La Familia Coffee: Building Community in Stafford One Cup at a Time

La Familia on Minimine Street in Stafford has now been trading for just over a year. Mark and Amelia have received many great reviews for their coffee and fare.

They were kind enough to talk about how it has evolved.


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What’s La Familia’s #1 Breakfast option?

Our La Familia Big Breakfast is a weekend favourite, and we offer a Veggie Big Breakfast for a delicious plant-based option.

La Familia Espresso Bar Big Breakfast
Photo Credit: Facebook/La Familia Espresso Bar

For something lighter, try our smashed avocado with fresh avocado and feta on sourdough, or try our freshly prepared pastries.

All our sandwiches are prepared in-house, with gluten-free options available upon request.

You have a stunning logo. What’s the story behind it?

Our logo is inspired by the Tree of Life, symbolising growth, connection, and community. The branches reach outward, representing the friendships we’ve formed, while each leaf symbolises a new connection that has become part of the La Familia Family.

You’ve been in business for just over a year now, talk about your regulars and the warmth of the local community.

We’ve just celebrated our first year in business. Since we opened our doors a year ago, our business has grown in ways we couldn’t have imagined. Like many small businesses, we’ve had our fair share of challenges, but what keeps us going is the joy of serving our community.

We have listened to our customers’ feedback, expanding our menu to offer something for everyone. The support from our regulars like Margaret, Principal Sarah, Bodhi, Dave with the hat, Glenda, Ross, and the Walshes—to name just a few—has been truly heartwarming.

Every smile, every conversation, and every opportunity to provide genuine, old-fashioned service reminds us why we started this journey.

We take pride in providing employment opportunities to those who need it most—whether they are unemployed, from immigrant backgrounds, or part of the First Nations community.

The highlight of our first year has been the sense of community that has blossomed here. We’re more than a cafe; we’ve become a gathering place where friendships form and stories are shared. Thanks to our incredible customers, we have built a warm, tight-knit community that truly feels like family.

La Familia is built on the belief that everyone deserves a chance, and it is our mission to offer that chance, day after day.

Our café’s wall of gratitude honours those who’ve supported us, and our cherry blossom tree of gratitude invites our customers to leave messages about what family and community mean to them. And then there’s our coffee—our specialty. We take great pride in sourcing the finest beans to deliver an experience that brings people together.

We believe that each cup of coffee, each pastry, and each smile served at La Familia is a small but significant part of building a strong, more connected community.

That brings me to the Wesley Mission’s Orca Project. We’ve been involved since March this year, and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the Orca Project, it provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to engage in work experience and build valuable skills.

At La Familia, we’ve welcomed around eight participants so far, each of whom have completed four-week work placements, two hours per week, accompanied by a support worker.

The tasks they take on are diverse, ranging from food preparation to customer service and cleaning, and our team and customers have embraced them with open arms.

These participants bring an energy and enthusiasm that is contagious, and we’ve seen firsthand the positive impact this program has on their confidence, skills, and sense of belonging.

Photo Credit: Facebook/La Familia Espresso Bar
What makes La Familia unique?

At La Familia, we’re more than just a cafe. We focus on creating a welcoming, inclusive space where everyone feels part of our community. We’re proud to support local causes, employ people from diverse backgrounds and showcase the work of local artists. Our menu is crafted with high-quality ingredients and we’re always working to make it fresh and exciting!

Do you have options for dietary restrictions?

Yes, we offer a variety of options for different dietary needs, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten free, and we’ll do our best to accommodate.

Do you bake your pastries in-house?

We bake our croissants and danishes freshly in-house on a daily basis.

How do you support the community?

Supporting the community is at the heart of what we do. We offer employment opportunities to people from immigrant backgrounds and First Nations communities and we’re involved with the Wesley Mission’s Orca Project, which provides work experience for people with disabilities. We’re also proud to feature the work of local artists and support mental health initiatives.

Is La Familia pet-friendly?

Yes, we are a pet-friendly cafe. We welcome pets in our outdoor seating area and we have water bowls for our furry friends.

