Interview met Maria Jose

Introduce yourself…
My name is Maria Jose, Majo for short, I’m a Graphic designer, Photographer and Stylist from Patagonia Argentina, and now I live and enjoy my life in The Netherlands. We moved 3 years ago with my husband and my first son Valentino, and my second son is coming next April.

I spend most of my days creating content for brands, and product photography and styling. I like to challenge myself creating the scenery, finding out what represents the product or service best to be photographed and displayed.

How did you end up working for Coffeelicious?
I saw on instagram that they were looking for new collaborators, so I wrote an email to Fiona. The first month, I worked in the service, learning as much as I could, and now, I'm working in the marketing department, creating content for all the social networks, and I'm in charge of the interior decoration of the store, developing the brand message.

What was your first workday at Coffeelicious like?
It was really exciting, and of course, I was a little nervous because I had never worked in horeca before. I had everything to learn but everyone helped me, taught me, so I felt tired at the end of the day but I was thinking.... it was worth it!

What do you love most about your job and what are your favourite work-related activities?
I am excited to develop ideas to inspire our entire community and customers. Working on Coffeelicious and growing the brand as well as the message they have, the fundamentals of the brand. Making the place beautiful to welcome all our customers and make a breakfast look special for them.

Meeting people who work hard to make everything better every day, in the bakerij, in the kitchen, the barista girls, the service girls.

What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about design, photography and styling (mostly about how to develop the message, what about colors, shapes, how to present a product, brand language and, of course, aesthetics).

I am passionate about coffee and pastries, trying red velvet and cheesecake all over the world.

You are very creative! Can you tell us something about this passion and your inspiration?
It comes from my family. My mother is an artist who worked part of her life as a biochemist. She writes novels like an angel, paints like God, sings, plays the piano, makes ceramics. She is a dreamer, like my grandfather Julio. My father is an engineer turned businessman. Musician. They gave me the opportunity to study everything I wanted, 3 university degrees, and a thousand workshops when I lived in Buenos Aires. The creative is part of my air, I think it's who I am.

I used to sing opera and musicals, for more than 10 years. I used to have my own brand in Argentina dedicated to design stationery and develop decor events, mostly for children.

I find inspiration in social networks, in the street, I travel everywhere as possible. Brands, people, books, tv. I spend most of my time researching about new trends, seeing what brands do to inspire people, new technologies, softwares, and thinking how I want, how I see and how it's possible to use resources to show something.

Is there anything you’d still like to learn while working at Coffeelicious?
I have a lot of things to learn about Coffeelicious. It is not easy to have a brand that can be sustainable over time like them. The way they have been able to. I want to train as a barista too as Coffeelicious has the best coffee in town!

What are your favourite go-to places for food?
Can I say it is on Argentina? Because I really miss Argentine food. The second place is my home. We love to cook, we love to eat, we develop all kinds of recipes and we enjoy them as a family. But here in the Netherlands, I have some places that are favorites too, like Villa Augustus here in Dordrecht, Paco Ciao in Leiden, Van Stapele's cookies in Amsterdam, Baker and moore in Rotterdam.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I used to enjoy free time singing, reading a book, listening to music, but with a 3 year old I spend the day playing with race cars and ninjas. And I don't regret it, I enjoy most of the time watching my little one grow faster than light.