The little cafe with a big heart
Just Brew It is a café with a difference. Co-owner Katherine Simmons has spent a decade working with people who have a disability, and she has them in mind for the future of her 45-seater café.
Just Brew It is a café with a difference. Co-owner Katherine Simmons has spent a decade working with people who have a disability, and she has them in mind for the future of her 45-seater café.
“I’ve been working in the disabilities field since I was 18, so I’ve got a lot of experience in that area. It’s something that I’m passionate about,” she says.
The walls are currently bare while Katherine seeks out works by disabled artists; her biscuits are made by a local boy who has autism; and her future employees will include people who have a disability. She keeps her prices low – $3.70 for a flat white, banana bread from $2.50 lunch from $10.90 – to ensure that people who might be struggling on the NDIS can afford to treat themselves.
And the food here is quite the treat. Katherine’s husband John Furina and his mother Tina, both co-owners, are Italian, and draw on the recipes and life skills of two nonnas to create a knockout lasagne and moreish meatballs. Both nonnas spend time in the kitchen creating their dishes as well as training others.
“It’s definitely not your standard lasagne you’d find down the pub,” says Katherine. “It’s amazing and it’s my favourite, even though I created our chilli con carne.”
As the name suggests, Just Brew It Cafe has a coffee focus, and online reviews rave about the brews, made with Dimattina beans by head barista John.
“But you can’t live on coffee alone,” notes Katherine, pointing to the range of vegan desserts by Cherry Darlings, cannoli and blueberry baked cheesecake created by Pt Adelaide baker Mayfair.
“We had one person come in and buy 10 cheesecakes and six cannoli to take home, he liked them so much,” says Katherine.
Great food at a good price and a community-focussed attitude make Just Brew It a little café with big appeal.
Wed-Mon 8am-3pm, 49 Semaphore Rd, Semaphore, facebook.com/JustBrewItCafeSemaphore