Steve

Tamworth, NSW
0417 286 167

Areas Serviced

Steve's coffee van services the New South Wales Tamworth region including Tamworth, North Tamworth, East Tamworth, South Tamworth, West Tamworth, Westdale, Taminda, Oxley Vale, Nemingha.

 

Tamworth in a larger map

What do you love about being on the Cafe2u team?	Now that I have been running for almost 12 months, the word id definitely out there that CAFE2U Coffee just has to be tasted... the blend's reputation is growing in Tamworth, and really, I am just along for the ride.. I love being associated with this blend, it has such a good reputation... I've also recently had a need to call on support for a breakdown, and the support I got was breathtaking.
What did you do before Cafe2U?	I was a Production Manager with a Defence Company, and prior to that I was in the Navy, operating the stuff I was then managing to produce... so, what I used to try and break, was then what I tried to make.
What is your favourite Cafe2u moment?	I turned up at an event that was pre-arranged, only to be turned away... not wanting to do any damage to my business, I graciously adhered to the directions, but one lady, who had tasted my coffee on the previous week, laid down in front of my van and wouldn't let me go!!! The event organiser who declined my attendance was flabbergasted.... I made her a sneaky one around the corner and all of us were happy.... I also love being labelled the most important part of some people's day!!!
What's your favourite Cafe2U drink?	Pretty simple tastes for me, but still..bloody great coffee.. Skinny Flat white, no sugar.
What do you do to be involved in your local community?	I am working closely with the "Tamworth's kids adventure playground" project in providing coffees to the workers (gratis) and attending events and providing a percentage (more than the normal percentage) of takings to the project...

What's New

2012

March

Pictured below is Tamworth's very own leprechaun who was sighted serving coffee around town on St Patricks Day this year.

February

Funeral Service For Senior Constable David Rixon

Cafe2U Tamworth’s Steve was on hand serving coffee when a sea of blue took over the grounds of St Paul’s Anglican Church on Thursday as police officers from across the state gathered with heavy hearts to farewell slain officer Senior Constable David Rixon.

Steve pictured below with Acting Sergeant Frank Gaal, and old mate of Steves' from Mount Druit Highway Patrol.

January

Cafe2U Tamworth has started the New Year off in their ususal manner, with a couple of new outfits to suits the occassions!

Below Steve is proudly modelling his Australia Day getup.

 

.... and here he is sporting his celebration gear for Cafe2U Tamworth's First Birthday. Happy Birthday Steve!

December 2011

Where's Wally?

I dont believe too many are going to get bored waiting in line for the best coffee in the Northern Tablelands. Steve's customers are all too busy hunting for Wally whilst they wait! These photos were taken at The Merriwa Relay For Life..before the crowds arrived, but the feedback from this activity was fantastic.

        

 

 

Article from Issue 19 of the Northern Daily Leader: BEST DRESSED BARISTA

Tamworth barista Steve McCarthy from Cafe2U is nothing if not a snappy dresser.

Not only does Steve make great coffee, he also looks the part for special occasions.

For the confirmed Sea Eagles fan, the 2011 NRL premiership was too good an opportunity to pass up, so he showed his true colours to cusotmers on grand final day.

Then on Melbourne Cup Day, it was service with a smile as usual - but with an extra spiffy, formal look.

It's always good to have a laugh - and Steve is a great advocate of this, as our photos show.

 

 

 

 

November 2011

Steve's media megastarness has come to the fore again with this article in the Northern Daily Leader !

