Wholesale Diaries: Miss Mat
This week we visit Miss Mat, located on the busy and buzzing Carlisle Street of Balaclava.
Miss Mat isn't your average local cafe. Known for great coffee, delicious food and the vibrant energy of the owner Clara (and her equally amazing team), Miss Mat has become a community hub where staff and customers have become more like family.
Formerly known as Mr Mat, the cafe went through a change of ownership and was newly named when Clara took over. She brought her warmth, humour and her liveliness to transform the space into something that is just as much about connection, community and laughter as it is about serving good coffee and food.
Axil Coffee: What’s the Story behind the name?
Miss Mat: So originally it was Mr Mat but now it’s Miss Mat. Mr Mat, the previous owner, ended up closing and moving away overseas and we just decided to take it over because I loved Mr Matt. So we transitioned from what it was into a new, different type of cafe with a different vibe.
Axil Coffee: What’s been the biggest challenge for you running the cafe?
Miss Mat: There have been so many challenges, and it’s been mostly the equipment - fridges breaking down and losing stock because of it. That’s probably been the biggest challenge that we’ve experienced so far. The only thing that hasn't been a challenge is our coffee - so a big thank you to
Axil Coffee! Axil Coffee has been amazing and all of our customers love it - Axil is Axil. You’re renowned for what you do. If I make a mistake on the order or if I’m running short, I can always call you up and that support is probably the highlight for me.
Axil Coffee: You guys always seem like you’re having so much fun. What do you think keeps your customers coming back?
Miss Mat: When you walk into a cafe, you can sense if it has the wrong vibe. We’re friendly to one another, we make jokes with one another and customers get involved. There are some customers now who even help us clear the tables when we’re busy! There aren’t many cafes where you’re not just a random person - we see you as part of our family. People see that we’re having a good time, having a laugh - you don’t want to walk into a cafe where you see the boss screaming or where everyone is stressed. Even if we are stressed, we still can have a laugh about it.
Axil Coffee: How have you been able to create such a strong team culture?
Miss Mat: We try to keep everything lighthearted and fun. The majority of us go out together after work - you become like a family with your team and I think that’s really important because when you treat your staff well, in turn, they’ll support you and won’t let you down. That’s what it’s all about - supporting each other and treating each other well.
A big thank you to the team at Miss Mat - it's such a privilege to partner with passionate and like-minded cafe owners and individuals within the coffee community. If you're in the Balaclava area, don't forget to say hi to the folks at Miss Mat at 261 Carlisle St, Balaclava.
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