Pearson St, Charlestown Square NSW
(02) 4943 8800
Ben Irvine has stepped out to be an independent café owner, after years in a business development role within the Gloria Jean’s coffee management structure. One Tree Café is his newest project – an espresso bar in Charlestown, near Newcastle NSW.
Ben was born into the coffee business, along with his father Peter Irvine, who was one of the original developers of Gloria Jean’s and a big part of taking the ‘GJ’ franchise to its global standing. Gloria Jean’s is now one of the most exciting coffee franchise systems in the world and has hundreds of stores around the globe.
Ben, equipped with his wealth of knowledge and quest for independent success, has created One Tree Café. Ben picked the name from the coffee legend of the French Naval Officer who took a single germinated coffee plant from the French king’s private arbor to the island of Martinique, then from there took coffee to the rest of the new world.
Ben had a connection with Newcastle, marrying a Novacastrian lady, which made the choice much easier to start a business in the area. He has good support here, with close family contacts – which sure helps when you start a new business like a café. Jenny now works with Ben a few days a week, when she’s not looking after their three children.
The café is a smartly designed, compact espresso bar serving a selection of Morgan’s fresh roasted coffees from the line up of grinders. The café offers a different origin and blends weekly; there is even a dedicated grinder earmarked for freshly roasted decaf.
One Tree Café has become a popular destination for the retailers in the newly furbished Charlestown Square, with a constant line of dedicated customers who understand a quality approach to café service.
Ben sees good growth for his new business, as people accept his coffee ethos and philosophy, matched with excellent customer service from him and his friendly, skilled team.
Ben and his coffee crew have also included AeroPress into the daily coffee routine, and the local crowd has adapted quickly – watching the menu board for new beans to emerge.
We wish Ben, Jenny and his team all the best with this project and look forward to seeing some more One Tree Cafés scattered around the nation.