Is La Familia child-friendly?

Yes, we welcome families and have high chairs for toddlers.

Is La Familia wheelchair-accessible?

Yes, we’re fully wheelchair-accessible, with ramps available to ensure that everyone can comfortably enjoy our space.

Can I reserve a table or space for a small event or for breakfast/lunch?

Of course! We’re happy to accommodate small groups and events. Give us a call on 0434 901 366, drop us an email at lafamiliacoffee.co@outlook.com or visit us in-store at Shop 2, 20 Minimine Street, Stafford and we will do our best to accommodate.


Read: La Familia – Coveted Coffee and Freshly Baked French Pâtisserie Everyday In Stafford


What are your opening hours?

We’re open 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekends. Come by anytime for a coffee, a bite to eat, or just to say hi!

Is there parking nearby?

Yes, there’s ample parking nearby, so you can visit us without any hassle.

Published 01-November-2024

La Familia – Coveted Coffee and Freshly Baked French Pâtisserie Everyday In Stafford

Baking their French Pâtisserie on site every day whilst serving specialty coffee in a pet-friendly indoor and alfresco seating area, Mark Fletcher and Amelia Chan have brought a sanctuary to local people.

“Oh my goodness! Why is the whole of Australia not talking about this place. The food is awesome. The desserts sublime and the coffee amazing.
Not sure really if I want to share about this place because as people hear about it, my favourites will be gone 😭 ”

S TNOYB

When Mark and Amelia established La Familia six months ago, they were committed to three very specific goals:

  • To unearth the very best specialist coffee
  • To offer Delicious Fresh Fayre from freshly baked Vegan Raspberry Croissants to French Butter Croissants to Almond Croissants to French Chocolate Croissants along with scrumptious Portuguese tarts and a range of other pastries.
  • To train and employ the underprivileged and give them a go.
La Familia Coffee Stafford
Photo Credit: Supplied
La Familia Coffee Stafford
Photo Credit: Supplied

Mindfulness & Gratitude

Beyond providing customers with a delicious chapter to their day, Mark and Amelia also hold mental health high on their priority list, “Through initiatives like the Big Blue Table, we raise funds for Beyond Blue while fostering a safe haven for community connection,” says Mark.



As passionate advocates of Mental Health, they have established a wall of gratitude, “the wall of gratitude provides recognition to those who have contributed to our journey, while our cherry blossom tree of gratitude invites personal reflections on the meaning of family,” says Amelia.

At the end of the year, they express their thanks by drawing cards of heartfelt messages from the cherry blossom tree of gratitude with Bunnings and IKEA gift cards.

“We take the time to connect with each customer on a personal level, creating a friendly atmosphere making every visit memorable,” says Mark and the reviews of La Familia certainly prove he isn’t just making that up.

Minimine Street Making a Comeback After Covid Decimation

La Familia is located on Minimine St, off Webster Road in Stafford.

Minimine Street is famous for the annual Christmas Lighting competition when several thousand locals attend the houses that make a special effort.

Before Covid, Minimine Street had developed a thriving retail community that was decimated by the pandemic but La Familia is leading the comeback and the community feel is returning.

Painting by Noreen Walsh- Artist/Supplied

Mark asked a local artist to produce this painting and La Familia also educates its customers on the different taste notes of the current beans on offer.

“Genuinely the best coffee I’ve had in my entire life. The smoothies, pastries and sandwiches are also a solid 10/10. Everyone is super friendly and my days are always better after walking through the door.”

Andrew

“Great music and great coffee, super croissants 🥐 hope you locals know how lucky you are?”

Malcolm

“Amazing coffee!!! Every food item I’ve tried has been great especially the Portuguese tarts which are perfect. Friendly, knowledgeable service.”

Jess

La Familia can also cater to large groups.

“We are championing mental health awareness and building a stronger, more connected community, one conversation at a time”, says Mark.

These guys really deserve your support!



La Familia is proud to be a Promotional Partner of Kedron Today

Published 10-Oct-2024