Bay Blue espresso bar and Confession named best cafes in the Limestone Coast
Coffee lovers across the Limestone Coasts have ordered a double shot with two Mount Gambier cafes tying for the top honours. See the winners and top five.
Mount Gambier
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The search of the Limestone Coast’s best cafe was too hot to call.
Mount Gambier institution Bay Blue espresso bar and new kids on the block Confession have been named joint winners after both claiming more than 12 per cent of the vote.
From a field of more than 20 nominated cafes, the pair were in inseparable in our Delicious Local poll with Matt Preston.
“Our search for Best Cafe is just the start of the Delicious Local push to help drive a food-led rebound from the effects of COVID,” Mr Preston said.
“It’s clear from the vast number of nominations and votes we saw come in that local communities are rallying around their favourite eateries; supporting those food businesses who have done it tough over the past 12 months. That is exactly what we set out to achieve.
“And this is just the beginning. Our local cafe winners are soon to appear in a statewide battle of the postcodes where the cream will rise to the top – as it always does! Don’t forget to have your say by checking out your state finalists and voting for your favourite.
“Make sure you keep following this fantastic search and supporting your local winners – next up we’ll be on the lookout for best pizza, so get thinking …”
BAY BLUE ESPRESSO BAR
It began with Erin Latchfield manning a coffee cart in Port MacDonnell during the crayfishing season while her partner was out on the water.
Then she met Nathan Taylor and a joke over wine and cheese snowballed into Bay Blue espresso bar.
Two and a bit years ago the co-owners started as a team of two and the bustling business now employees 10 people.
Mr Taylor said the growth had been crazy.
“It’s busier than Erin and I ever thought it would be, it’s been amazing,” he said.
“We literally just started with a coffee cart, we rolled a coffee cart in here and just slowly built the business.
“The support from the community has been insane.”
Mr Taylor said their “pretty good coffee” and warm, welcoming staff had the power to bring people together.
“Without the community, our friends, our family, none of this would be possible,” he said.
“We like building relationships with people over coffee and growing that relationships over weeks, months.”
CONFESSION
Opening three days before South Australia entered ‘Circuit Breaker’, Confessions got off to an interesting start but they would not change a thing.
When lockdown ended more than 100 people lined up in their pyjamas to celebrate its grand reopening and the servery window has already become a main street icon.
Barista Logan Hawk was thrilled by the public’s response.
“It turned out for the better because we got to do that fun opening party and that worked out really well it was incredibly popular,” Mr Hawk said.
“We’re only three months in and it’s good to know that we’re doing the right thing and people will like what we’ve been putting out.”
The team behind the counter are the same people who undertook a two year build ahead of the November opening with photos taken by Mr Hawk lining the walls documenting the journey.
Owner Sam Johnston said the success had surpassed their expectations.
“It‘s very humbling and such a big relief because when you present something to the public, you don’t know how it’s going to be received and we’ve been received with open arms,” Mr Johnston said.
“The coffee culture in Mount Gambier has grown up and matured in the last couple of years.
“I think there’s a lot of other businesses paved the way for us to be able to do we wanted to do successfully.”
THE TOP FIVE CAFES IN THE LIMESTONE COAST
1. Bay Blue espresso bar – Mount Gambier
1. Confession – Mount Gambier
3. Union Cafe – Robe
4. Metro Bakery and Cafe – Mount Gambier
5. Presto Eatery – Mount Gambier
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