Our Story

Our Beginnings 

The story of Aroma began with a group of people from Haxby and Wigginton Methodist Church who had a vision for a coffee shop right at the heart of the community. A place that would become a ‘Beacon’ in the local community: somewhere showing God’s love and where people of all ages could chat, laugh, relax and enjoy each other’s company — all with great coffee and freshly prepared food. 

And that was the start of Aroma Coffee Shop! 

After we found the right premises, we had to test the coffee and tea and choose the food to serve. We selected fairly traded tea, coffee and hot chocolate because they enable some of the poorest in the world to receive a fair wage, and we use locally sourced food because local suppliers play an important part in our community. 

We first opened our doors on 8th September 2008, and have been providing a welcome and acting as a social hub ever since.

Our Present — Giving Back to the Community

We are a coffee shop with a difference. Any surplus made by Aroma is used to improve the service we offer our customers and to support our Aroma Community Fund, which provides small grants to local community projects.

We also support a range of community activities, such as:

• Sunday Afternoons at Aroma — On the second Sunday of each month, Aroma is open between 2pm and 4pm to anyone who finds themselves needing some company. No charge is made for a drink and cake, but donations are welcome and support Aroma’s work in the community.

We have a large number of volunteer helpers serving in the shop and working behind the scenes. The many volunteers who wait on tables are also there to chat, listen and befriend. Faith is never far away for those who want to find out more, from invitations to local Christian events to more reflective thoughts on tables and displays throughout the year.

Aroma is professionally managed by our Manageress, with support from our Management Group and Board of Directors. A team of staff and a large team of volunteers serve, clean, bake, manage the accounts, maintain the premises and help make Aroma a place of welcome and rest. Aroma couldn’t exist or operate without our volunteers, and we are very grateful to them and the staff for all that they do.