Megan’s Journey with Acme Cups: From Barista to Business Owner

Megan's journey from working in hospitality to co-owning Acme Cups is one of passion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to design excellence. Her story is an inspiring testament to saying “yes” to opportunities and stepping outside comfort zones. I’ve long admired her dedication to creating functional yet elegant products, and I was thrilled to learn that she and Paddy have taken the reins at Acme Cups.

When I reached out to Megan, I knew her insights would resonate with our readers, who share a passion for quality and thoughtful design. In this Q&A, Megan shares the pivotal moments that shaped her career, the philosophy behind Acme's iconic designs, and her vision for the future of the brand. From innovative approaches to design and sustainability to her personal rituals for unwinding, her words offer a glimpse into the heart of Acme Cups and the creative mind driving it forward.

From Barista to Business Owner

Question: Your transition from working in hospitality to co-owning Acme Cups is remarkable. Could you share some pivotal moments that led you to this point in your career?

Megan: I can’t really pinpoint what the moments were, but I do have a habit of just jumping in and saying yes without really thinking – I then work out what I need to do once I’m in. The mindset comes from school; I wasn’t an academic at all and was told I couldn’t do certain subjects because I wouldn’t pass exams etc. (In my twenties I found out I’m dyslexic, which was the reason.) So I would do them anyway to prove to them I could. I’ve just kept that mentality. Basically just saying yes to an opportunity and running with it. But also doing things that take you out of your comfort zone and get you in front of people. I competed in Barista championships as well as judging. It gives you an opportunity to show people outside of your workspace what you’re capable of. Judging allows you to meet and work with people from all over the industry. Both of these experiences took me out of my everyday, made me work hard to better myself, and gave me opportunities that I otherwise wouldn’t have had.

Design Philosophy

Question: Acme is known for its blend of form and function. How do you approach the design process to ensure your products meet the needs of both coffee professionals and everyday users?

Megan: We use our backgrounds within the industry to design products that find solutions to needs within the space. Our first range was fixing or making better a classic design that we loved. Designing and testing can be an expensive process, so we try to limit how much sampling we do. We 3D print a lot of designs before getting samples made at the factory. 3D printing allows us to play with the functionality of the design and make tweaks – doing it this way also speeds up the process as we’re not waiting for samples all the time. Once we get a sample back that we’re happy with, we use it in the office and at home for a while. I have quite a few samples at home! Lots of feedback is important! This whole process can take up to two years sometimes. Once it’s out in the world, we will keep making minor tweaks as feedback comes in too. It’s important to listen to feedback, good or bad.

Inspiration Behind Acme's Products

Question: What inspires the color palettes and designs of Acme's cup ranges, such as the Classic and Roman collections?

Megan: Mostly Aotearoa and our backyards, but also the Pantone colour book, magazine articles, and images.

Balancing Tradition and Innovation

Question: How do you balance maintaining Acme's established brand identity with introducing innovative products like the new dinnerware range?

Megan: Cautiously! I think Paddy and I are in a special position as we were employees prior, so we feel very comfortable with the brand. Paddy has been working on the designs since the beginning of Acme, and we both instinctively just know if it’s an Acme product or not.

Sustainability in Design

Question: In what ways does Acme Cups incorporate sustainability into its design and manufacturing processes?

Megan: As a small business without the staffing resources, we have been working on making small changes over the years. We have almost eliminated plastic from our packaging. Our factories are in the process of changing away from plastic tape to paper tape (we have been doing this in NZ and Europe for five years now). We spent a lot of time designing our cutlery boxes so they didn’t have any plastic – when we started researching cutlery packaging, we were blown away by how much plastic is involved. We also plant trees in the Wellington region each year. The environmental and sustainability journey is really important to us as a company, and while what we’re currently doing is the bare minimum, we’re working towards having the resources to be able to do more.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Question: What advice would you offer to individuals looking to start their own venture in the specialty coffee industry?

Megan: Find a part of the industry that you love and run at it! Full speed! Get involved, volunteer, open up to the community – community is such a hugely important part of coffee!

Personal Rituals

Question: With your busy schedule, how do you unwind, and does enjoying a cup of tea or coffee play a part in your daily routine?

Megan: Absolutely! While it’s also a need, I try at least a couple of days a week, between the madness of getting the kid out the door for school and getting ready for work, to sit at the table with my coffee and read something.