Our Story
It all started with an eccentric grandfather; a couple who wanted to work with purpose; a policeman who loved coffee and a midwife who believed in beautiful births for every woman.
The Beginning
A life of music, mischief, and unwavering generosity.
Bob Ferrario lived 92 extraordinary years. A jazz musician, entertainer, and born
problem-solver, he danced through life with resilience, wit, and a deep love for others.
Born into a family of restaurateurs with roots in Switzerland and Italy, Bob’s heritage was steeped in warmth, service, and good food. His family settled in Bexley Hill in the 1920s, bringing with them a love
for hospitality that would echo through Robert’s own life—though his path was far more eclectic.
Natural Entertainer
As a young man, Bob was a natural entertainer. He became a bluecoat at the classic British holiday camps, bringing joy and laughter to families by the sea. He later toured the hotel scene of Bournemouth as a jazz musician, captivating audiences with his piano, guitar and double bass playing and magnetic personality. Whether behind a double bass or in front of a crowd, Robert thrived on connection and community.
Soul mates
But the true duet of Robert’s life was his marriage to the love of his life, Joyce Ferrario. Together, they formed a partnership rooted in mutual eccentricity, deep affection, and a shared love of people. Their bond carried them through the hardest times, and their energy brought life to any room. They were the heartbeat of street parties, the organisers of spontaneous gatherings, and the warm, slightly wild couple everyone admired.
But beyond his talents and creativity, Robert was best known for his open-hearted generosity. His catchphrases were: “What do you need?” and “What can I do for you?”
Life well lived
Bob and Joyce built a life full of colour, music, and community. Their love was a duet that echoed through every home they touched—and will echo for years to come. We hope to continue Bob and Joyce's community spirit, eccentricity and giving nature in our beans of Ferrario Coffee.
2025
The Beautiful Births Foundation and Ferrario Coffee
Ferrario Coffee is more than just coffee—it’s a story of family, community, and purpose.
We’re Adrian and Erika Thompson, partners in life and in vision. Together, we’re raising four wonderful children while building something that connects our love for people, flavour, and culture.
Adrian is a Police Inspector by profession, a quiet thinker
at heart, and a passionate cook who loves experimenting. His deep love for coffee—and the rituals that surround it— and experiencing Bob Ferrarios hospitality have become the spark behind Ferrario Coffee. For him, coffee is about more than taste; it’s about connection, health, and being present with family.
Erika is a midwife with Wessex Independent Midwives, a natural people-person who thrives on social gatherings and caring for others.
She came to midwifery to work with families and improve their experiences. As her knowledge grew, she realised that simple information and skills were saving lives in the UK—and that women were dying unnecessarily in other countries, which was the founding idea for the Beautiful Births Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting
maternal health and training traditional birth attendants in rural regions.
She may not share Adrian’s love for drinking coffee, but she pours her energy into serving people and nurturing community. As a midwife of over 25 years Erika is determined to bring knowledge and safety to all women in childbirth. So, with a vision to travel to countries in need of this support, Adrian and Erika founded the charity and Ferrario Coffee to bring in a steady income to enable this work to be done.
2025 -
Adrian and Erika share 31 years, 4 children, 4 chickens and 1 Great Dane. Adrian and Erika’s relationship is like coffee in many ways. Grounded in the same morals, values and roots but opposite in their nature, much like coffee beans take on different qualities, they are the perfect blend together. They are now investing that energy into Ferrario Coffee and the Beautiful Births Foundation.
Ferrario Coffee and the Beautiful Births Foundation was born out of these shared values: family, generosity, and the belief that what we consume should nourish both people and communities. In every cup, we honour the legacy of the Ferrario name—hospitality, kindness, and connection by donating to the beautiful births foundation with every sale.
