Harvest in the Suburbs
Connecting over a hot coffee was always something Liam Ogilvie-Mitchell and his wife Ashlea enjoyed, and the chance to offer hot cups of caffeinated goodness to the local community inspired their first business. Introducing Harvest Coffee Shop – Anula's newest coffee haunt.
This July, husband and wife duo Liam and Ashlea opened the doors to Harvest in Anula, much to the delight of parents and families in the neighbourhood. The idea sprouted for Liam about three years ago and, with support from his wife, he’s been able to make his dream become a reality.
“I guess you could say it’s my baby. Ashlea works as a teacher so she’s the one making the money and I’m over here living the dream with my very own business,” the cafe owner beamed.
Set in the Anula Shops complex, the vibe is pleasant, relaxed and welcoming – plus, there’s a new playground being constructed next door for all of you caffeine-starved mums and dads out there! The interior is dressed with industrial and vintage decor – mismatched seats hug the wooden tables and there’s a bookshelf loaded with books to read.
There’s a children’s play area covered by a canopy of colourful parasols, large industrial bulbs hang loosely from the ceiling and you can expect to hear the chilled out sounds of José González emanating from the stereo. Perhaps the most eye-grabbing objects in the room are the custom made benches.
“A mate of mine’s a carpenter and helped me make one of our custom benches. He taught me what to do the first time round, and when my mum Catherine came to visit, I got her on the tools and she helped me build the second one,” Liam said.
“Starting this cafe was just some-thing I really, really wanted to do, and although it’s taking a little bit to get used to the business side of things – like tax and GST – I’ve never felt so energised in my life. It’s like I’m wide awake every minute I’m in the cafe, and when I get home, it all calms down a bit."
The menu offers breakfast and lunch, with simple but pleasing options. For brekkie, you can wrap your tastebuds around a toasted bacon and egg roll or an Acai bowl. Come lunchtime, you can feast upon pulled pork and ham toasties, with juicy meat slow cooked for a melt-in-your-mouth experience. The dessert bar will satisfy both sugar fiends and health enthusiasts, with cupcakes from Little Crumbs Darwin and raw treats from Mr Brown’s – then you can wash it all down with some Rio coffee or Tea Drops tea.
“I really wanted to support local businesses and buy local when possible. The sweets fridge is stocked with local goodies and our coffee is from a local distributor – even my coffee snob friends passed it in the taste test,” Liam explained.
With plans to convert the not-yet-open back room into a quiet space plotted with couches, books and board games, this cafe is one to keep your eye on. For a relaxing hot cuppa, free WiFi, a good feed and a read in a relaxed atmosphere, you best get to Harvest.
Mon – Fri 7am-3.30pm | Sat 8am-1pm | Yanula Drive, Anula | harvestcoffeeshop.com | facebook.com/harvestcoffeeshop | 0466 887 009
