David and Mel Brown

Scottish-born David and Argentinian-born Mel first met in New York’s Jefferson Valley Mall, where they were both managing retail stores (he: PacSun; she: Delia’s). She was a design major, he had a degree in culinary arts, and they soon found themselves working in the food industry, working for Mel’s father’s seafood importing business, marketing South American fish and shellfish to large North American foodservice companies and restaurant groups like Darden.

In 2010, David and Mel moved to Florence, where Mel’s parents had retired, and realized, after managing other people’s businesses, they were ready to grow something of their own. They had a passion for top-quality coffee: the science and mechanics of espresso, and the rush of watching someone take a sip and say: Wow, this is good! In 2017, they started Bean Bar as a pop-up inside Naturally Outdoors, and found they loved it. In 2020, they moved into their own brick and mortar space next-door to Naturally Outdoors, with the aim of making a visit to Bean Bar a whole experience: a bright, lofty space with warm, welcoming customer service, delicious espresso drinks, and locally baked treats crafted with homemade simple syrups and sauces, and clean ingredients.