41 Sydney St, Mackay QLD 4740
0437 773 776
There’s an exciting coffee buzz around Mackay, with the opening of Woodman’s Axe Espresso, the new coffee venture for owners Steve and Merryn Ward.
Steve and Merryn began their journey into the coffee world when they bought into the Gloria Jean’s Coffees franchise system. It was during this time their true passion for coffee started to brew. Ten years later, they sold their successful Gloria Jweans’ stores, and established Woodman’s Axe Espresso in late 2012, as Mackay’s first espresso bar serving high end and specialty coffee.
Merryn said moving from a franchise to an independent was not as daunting as some may think. “Over the years we have attended many coffee exhibitions and aligned ourselves with industry leaders who have graciously assisted us during our research. With this kind of backing and support, we knew we could make a successful transition.”
The espresso aficionados say finding suppliers who share their love of quality coffee, excellent customer service and consistency is key to operating a successful independent coffee house. Steve and Merryn believe they’ve found the right mix of specialist wholesale roasters and suppliers to ensure they’re one of the most sought-out espresso bars in the city.
Woodman’s Axe has three different espresso coffees to choose from; 5 Senses coffee as the house blend, a guest coffee from Smugglers, which is contract roasted by Peak Coffee and a Single Origin from Cup Coffee. Woodman’s Axe also offers brewed coffee, from Cup Coffee.
Steve said both he and Merryn feel it’s important to offer a variety of choices. “We love coffee so much and want to try as many different varieties and blends as possible.”
Steve said he’s excited to be able to introduce specialist, high-end coffee to curious coffee lovers. “Regional centres in Australia are still finding their feet, and this was a challenge for us to see if Mackay was truly ready for such a product. To our delight, our espresso bar has been well received, with new customers daily discovering the specialty taste of great coffee.”
