Side photo of a double decker bus converted into an Coffee shop in Idaho.

Double-Decker Espresso

Double Decker Espresso Treasure Valley, ID

The Double-Decker Espresso was born from Angie and Dustin Mori's shared passion for coffee and their desire for a family-run venture. In 2018, they purchased a beautiful 1989 Leyland Olympian from us, which was painted and imported by our very own team at Double Decker Imports. Before its journey, this particular bus was painted the classic British Red in the UK at their request.

The Double-Decker Espresso made its public debut in their town's 2018 Christmas Parade. They now operate across several cities, serving fresh-roasted espresso at weekly public stops, various business locations, and private events, consistently bringing joy to their community.

We at Double Decker Imports are proud to have provided the Mori family with their second bus, which they have since transformed into the first Double Decker Airbnb in the US!

Testimonial

Thanks to Double Decker Imports, the import and sale process was surprisingly smooth and relatively simple on our end. After seeing that picture of a converted bus online, we started looking into it, and that’s when we found Jerry from DDI. He was a treasure trove of information because he’s been importing these double-decker buses since the 90s, even in Canada first.
He gave us several options to choose from, and as a family, we voted and gave the ‘go button’ in August 2018 for our 1989 Leyland-Olympian.

The logistics were handled so well – our bus drove onto a ship in South Hampton, England, sailed for about 12 days, and docked in Baltimore, Maryland. From there, it was driven it all the way to Utah, which was a long five-day journey, and that’s where we met to pick it up.

We knew the bus had been inspected before leaving England, so we felt good about its mechanics, even with hundreds of thousands of miles on it. We even got the bus painted a classic British Red before it left the UK, which the team at DDI made sure was done precisely and according to our vision.

Double Decker Imports made the complex process of getting such a unique vehicle from the UK to us feel very straightforward.

Dustin and Angie Mori, Idaho USA

Would recommend Double Decker Imports

Photos

Before

Photo of an upper deck with original seats in double decker bus before conversion into a Coffee shop in Idaho.
Photo of the plumbing conversion in a double decker bus converted into a Coffee shop in Idaho.
Photo of seat removal on the upper deck of a double decker bus being converted into a Coffee shop in Idaho.
Photo of an upper deck with no seats in double decker bus being converted into a Coffee shop in Idaho.

After

Side photo of a double decker bus converted into an Coffee shop in Idaho.
Front photo of a red double decker bus converted into a Coffee shop in Idaho.
A Leyland double decker bus conversion into coffee shop, Idaho.
Side order window photo of a double decker bus converted into a Coffee shop in Idaho.
photo of a Christmas double decker bus converted into a Coffee shop in Idaho.
Photo of a barista in a double decker bus converted into a Coffee shop in Idaho.
Upper deck photo of a double decker bus converted into a Coffee shop in Idaho.
Photo of a coffee machine in a double decker bus converted into a Coffee shop in Idaho.
Upper deck photo of a double decker bus converted into an Coffee shop in Idaho.
Photo of a coffee cup in a double decker bus converted into a Coffee shop in Idaho.

Project Video

Q&A

How has it served your business?

This bus has been an absolute game-changer for our business, more than we ever initially imagined! First and foremost, it is our business. It’s a fully-equipped mobile espresso bar that allows us to take our fresh-roasted coffee directly to our customers. It’s been incredible for our family too, giving our six kids a tangible, hands-on way to be involved and learn valuable skills, even becoming skilled baristas themselves.
The mobility of the bus has been key to our growth. We can cover multiple cities, setting up at public stops, various businesses, and even private events. It’s brought so many smiles to people’s faces, and that’s incredibly rewarding. Beyond just serving coffee, the bus itself is an amazing marketing tool. You can’t miss a bright red double-decker driving down the street! It gets us noticed, sparks conversations, and definitely helps us stand out. This ‘crazy idea’ has truly blossomed into something profitable, flexible, and so much fun for our entire family.

How did you find the conversion process?

The conversion process was quite the adventure! It was a massive undertaking, and honestly, we didn’t have a super tight timeline, though we definitely pushed to get it ready for Christmas. We started with the tear-down ourselves, and that was a family affair. The kids even found old British coins in the cracks, which was a huge motivator for them!
We knew we’d need help, so we brought in some pros for the big stuff. Food Concepts of Idaho handled all the electrical and plumbing, which was crucial, and they built a great wall for our water tanks. We also had some incredibly gifted friends who helped us pick colours, design our logo, and even re-upholster some of the original seats that we now use upstairs. We built all the counters and tables ourselves.
There were definitely challenges. We were running two other businesses simultaneously, so time was always tight. The sheer size of the bus – 14.6 feet tall – meant we had to be extremely careful under bridges and around low-hanging trees in town, which still takes years ogff my life sometimes! But we just kept chipping away at it. Finding that under-counter fridge for free was one of those moments where we really felt like God was helping us along. Seeing it all come together, especially for our debut in the 2018 Christmas parade and then opening on December 26th, was incredibly rewarding.
Read more about Angie and Dustin’s conversion here.

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