Meet the teams behind Bundaberg’s newest coffee bars

After more than a year of uncertainty, businesses are booming in Bundaberg, with new coffee bars opening up around town. Meet the people behind them and find out what they’ve got in store.

The venue's three owners Jayden Baldwin, Stephen Browning and Jeremy Irwin all played their part in bringing The Library Bar to life.

There’s no question how much Bundaberg loves a good cup of coffee and now there is even more choice when it comes to grabbing a caffeine fix in the CBD.

Two new coffee bars and a new coffee shop have opened their doors in Bourbong St giving shoppers, workers and visitors multiple options.

Dopamine, The Library Bar and Espresso Loca have all opened their doors in the past few weeks and here’s what we know:

Dopamine, 200 Bourbong St

Dopamine has been open in Bundaberg for about four weeks and is designed as a place people can grab a coffee and bite to eat.

Dopamine, an espresso bar, opened on the corner of Bourbong St and Maryborough St about four weeks ago.

The bar is designed as a place people can get a ‘grab and go’ coffee and bite to eat, but also has a retail space of gifts and homeware,s which all have their own story.

“We try to always be Australian made, we try to support small batch, creative artisans, so everything has a story,” owner Selina Ferrais said.

“Everything in here has a reason, has a story and contributes to social good.

“It’s been great.”

The espresso bar uses Single O Specialty Coffee Roasters - a Yeehah blend that’s organic and fair trade.

They will also feature single origin seasonal variations down the track.

The Single O coffee roaster is also part of the per cent For the Planet initiative.

Dopamine has been open in Bundaberg for about four weeks and is designed as a place people can get a ‘grab and go’ coffee and bite to eat.

The bar proudly displays its mission on the wall, which says they’re all about giving people the “feel-good-factor”.

“We’re very committed to bringing joy and that’s why we’re called Dopamine; it’s that joy factor from your great coffee in the morning to food that’s a bit different,” she said.

Ms Ferrais said it was encouraging to see businesses continuing to open in the CBD.

“It’s encouraging to see people are giving it a go, in the business climate at the moment with Covid you’re never too sure,” she said.

“But it’s great to see everyone adapting, we’ve gone from thinking the only way to be in the service industry is for people to sit down and now people are like ‘we’re going to gear ourselves up for takeaway incase things hit the fan again’.”

The Library Bar, 126 Bourbong St

The Library Bar prides itself on consistent coffee.

Each coffee since The Library Bar opened in August has been weighed and timed to ensure every single brew is consistent and delicious.

“Each morning we come in here half an hour earlier than we have to be to set the grinder,” venue co-manager Jayden Baldwin said.

“The grinder is forever changing, so staying on top of your game and keeping the coffee consistent and delicious is the number priority for our baristas.

“We’re very limited with the food so we keep the flavour bold in every drink.

“We also wanted the place to be a home away from home for people where they can come and read a book, it’s a really casual venue.”

The venue's three owners, Jayden Baldwin, Stephen Browning and Jeremy Irwin, all played their part in bringing the Library Bar to life.

The coffee shop also has a book exchange where people can go and give a book for a book in return or just sit in the venue for a quiet read.

But the cafe isn’t the only thing that will be available to customers.

Soon the venue will also open a bar behind the coffee shop.

The venue’s three owners Jayden, Stephen Browning and Jeremy Irwin all played their part in bringing the Library Bar to life.

“The bar was Steve’s idea, and the coffee shop was mine and Jeremy’s,” Mr Baldwin said.

“The idea was mainly to have the bookstore out the front and a hidden bar at the back but it’s since expanded into a whiskey bar with the coffee out the front.

“We just wanted to create a space where people could chill, and read a book in a nice environment with friends.”

Mr Baldwin said Bundaberg was “on the up” with new businesses continuing to open around the city.

“It’s great to see great new businesses opening, especially all around town,” he said.

“The best part about all those businesses opening is they all have their own specialty side of their business which is cool to see.

“It’s great to see businesses not scared to take that leap of faith and still opening.”