The Vespaccino Van - Vespaccino

The Story behind the Vespaccino Van

The heart of the Vespaccino operation is “Violet” the Vespaccino van. (as named by our then 4 year old daughter!) Violet is a Piaggio Ape (pronounced Ahh-Pay) three wheeled tuk tuk type vehicle. She is fitted with a 50cc vespa two stroke petrol engine. Violet has had a varied and exciting history before we discovered her in June 2020.

Violet is a 2003 model and has the grand total of 35 miles on her clock! We believe that she was taken from the showroom when new and fitted out as a coffee van and spent her early years being transported on a trailer to and from events. She was then acquired by a movie props company and spent the next few years featuring in various TV shows and movies. We understand that she has featured in a James Bond movie, but despite closely scanning every 007 film since 2003, we have not managed to spot her yet! After her movie career, she was bought by a car collector who stored her for a number of years before we found her in June 2020, covered in dust and old car seats and carpets in a lock up in Leicestershire. She was still dressed as a Chinese Supermarket delivery van, her “costume” from her last movie, and had some extensive battle scars in the form of some fire damage to one side. We transported her to our base in Moulton and began an intensive transformation into her current Vespaccino role.

All of her existing wiring and plumbing were replaced and new sinks fitted to comply with current food hygiene regulations. A new hygienic and easy clean wash up area was created and a new water tank and pumps were fitted. Power for these pumps, along with the interior LED lighting system, the sink taps and the point of sale software is provided by the on-board Solar Panel system. The addition of our Pavoni 2 group espresso machine and and a Macap coffee grinder ensured she was ready to create some beautiful coffee. The fire damage was repaired and repainted and when she was sent to be wrapped in her new Vespaccino branding, the transformation was complete. Although Violet still gets an occasional trip out to events, Violet spends most of her time at her permanent base in Moulton Public Gardens.

In October 2021, we aquired Poppy (again named by our daughter), our second Vespaccino Van. Poppy is a Spanish import who arrived with her engine dismantled into three cardboard boxes. It took 18 months of restoration to become roadworthy once again and to transform into her full Vespaccino specification, before her maiden voyage in the Moulton Village Carnival in summer 2022. Poppy now spends her time travelling around the country, bringing our award winning coffee to various events.