With cafes dotted across the Peninsula, it’s fair to say locals love their beverages, but it’s the culture, craft and creativity surrounding coffee that can bring people even closer.
For more than a decade, a group of mates have met most mornings at a Woody Point cafe, including Cafe 3 Eight Nine on Oxley Avenue, and have more recently been ‘’blown away” by a local barista’s artistic flair.
“I thought it was pretty cool and hadn’t seen any cafe doing that around Brisbane for some years,” Cafe 3 Eight Nine’s regular patron, Bruce, said.
From bunnies and snowmen to swans, seahorses and unicorns, Aastha’s latte art creations add extra life to the group’s morning ritual, according to Bruce.
Bruce said the gesture also fostered a deeper connection between barista and customer, noting that Aastha even remembered he was left-handed and positioned his cup accordingly.
He said the mateship with his pals and a shared affinity with the cafe’s staff had enriched his life with “warmth and connection beyond what one could reasonably expect”.
Artistic Passion and Community Connection
Aastha said her admiration for coffee art in her native Nepal had inspired her to attend a dedicated school before moving to Australia, where she would eventually put her skills into practice.
Seeing customers enjoy her creations has encouraged her to keep learning, while giving her a sense of fulfilment.
“Even something as simple as a little heart or a bunny on top of a coffee can make someone’s day a bit better,” she said.
Bruce said the informal group comprised 10 regulars and about half a dozen occasional visitors, mostly retirees – all highly valued for their company.
He credited 81-year-old retired Qantas pilot Graham’s zest for life (who cycles from Taigum at least three times a week) and Greg’s warmth with bringing them all closer together.
Bruce said Aastha’s sensitivity and humour had helped foster a real sense of community, with the group learning about her native Nepal and the challenges of studying in Australia on a visa.
“I think Cafe 3 Eight Nine’s coffee is the best I have had anywhere in the world,” Bruce concluded, and from the sound of it, the human connection is just as good as the brew itself.
Read more stories from our Redcliffe Guide print magazine here:
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- What’s Hot Around Town
- Podcast Review: The Pub Quiz Pod
- The Fox
- The Calm Before the Storms: What Jobs to Tackle Now
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- Organic Gardening in November
- Thank Your Teacher With a Thoughtful Gift
- Convoy for Kids Rolls Into Redcliffe For A Cause
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- Lumber of Love for Redcliffe and District Woodcraft Society
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- Happy Hens Happier Homes
- “Lady” Robertson: An Unexpected Life
- Still Going Strong at 86
- Blue Day Event Brings Men’s Health Into Focus
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- Wildlife Spotlight: Redcliffe’s Most Cuddly Marsupials
- Redcliffe Volunteer Awards
- Recycling Week: Small Change Adds Up
