About Us
Learn more about Missing Bean’s story, our core values and the people who make up our team.
Made in Oxford
We became Central Oxford's first independently owned coffee shop in 2009.
Independently run
We are a small team who oversee everything from sourcing, to roasting.
Sustainably produced
All of our coffee is sourced with the highest environmental and ethical standards.
Timeline
Our Story
2009
Opened Turl Street, La Marzoco Linea 3-group
2010
First college ball
2012
Opened Missing Bean @ St Cross
2014
500,000th coffee served
2014
Opened the Roastery, Coffee-Tech Ghibli 15 kg Roaster
2014
First Cupping party
2017
1,000,000th coffee served
2018
Faema E71 Turl Street
2019
Giesen 15kg Roaster
2020
La Marzocco KB90 3-group Turl Street
2020
1,500,000th coffee served
2021
Opening in Abingdon
2021
Opening in Banbury
About Us
Meet the team
Ori Halup – Founder
Ori is one half of Missing Beans founding members. He first got into coffee while studying film in Sydney. Australia was at the forefront of third wave coffee culture and utterly transformed everything he knew about coffee.
Moving to the UK and missing that good coffee and cafe hit, he would fantasise about opening a little coffee shop and letting it run itself, whilst he worked on his film career. Little did he know how profoundly the coffee bug had got him.
11 years later, sourcing, roasting and serving the best coffee he can lay his mitts on is still worth getting out of bed for.
He's created and nurtured an ever growing Missing Bean family. The focus is very much on developing mutually beneficial relationships. Be that Direct Trade with far flung farms or more immediate member's of the team. Provenance and fair treatment are paramount. Along with a good laugh. There have been some rough moments along the way but he wouldn't change it for the world!
In his spare time he represents Oxford and England in the ancient sport of Tambuerello (google it, it's a real thing). He's a keen cook and has a genuine flair for food, drink and conviviality.
Vicky Troth – Founder & Artistic Director
Vicky is the other half of the founding members of Missing Bean. Her view of coffee was transformed after arriving in Sydney for her studies.
She was used to well intentioned but poorly made cafetieres, and had assumed she just didn't like the taste of coffee. That all changed when she sampled her first flat white in Oz. Returning to the UK it was hard to find good coffee outside of London.
Setting up a coffee business in her home town of Oxford felt like the right move whilst embarking on a film career. Hoping it would provide an income (and tasty coffee) before there was much film work!
Fast forward 11 years and she now works full time in film and does much of the graphic design for the Bean. She's rightly proud of the business she's helped to shape and grow. It's definitely a real community which is what was intended first and foremost.
In her spare time she's a ceramicist and painter. And man can she throw some shapes - ceramicist chat for being Ace.
Federico Demattei Vidal
IG: @cajitadepizza
Fede is a self styled Nomadic roaster from Buenos Aires, Argentina, travelling the world via coffee culture.
This is what he has to say on his work: "To me the sound of the first crack is the coffee screaming for some attention, it's when you make the key choices to discover the personality of that particular bean."
When he's not listening to coffee expressing its personality, you can find him shooting some hoops at the basketball court or literally, blowing his own trumpet.
His recommendation for a place to visit? Hanoi, stop there to try the egg coffee! You heard it here first from our very own wondering minstrel.
Silviu Rad
IG: @silviurad
Silv is our head of sourcing. He began roasting coffee just after turning 18. It was his first job and he loved it! Quickly learning about complex flavour compounds and aromatics of coffee (more than in wine, can you believe). He found he was hooked on coaxing new profiles out of the beans. He still gets a buzz at the prospect of a fresh harvest arriving.
Coming to join The Missing Bean was an opportunity to put into practice everything learned at the previous roastery and cafe. Head of sourcing is a dynamic role that keeps Silv focused and motivated. It has allowed him to expand his network across every sector, from farmers and baristas to coffee drinkers the world over.
He loves nothing more than a chat with like minded enthusiasts, be it coffee or his other obsession - cycling. Just beware challenging him to a game of table tennis - he will slay you. You've been warned!
Olly Wilkins
IG: @ollywilkins
Missing Bean wouldn't be the same without Olly, he's the heart and soul of the roastery.
Here's what he has to say: 'Missing Bean is a part of the fabric of Oxford and it’s a privilege to be a member of the team. I’ve always loved the friendly, local nature of things while also thinking of the bigger picture and our impact on things on a national and global scale.
