If you’ve spent any time in Ely over the past few years, chances are you’ve enjoyed a coffee from Silver Oak. Whether it’s from their iconic market trailer or a weekend visit to The Yard, they’ve become a huge part of the city’s independent business scene.
But behind every flat white is a story of long days, big risks, and an unwavering commitment to quality.
In the latest episode of Made in Ely, we sat down with Tom Ramsey, Director of Coffee at Silver Oak, to hear how a business that started with a coffee roaster in a garage has grown into one of Ely’s best-loved independent brands.
Every Great Business Starts Somewhere
Like many successful businesses, Silver Oak didn’t begin with a grand masterplan.
Founder Bruce started roasting coffee in his garage back in 2013, selling bags of coffee at local markets alongside his wife Suzanne. Early mornings, freezing winter market days, lifting heavy equipment in and out of vans, and spending weekends travelling between markets became the norm.
It’s easy to see the polished business that exists today, but Tom shares just how much hard work, persistence and determination it took to get there.
It’s a refreshing reminder that overnight success rarely happens overnight.
More Than Just Great Coffee
One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation was diving into the world of speciality coffee.
Tom explains that “speciality” isn’t simply a marketing term—it’s an internationally recognised grading system. Coffee must score over 80 out of 100 before it can even be classed as speciality coffee.
That commitment to quality runs throughout everything Silver Oak does, from working with ethically sourced farms to roasting coffee that genuinely surprises people with its flavour.
For Tom, it’s all about helping customers discover coffee they actually enjoy, whether that’s a rich, traditional roast or something much fruitier and more adventurous.
Creating Community, Not Just Coffee
When Silver Oak opened The Yard in Ely, it wasn’t just about creating another café.
The vision was to recreate the sense of community they’d built over the years on Ely Market.
Communal seating, independent food vendors, cocktails, great coffee and a relaxed atmosphere have all helped make The Yard one of Ely’s favourite places to meet friends, spend time with family or simply unwind.
Tom shares how much thought went into the design, the practical challenges of bringing such a large project to life, and the reality of a build that eventually cost more than three times the original budget.
It’s an honest insight into the risks that many business owners quietly take behind the scenes.
Growing a Business Means Growing Yourself
One theme that comes through time and time again is how businesses evolve.
As Silver Oak expanded from a handful of people into a team of around 30, the business had to grow up too.
Processes, management structures, finance, leadership and systems all became just as important as making incredible coffee.
It’s something many small business owners will relate to – what works when you’re a team of three doesn’t always work when you’re a team of thirty.
Listen to the Full Episode
If you’d like to hear the full conversation with Tom, including plenty more stories about Silver Oak, speciality coffee, entrepreneurship and the journey behind The Yard, you can listen to the latest episode of Made in Ely wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
If you’re enjoying the series, we’d really appreciate it if you could subscribe, leave a review and share the podcast with someone who loves supporting local businesses.
Made in Ely is proudly produced by Ely Work Collective, celebrating the people, businesses and ideas that make our city such a fantastic place to live and work.
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