Meet Mina Vukovic | Owner, Momentto Coffee

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mina Vukovic and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mina, what do you attribute your success to?
For us, the biggest factor behind the success of Momentto Coffee Co. has been staying deeply intentional in everything we do instead of trying to be everything to everyone.

We built the brand around experience, quality, and connection first. From roasting coffee fresh in-house, to our meticulous filtration process, to creating a café environment that encourages people to actually be present with one another every decision has been made with purpose. We never wanted to just sell coffee; we wanted people to feel something when they walked through the door.

Another huge factor has been consistency and authenticity. We are family-owned, hands-on, and genuinely involved in every part of the business. Customers can feel when a brand is real versus manufactured. We don’t follow trends just because they’re popular. We stay rooted in who we are, even when it means doing things differently, like our no Wi-Fi/no laptop policy.

And honestly, caring deeply matters. Caring about the product, the customer experience, the sourcing, the details, the relationships, and the community we’re building. People remember how you make them feel, and that becomes far more powerful than marketing alone.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets Momentto Coffee Co. apart is that we were never created to simply follow the coffee industry we built the company around challenging it. We are roasters first, and everything we do starts with the belief that coffee should be smoother, cleaner, fresher, and more intentional than what most people have come to accept as “normal.”

Our story actually began long before the company itself. My family is originally from Budva, Montenegro, and we moved our entire lives to the United States in pursuit of opportunity and the dream of building something meaningful of our own. Starting over in a completely new country came with sacrifices, uncertainty, and countless challenges, but it also taught us resilience, work ethic, and the importance of appreciating every opportunity we were given. Those experiences became the foundation of how we built our business.

As a family-owned roastery and production facility, we handle every step in-house, from sourcing and filtration to roasting, packaging, and fulfillment. One of the things we are most proud of is the proprietary filtration and roasting process my father and co-founder, Petar Vukovic, spent years engineering and refining. Before our coffee is ever roasted, the beans go through an extensive multi-step cleaning and filtration process designed to remove impurities and defects that many people never even realize exist in coffee. That attention to detail is what helps create the smooth, low-acid, bitterness-free profile people immediately notice when they drink our coffee.

Beyond the coffee itself, what truly makes us different is the experience and intention behind the brand. In a world where cafés are becoming louder, faster, and more transactional, we intentionally created a space centered around human connection and presence. That’s why we have a no Wi-Fi/no laptop policy in our café. At first it surprises people, but then they realize how rare it is nowadays to sit somewhere and actually talk, think, journal, or simply enjoy the moment without distraction. That philosophy is even reflected in our name “Momentto” is meant to represent taking a moment for yourself and the people around you.

The journey to where we are today was definitely not easy. Like many small businesses, we faced financial pressures, operational challenges, long hours, and moments where it would have been easier to compromise our standards in order to grow faster. But we chose the harder route repeatedly. We stayed hands-on. We continued roasting fresh to order instead of mass producing. We invested back into our equipment, our process, and our quality control rather than focusing only on scaling quickly. There were many nights of exhaustion, uncertainty, and learning through trial and error.

One of the biggest lessons we learned is that authenticity matters more than perfection. Customers can feel when a business genuinely cares. They remember consistency, honesty, and the way you make them feel long after a transaction is over. We also learned that doing things differently will always invite criticism at first but differentiation is often exactly what creates loyalty and long-term success.

What I want the world to know about our story is that we built this company with heart. We are not a giant corporation trying to manufacture a story for marketing purposes. We are a real family who took a leap of faith from Budva, Montenegro, moved across the world, worked tirelessly, and poured years of sacrifice, creativity, and passion into building something meaningful from the ground up. Every bag we roast, every customer interaction, and every detail in the café reflects that journey. At the end of the day, we hope people don’t just remember our coffee, we hope they remember how they felt when they experienced our brand.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting Phoenix for a week, the itinerary would be all about experiencing the mix of desert beauty, incredible food, hidden gems, and the atmosphere that makes Arizona so special.

For food, Arriba Mexican Grill would absolutely be on the list. Their White Sands Chimichanga and margaritas are favorites, and the staff always make the experience feel warm and welcoming. It’s one of those places that instantly feels comfortable and memorable.

For a completely different vibe, Maple & Ash is perfect for a great dinner and drinks. The atmosphere feels elevated while still being energetic and fun, making it a great spot for a night out in Scottsdale.

One of the must-see spots would definitely be South Mountain Park and Preserve, especially around sunset. The view overlooking the entire city is incredible and really shows the beauty of Arizona from above. It’s one of the best places to take in the skyline, desert landscape, and mountains all at once.

A day trip to Sedona would also be essential. The red rocks, scenic drives, hiking trails, and little local shops make it one of the most beautiful places in the state. Staying through sunset is a must because the colors become unreal.

For shopping, restaurants, nightlife, and galleries, Old Town Scottsdale is always a fun stop. It gives visitors a little bit of everything Arizona is known for in one area.

And to really experience the desert landscape, places like Papago Park and Desert Botanical Garden are worth visiting because they showcase how unique and beautiful the Sonoran Desert truly is.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would absolutely dedicate my shoutout to my family, especially my father, Petar Vukovic, because Momentto Coffee Co. would not exist without him. So much of what we built came from years of hard work, sacrifice, and an obsession with doing things the right way instead of the easy way. He’s an engineer at heart and spent years designing and refining the roasting and filtration systems we use today. Watching that level of dedication growing up shaped the way I approach business and life.

I’d also give a huge shoutout to my mom, Melita Vukovic, because she brought the warmth behind the brand. She taught me that hospitality is about how you make people feel. Some of my favorite moments are seeing people come into the café and instantly feel comfortable and cared for, and a lot of that comes from her example.

And honestly, our customers deserve recognition too. The people who believed in us early on, supported a small family-owned business, told their friends about us, and embraced the fact that we do things differently. Building a brand is never just one person’s story. It takes a community of people willing to believe in your vision before the rest of the world sees it.

Website: https://momenttocaffe.com/ – reail , https://momenttocoffee.com/ – wholesale

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momenttocoffee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momenttocoffee/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/momentto-coffee-chandler

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@momenttocoffeeroasters2718