Café Diversity Owners Kris and Emily De Silva have gone from running a Melbourne reception centre that served 400 meals in one sitting, to a 160-seater beachside café in Queensland.
“It was time for a sea change. We spent 10 years in Melbourne running the centre, but had always wanted to move up to Queensland. We bought a caravan, travelled for seven months, then decided to make Redcliffe home. We’ve been there two years now,” Kris says.
“We had a desire to open up something cool and funky, and that’s what we believe we’ve created – it’s a little different from reception life. We became comfortable with hosting functions. Things are booked at least three months in advance, you know your overheads, how many staff to put on, and your goal is to serve 300 to 400 amazing dishes in half an hour. Café life is a lot less structured with more creative freedom.”
Kris took over the pre-existing beachside business and made it his own, gutting it and revamping the interior to create a “trendy, comfortable space” complete with charging stations, and a swing overlooking Moreton Bay.
When it came to selecting the coffee supplier, Kris looked no further than Veneziano Coffee Roasters. “It was a no brainer,” he says.
Café Manager and trainer Megan Shadforth says Veneziano’s support has been instrumental in getting all the baristas up to standard, and excited about learning.
“Having specialty coffee, equipment, training and execution is so important,” she says. “We don’t just deliver a coffee, we deliver a full experience.”
On a three-group La Marzocco machine, Café Diversity runs Veneziano’s Forza as the house blend, in addition to a Brazilian single origin for cold drip, and single origin espresso.
“The Forza has beautiful notes of almond, dark chocolate and caramel that cuts through milk,” she says.
“The single origin has notes of peaches and strawberry with a brown sugar finish.”
Megan says the Brisbane coffee scene is booming. She has watched it grow over the past nine years with more people searching for specialty coffee.
On the menu, Café Diversity features a global menu with a modern twist, including apple crumble and French toast on the all-day breakfast menu, and pork belly bao buns, and smokey bacon gnocchi on the lunch menu.
Kris says the aim is to put their own spin on classics, and be visually inspiring.
“We let the food and coffee do the talking, but when you see customers take photos of what they’re drinking and eating, that’s got to bring a smile to your face,” he says.
Café Diversity
75 Redcliffe Parade, Redcliffe,
Queensland, 4020
Open seven days, 7am to 4pm
(07) 3284 6956