New Aeroglen cafe has locals go loco for Poco

This humble suburban cafe jumped through three owners just this year. Now it’s back, boasting a fresh face, fresher ingredients, and staking a claim on the local Spanish-inspired brunch crowd.

NAMED after the Spanish word for ‘little’, this cafe may be small but it has a big heart.

Poco Cafe Cairns opened six weeks ago in Aeroglen, with owners Karina and Heath Stevenson hoping to create a community hub.

“We want locals to feel like it’s their cafe too, and they can contribute to it,” Mr Stevenson said.

The couple recently moved from central Victoria where they had run a winery and Spanish restaurant.

“It was a very small town, we had lots of regulars and locals … we were really looking for a more suburban, residential place because we wanted to recreate that here,” Mr Stevenson said.

Poco opened at the site of the previous The Palms Cafe on Palmerston St in Aeroglen, making the Stevensons the third owners in just one year.

Karina and Heath Stevenson have rebranded and reopened The Palms Cafe at Aeroglen as Poco Cafe, bringing a Latin vibe to the suburban eatery. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Palms Cafe was set up on the site by sisters Jacqui Barber and Teagan Lloyds in late 2019, divided into a cafe one side and a plant and homewares store on the other.

Restaurateur Justin Field took over in March this year, but quickly closed for business two months later.

The building sat closed for months while being refitted and redesigned as Poco.

Despite the rocky year for the site, Mr Stevenson remained undaunted.

“We’re used to doing things the hard way, we’re used to starting from scratch,” he said.

The couple built up their previous venture, Grape Farm Winery, into a successful business after buying it in 2015.

Poco has brought a new approach to the Aeroglen space: the plant shop is gone and the centre wall knocked down to allow for a new kitchen and more room for diners.

“It’s a lot brighter and airier and feels more homely,” Mr Stevenson said.

“There’s still an outdoor space. We’re working on putting in a herb garden and fruit trees out the back so we can use some of the produce in the kitchen.”

Fresh, local products are a priority in the Poco menu, which features Spanish-inspired food like omelettes, nachos, Mexican tortas, Portuguese tarts and Basque cheesecake.

“We use as much local produce as we can, and freshness is really important,” said Mr Stevenson, who is a trained chef.

“All of our cakes and pastries are made in house.”

The Stevensons previously lived in Darwin and were keen to move from Victoria to the Far North to return to some warmer weather.

Mr Stevenson said they had received positive feedback from the local community as people gradually realised the cafe was back serving up coffees and tasty brunches.

Poco Cafe Cairns is open 7am – 1pm Wednesday to Friday, and 8am – 1pm Saturday.

Originally published as New Aeroglen cafe has locals go loco for Poco