passion for flight and great coffee.

Beyond that, we have a bigger vision. We want to make an impact—whether through restoring historic aircraft or supporting incredible causes like Dreamflight, a charity that gives children with serious illnesses and disabilities the chance to experience a life-changing holiday in Florida, filled with adventure and joy.

And we’re not just thinking about coffee. Imagine pop-up cafés crafted from aircraft fuselages, bringing the magic of aviation to unexpected places. Or a product line featuring coffee cups and flasks made from recycled aircraft materials, letting aviation lovers carry a piece of history with them every day.

This is just the beginning. Jet Bean Coffee is here to fuel your passion—for flight, for coffee, and for making a difference.