MAYFIELD is not short of a coffee stop. In fact there are more than 10 cafes and small businesses between Maud and Selwyn streets, a 2.6 kilometre stretch of road, that serve up a brew.
Want a toastie on the side, a sweet treat, an iced latte tasting board perhaps, or even live music with your cup of coffee? Mayfield has it covered. There is even a business where you can get an espresso, a hair cut and laser hair removal all in the one shop.
But among this highly-caffeinated cafe landscape there are several businesses that have lasted the test of time, clocking up a decade in this Newcastle suburb. Talk to any of these barista business owners and they all say the same thing - when it comes to longevity in the coffee industry, it is the support from the local people of Mayfield that keep them running.
One local business is The Side Pocket, or as it has just been rebranded, The Pocket. Run by busy working mums Amy and Katherine Baldwin, the cafe has just reopened at a new location on the main strip.
Amy opened The Side Pocket more than 10 years ago in a little corner cafe in Mayfield next to the BP petrol station.
"I have always worked in hospitality, I love it, but I was just done with working for other people," she said.
"When we started it was pretty basic."
Since then the business has grown and so has Amy's family. Partner and practising radiographer Katherine helps run things while also working at Lingard Hospital. The pair have teenager Indie, 14, and also chase after busy two-year-old Remy. It was clear how ingrained this family was with the local community as friends stopped to say hello while the Newcastle Herald was visiting. Remy in particular appears to be a much-loved regular as part of the cafe's team of six staff, though maybe not as productive as the older members of the team. It is these close relationships with the community that Amy says are the reason the family has been able to stay in business for so long.
"We've made so many friends here," she said.
"People come in and we've been to their house for dinner, and they have been to ours. Building relationships with people is definitely important."
The new space, which has previously been a pastry business and a coffee shop, has been renovated to match the cafe's relaxed style. It provides customers with more space to eat in, there is a fully-fenced outdoor courtyard, and the increased space means a refreshed menu. Star dishes include the Reuben sandwich and very popular garlic yoghurt eggs.
"We do everything here, we do all of the pickling, make the relishes, cook the corned meat," Amy said.
Top coffee order from the people of Mayfield? A full cream flat white.
Of course the landscape of Mayfield has changed significantly in the past 10 years. When The Side Pocket first opened, one of its only competitors was Michelle's Patisserie, but these days there are an array of coffee shops and cafes to choose from.
COFFEE COMPETITION
The team at The Stack Shack, a Mayfield stalwart business, believe the competition for coffee drinkers is "healthy and makes businesses do something to stand out".
Chef and manager Owen Nguyen prides himself on his homemade fresh sausage rolls, no breadcrumbs of course, and the cafe's very popular bacon and egg rolls.
"Our location makes us very visible and we get a lot of tradies and office workers," he said.
"There's lots of foot traffic, it is almost like Mayfield's town square here."
The team said the coffee crowd was split between "boomers", students, people who have relocated to the area, and parents with prams, with each cafe catering to a different demographic.
One thing stays the same at the shack - Mayfield's coffee order, a flat white on full cream milk ... or almond milk, if that is your vibe.
PARENTS & PRAMS
A Mayfield classic and one of the favourites among parents and grandparents alike is Onyx Espresso Bar.
While ownership changed hands almost four years ago now, the cafe has kept its reputation as a good spot to stop for a bite to eat, benefited by its sunny back courtyard.
"We always have mum's groups in here, just the other day we had 10 mums and 10 kids all running around," manager Tanishq Lakhina said.
"We get families, locals, lots of regulars, even occasional tourists. Saturday is the busiest, and Sundays our Uber food deliveries are crazy busy."
Not growing up with coffee as a focal point in his life, Lakhina was quick to realise how much locals needed their morning brew when he started his role at Onyx.
"People want their coffee and they want it early in the morning. We open at 6am but there is a line when I get here at 5.40am in the morning. Mayfield people are early risers."
While avocado toast, the breakfast burrito and vegan pancakes remain favourites on the menu, the Onyx iced latte tasting board is definitely a showstopper over the summer months.
What does Mayfield like to drink at Onyx? A full cream latte, please.
COFFEE & COMMUNITY
If you keep walking down Maitland Road you might find yourself taking a detour into the serenity of the lane at Perry The Feeder food truck. Opening back in 2017, owner operator Jules Perry did not know she was about to be embraced by the local community for years to come. Seven years later and the toasties are still serving up melted moments while locals gathers to drink their coffees in the little hideaway cafe grounds.
"Mayfield is super local and just a good little community area," she said.
"Building relationships with the community has been the key. I have seen families come in and have multiple babies. It is pretty special."
While the cafe has tested out new food items and different specials, the loaded toasties always come off as the winner. With most of the foot traffic stopping in for takeaways, it makes sense that the Sloppy Joe Meatball and the Sweet Hen toasties are the favourites.
Washed down with an oat or full cream milk latte of course.
MAYFIELD MANIA
The list of cafe options goes on and on down Maitland Road. Bespoke Gentleman offers hair cuts while you drink an espresso. A little off the main road, Josie Coffee stocks a range of different beans, Papa Al's has a large lunchtime menu and the team at crowd favourite Equium Social have used their knowledge of running a successful local cafe to launch a second site called Untitled 59 in Branxton.
Mayfield takes its coffee breaks very seriously.
Where should we go next? What is your suburb known for? Email your food and drink news to jessica.brown@newcastleherald.com.au
