Image: Tom Lane
Over the past few months father–daughter duo Ben and Payton have been working away on their latest project, an elevated coffee bar style suburban cafe. After quietly soft-launching for locals, the brand new ‘Paytons’ is preparing for their grand opening this November.
Located in Hawthorn, Paytons is raising the bar for your usual cafe. Think wine bar – but for coffee!
“I’ve spent a lot of time in Melbourne, Sydney, and Singapore, where coffee-only shops really boom,” shared Ben. “They focus on great coffee and high-quality ingredients, and people love it. So that’s what we’re trying to do at Paytons.”
As for 12-year-old Payton, this is her first venture into the industry. Ben, who has seen success in business, owns the building, so thought it was the perfect idea for cafe-loving Payton, to get her foot in the door and try something new.
“Payton has always loved coffee shops. She’s spent her whole childhood hopping between cafes and has a real passion for bakeries and coffee. She always said she wanted to be a barista after school, so I thought, ‘Let’s just build you your own coffee shop’.
“It’s all about giving her a head start, building a brand for her, so that when she finishes school, she’s got her own business to help her through uni or whatever she decides to do. It’s a joint venture between dad and daughter, we’re both passionate about coffee, community, and creating a space people love.”
Ben says he envisions the cafe as a great space for those wanting somewhere calm to get some work done, study, or for a meeting.
“We really wanted to make a space for students, people working from home, and small business owners to come and work. Somewhere calm, not overstimulating, and peaceful – where you can focus, enjoy a coffee, and get some work done.”
As for the fit out, Ben and Payton have taken a lot of inspiration from coffee shops across Asia, a part of the world they love to visit.
“The layout takes cues from Japanese and Singaporean cafes, where people sit around the bar and chat with the barista. I was inspired by cafes in Asia and the US, especially LA, where people sit at the bar and it’s all very social and open.”
As for the food and drinks, they take inspiration from these destinations too. Payton says her favourite is the Erewhon-inspired Hailey Bieber Strawberry Glaze smoothie, which she loved on a recent trip to California. When it comes to ingredients, Ben’s focus is on supporting local.
“We’re focusing on SA-only brands. I live in Unley, and most cafes around here use Melbourne roasters because it’s cheaper. But I really wanted to support local. So we’re using beans from B3 in Blackwood, milk from Fleurieu Milk Company, and pastries and bagels from local bakeries. I sat down with Payton and we discussed the importance of supporting other local businesses at whatever cost. If small South Australian businesses support each other, we keep our economy thriving.”
Paytons officially opens November on 1st!
Paytons
When: Grand Opening, November 1st
Where: 130 Belair Road, Adelaide, South Australia 5062
For more information, click here.
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