On any given morning, you might stumble upon a charming green horse trailer parked at a library, park, or farm somewhere in Rhode Island. Step closer, and you’ll smell espresso, hear laughter, and meet Amy and Lee – the duo behind Maria Maria Mobile Coffee Bar, a traveling tribute to family, culture, and connection.
“It’s been a dream for years,” says Lee. “We both have a passion for coffee and have worked in the bakery and coffee industry for over two decades.” Although the couple once envisioned a brick-and-mortar café, they chose a more flexible setup to balance their full-time jobs while raising two boys. The result? A cozy mobile café built inside a lovingly restored 1970s horse trailer.
The trailer’s design is as intentional as it is eye-catching. “One of the Marias, Lee’s mom, grew up with horses,” Amy shares. “The trailer felt like a meaningful nod to her.” Even the business name carries significance. Both Amy and Lee named the mobile coffee bar after their mothers, each named Maria. “It’s a name that reflects our roots and our why,” Amy explains. “When you hear it, we hope you feel the warmth and love we pour into every cup.”
Launching the business came with challenges. The trailer needed a near-total rebuild, a task they tackled with Amy’s father, Rolando, who handled everything from welding to painting. Progress paused when Lee’s mom was re-diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. “We wanted to spend that time with her,” Lee shares. “She was so excited for us, and we made sure she saw it 80 percent complete before she passed. That meant the world.”
Since launching, Maria Maria has grown from a part-time passion into a full-time operation. Amy left her job last September to take the business on the road during the week. The menu has also evolved. What began with a few classic drinks now includes signature lattes like the Maria Maria, Teddy Graham, Coffee Milk, and S’mores. “We tested off-menu items with friends and regulars before making them permanent,” Amy says.
Sourcing locally is also part of their mission. They use New Harvest Coffee Roasters, drawn to the company’s ties to family farms in Colombia and Brazil. Their conchas, a pan dulce Amy grew up eating weekly, come from a Guatemalan bakery, another nod to heritage.
Their advice to aspiring mobile entrepreneurs? “It’s more than just making coffee. You need to be invested in your product and your people,” Lee explains. “Build a community.”
Today, that community extends beyond Providence and North Providence, with customers tracking them down via social media or word of mouth. “We’ve had people travel across the state just to find us. That kind of support reminds us why we started.” For more information and to find out where they’ll be brewing next, follow along on Instagram at @mariamariacoffee.ri and Facebook, or visit MariaMariaCoffee.com.
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