How an old Washing Machine Repairers has transformed into Studio Made Coffee
Subscribe
X

Subscribe to Forte Magazine

Eat

How an old Washing Machine Repairers has transformed into Studio Made Coffee

A lifetime of design knowledge blended with years of coffee making experience have united to establish a must-see location on the Newtown map.
When you haven’t had a coffee in over six months so you order a long black under pressure and it goes down as smoothly as an ice cold beer on a 41-degree day, you know you’ve found a caffeine destination that will maintain the much-needed consistency the Geelong coffee community is craving.
Located in a cute little nook in Newtown on Holyrood Avenue, Studio Made Coffee combines art and local produce to deliver a unique and exciting dining experience. Long-time artist Darren McGinn, the mastermind behind the operation, has been teaching boutique pottery classes for over five years, with many of his students contributing to the inaugural success of the café. Alongside his barista daughter Molly and a team of helpers, Darren has transformed his backyard classes into a creative hotspot, combining artistic talent with quality food and caffeine.
Having dreamt of the idea for a while, Darren and Molly thank chance for stumbling upon the space. “We had been looking around for a long time and had always said we’d know it when we see it. Perfectly situated in a community neighbourhood, we thought it would be ideal. The Holyrood strip of shops is small, and the business community there is extremely warm and friendly. The gallery was always something Dad wanted to do, partly to showcase his own art and design works, and the café add on was an aspect I was keen to develop having been involved in the hospitality industry,” Molly says.
To test the waters, Darren invited three other artists to join him in opening an exhibition at the space a few weeks before Christmas on a sunny Saturday afternoon. “The local community was amazing, providing us with lots of reassurance and encouragement. Many said they had been waiting a long time for a local cafe, and it is just what the area needs. The feedback and suggestions were fantastic,” Molly says. A family built initiative, the establishment of Studio Made Coffee involved a serious amount of hard work. “There is not a square inch on that building that has not been touched by Darren’s working hands. It was a very long, considered process, taking almost 12 months to develop the physical space, pretty much single handedly. The kitchen is a creation in itself, having been custom made by Darren using mostly second hand materials aside from the concrete formply,” Molly says.
Studio made
In celebration of local talent, the choice to source coffee beans from a North Geelong provider was a no-brainer. With a name like Coffee Snobs, it’s no surprise the beans extract pure goodness. The café also uses produce from Geelong-based foodies such as Ket Baker, Pane Di Matteo, _lovefrankie, Schulz Milk and La Madre Bakery.
If you’re interested in visiting the café, pop into 15 Holyrood Avenue, Newtown.
You can also catch their latest news on Instagram – @studiomadecoffee, @studiomadegeelong & on Darren’s website http://studiomadebydarrenmcginn.com/

Written by Hannah Kenny