TAMWORTH barista Sieve McCarthy almost needs to broadcast a warning with his coffee.
It's highly addictive. One cup and you're hooked.
At least, that's how it's been since Steve bought the Cafe2U franchise and began operations in Tamworth in January this year.
He believes the secret to the enticing flavour is the award-winning coffee beans.
In November last year, Cafe2U was awarded a bronze medal in the prestigious CSR Golden Bean Roasting Competition.
Held in Port Macquarie. the CSR Golden Bean Roasting Competition is the largest coffee roasting competition in the southern hemisphere and has been modelled on the success of the wine industry awards, where actual winemakers judge the quality of the products.
All the coffees presented were expertly prepared by some of the world's best baristas. From more than 1000 entries which came from across Australia and Asia. Cafe2U secured a bronze medal in the strongly-contested coffee chain category of the awards.
"Once people try it, they won't stop buy­ing it," Steve said. "You could say I'm a legal drug dealer."
Steve, who's originally from Glen Innes moved to Tamworth in January with wife Jayne and their two young boys, Logan 10 and five-year-old Troy.
The tree-change was just what the doctor ordered for this couple determined not to raise their kids in the city.
Jayne is enjoying country life and has secured some part time work with one of Steve's suppliers, Pura Milk.
She's also kept fairly busy as a Mary Kay cosmetics business owner. Born and raised in Glen Innes, Steve left the country in the early '80s to "see the world" - he joined the navy and spent the next 20 years serving on board ships.
After leaving life at sea, he retained close ties with his former occupation as production manager for Thales, an elec­tronics systems company that, among other things, manufactures items for navy ships and combat vehicles.
He worked there for 10 years before it was suggested he take up a coffee fran­chise by the Cafe2U franchisee from St Marys who made daily visits to Steve's workplace. "As he called at work every day. we became friends and when I told him I was looking for a change of lifestyle, he suggested I might like to try my hand at being a barista in my own business." Steve said.
1 went along on his run with him, serviced the machines and got to know the way the business operated. It was a win-win situation because he got a $5000 tip for referring me to the compa­ny - and we got the lifestyle we wanted in the country.'"
Steve said lifestyle was the major fac­tor that drew him to the business and he hasn't regretted it for one minute since making the decision to leave Sydney.
“I’m home when the kids get home from school and get to spend quality time with my family." he said,
"We play cricket, go for bike rides, go down to the park - the normal, tradition­al family stuff. It's great.
"Jayne thinks it's awesome that I'm home early and can run the business from home."
When he began the business, Steve fully expected to put in 12 months of hard slog before turning over a profit.
Just seven months down the track, he's already seeing a profit and looking to increase his run across Tamworth.
Almost 80 per cent of his daily stops are in the Taminda area.
“You can't miss the distinctive bright red van. I’ve got other stops outside of Taminda but I have a few gaps that I'm hoping to fill," he said.
The best way to arrange for Steve to call at your workplace is to either phone him or flag him down.
He'll then arrange a time for a daily visit, but won't do one-offs.
"I find providing a dedicated daily service is the best way to operate. If I did one-offs I[ may disappoint my regular customers by arriving late and I don't want to do that." Steve said.
He said the most popular coffee he made was cappuccino, with caramel lattes running a close second. He also makes smoothies, frappes and offers hot and cold food. Most of his business comes from referrals from existing clients.  "Word just gets around. A lot of my customers have come to me from other customers, just because they reckon the coffee and the service I offer is good." he said.
So be warned. If you are game enough to try his coffee, you could become an addict. But hey…..what a delicious way to go.

 

October 2011

Steve made the local news again, this time for being a Manly Supporter ... they caught up with him on his run

August 2011

July 2011

Steve has been serving Cafe2U coffee at the Australian Motorcross Championships... these were held at Goanna Tracks, which is about 30k west of Coonabarrabran... AKA...Middle of %$#@ing nowhere!!!!  
Steve used 5 x kilos of coffee and 3 x kilos of chocolate on the day - starting at 3am and serving great beverages through to a 6 pm finish - quite a day !

The Big Mother

Steve was asked to serve coffee's for a mining company in Muswellbrook who commissioned the biggest mining truck ever seen in Australia... Seeing the Photo's with CAFE2U in the foreground puts it into perspective.

 

June 2011

Steve featured in a number of media items reporting on the government's initiative to support relocation to regional areas with a $7000 grant.

The Sydney Morning Herald ran an article "When it all gets too much, take $7000 to escape the rat race". Click here to view (139 KB).

1106 2UE radio interview - click here to listen (5.5 MB).

Today Tonight interview - click here to view (5.5 MB)

 

April 2011




Meet the McCarthy Family - the faces behind the van.

Newspaper Article

Further to Steve's TV interview last month, The McCarthy family appeared in the April 4th edition of the Northern Daily Leader newspaper in an article titled "Opportunities Knocking In City".  Click here to read the article.

Feast on a Long Lunch

"Feast on a Long Lunch" was held in the Peel Street, Tamworth on the first Sunday in April, with Steve doing the honours of serving coffee.

"Feast on a Long Lunch" is a celebration of regional food and produce, offering locals the opportunity to savour a delicious five-course lunch, seated at a long table running the length of Tamworth’s Peel Street, in the heart of the CBD.









February 2011

The McCarthy family were interviewed by NBN TV about moving from Sydney to Tamworth. Click on the link below to view the interview. Dont forget to turn up your sound! Click here to view