'We’re constantly learning, adapting and evolving and that makes working for MB so interesting and exciting. I feel proud to have been a part of things the last few years and can’t wait to see where we go!'
He's a keen sportsman and in his free time you can find him playing football, cricket or golf.
Ben Sankey
Ben found his way to us after he enrolled on a furniture making course here in Oxford. One cold winter morning, on the hunt for a cup of 'the good stuff' before a lecture, with virtually no knowledge of his new surroundings, he and a new buddy went on an adventure. Soon happening upon 'the Missing Bean'. Little did he know, it would become an important part of his life, not only as a coffee drinker, but also a place of work, family and fun.
After a stint in Plymouth doing a furniture making degree, working summers for us, he joined Missing Bean full time as Manager of our Turl street cafe.
Ben is one of the friendliest people you could meet and is always happy to engage in coffee related banter and should you need a piece of bespoke furniture he can make that too.
Seek out a cup of his favourite Ethiopian batch brew and stay for a natter.
Victoria Lipscombe
Vicky came to Missing Bean again via academia, studying International Relations and Business Management at Oxford Brookes.
She joined us back in 2018. Initially starting at Turl Street and rapidly developing a love and appreciation for good coffee and the cafe culture surrounding it. She went on to become Assistant Manager at our Turl street cafe.
Nowadays you can find her dividing her time between our two sites. Her coffee of choice is an Oat milk flat white.
Brian Gray
Instagram: @Brian_gray21
Brian found his way to coffee through books. Once upon a time, he spent all his free time in bookshops (living the dream, Brian) after which he would peruse his purchases in a coffee shop. One thing led to another and Brian ended up working in a bookshop cafe. Which in his own words 'was wonderful'.
After stumbling upon a speciality coffee publication, he became instantly captivated by the art, science and dedication involved in crafting the perfect cup. Brian loves Missing Bean for its fine balance of hitting the sweet spot between informal and professional.
'You are celebrated for your individuality and are pushed to thrive.' Our favourite bookworm makes you feel right at home, whether you're grabbing a take away or staying a while to lose yourself in a good book.
Devin Oelofsen
Devin is our resident student. Originally hailing from South Africa. She's currently studying for an MA in Publishing Media.
Needless to say, coffee is something that she starts and sometimes (deadlines depending) finishes her day with. It was the social aspect of cafe life that first attracted Dev to coffee.
In her own words: 'The Missing Bean - well, it’s a hidden gem. The kind of place that makes you wish your cup of coffee never runs out.' Dev always provides an excellent cup of coffee with an excellent welcome.
Molly Claire McGunnigle
Instagram: @mcm_mua/
Molly began working for Missing bean part time and discovered she enjoyed learning about coffee and all the myriad intricacies involved in making a lovely cup and responding to the cafes day to day needs. There's nothing she doesn't know about the working of our Turl street cafe. Pop in and say high when you're in town.
When she's not knocking out exceptional espressos she's working on her A-game, as a talented and prolific artist, specialising in prosthetic make up, drawing and design. You can check out her work via her IG. We think she's awesome and adore the creative vibe she brings.
Rachel Calvert
Instagram: @peskitabanana
Rachel has spent her working life in the hospitality sector, with a particular emphasis on supporting independent businesses. Her pursuit of an outstanding cup of coffee goes too far back for her to readily admit to.
When she's not working behind the scenes to deliver Oxford's best beans, she can be found foraging for good things to turn into all sorts of magical treats. Usually, accompanied by her ragtag band of boys and faithful (but largely disobedient) hound.
Eddie Whittingham
Eddie recently graduated with an undergraduate degree in Interior Architecture from the Oxford School of Architecture. With plans to move to Oslo after graduating swerved by the pandemic, he stayed in Oxford with university friends to pursue creating a collaborative architecture studio.
He has been passionate about serving up the perfect cup since he began working in coffee shops at the age of 14. Eddie told us: 'Missing Bean has been the perfect opportunity to chase my two passions of being a barista and a designer. It has quickly become my second family and it is inspiring being around such passionate people. It's been fun putting smiles on people's faces and spreading a bit of that passion around, especially during the glumness of the recent lockdowns.'
He's our go-to guy for all things design and there may be some exciting things happening in the pipework.
His favourite coffee is a natural Ethiopian brewed with a V60. Ask him about his baby Greek tortoise for a funny story ...