Sunshine Coast coffee caravan I make coffee and co opens after pandemic struggles

A veteran barista decided to take matters into her own hands after struggling with unstable hours in the hospitality industry during Covid-19. Check out her new gig.

A young Sunshine Coast woman facing major work stability problems has turned her solution into a booming mobile business.

I make coffee and co is a vintage-looking white and wooden mobile coffee caravan, serving specialty coffee, smoothies, and pastries in Bokarina and Currimundi since opening in late-June.

I make coffee and co owner Nicole Williams, 28, said she launched the venture to tick off a lifelong dream of running a business after struggling with unstable hours while working as a barista during Covid-19.

“The stability wasn’t there … so the planning process started,” she said.

The Birtinya resident – who had been a barista for about seven years – said she also wanted a change from the hospitality industry after feeling a lack of support during her hardworking stint in the sector for nearly 10 years.

She said it was “disheartening” to feel unsupported given the hospitality sector was prominent in the region.

The sector aside, Ms Williams said the biggest reason for launching her company was to be her own boss and create a relaxing space for customers.

She said her specialty coffee helped set her apart from other mobile food venues in the region, though she noted she wasn’t in a competitive scene.

The young entrepreneur said sales were going strong since opening and investing a bulk of her savings to buy and fit out the caravan.

While her caravan was proving a hit already, she said the venue was a “stepping stone” to her endgame of opening a cafe in the future.