“I love getting to know the residents and customers. I always say though I’m not good with names but I’ll remember your coffee order.”

Interaction with people is what drives Louise and she says the perfect cup of coffee comes from ‘patience and practice’. After a career in hospitality, Louise knows a lot about coffee - from the early years helping in her parents in their bakery through to working in the Royal Adelaide Hospital Café.

While she’s an expert at making fresh sandwiches and paninis for the cabinet, Louise says even she sometimes gets stumped by a coffee order once in a while.

“Someone asked me for a dry cappuccino recently and I’d never heard of that one before. It’s a strong shot of coffee and froth on top but there’s no actual milk in it.”

Now with more walk-ins due to positive word of mouth and the weekly Wednesday specials going well, Louise says keeping busy is easier with a supportive team around her.

“Hospitality can be cut-throat so it’s really nice that everyone has your back here and it’s much more relaxed, I think the residents and customers feel it too.”

Woodlands Café in Arvida Aria Bay community can be found at 3/7 Woodlands Crescent, Browns Bay. It's open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am until 3pm.