It’s hard to beat a gentle morning sea breeze accompanied by a world-class cup of coffee. Kristy and Alex Garbelini, owners of Cafe 140, in Bunbury know this all too well. Kristy, who trained as a chef in Perth, always wanted to have her own cafe. She decided to settle in Bunbury and opened Cafe 140 eight years ago with the help of just one other employee. Not long after that, she was able to recruit Alex, whose roots originally lie in dairy farming but has since transformed to an astonishingly good barista (it is said that he bleeds milk). Together, and with the addition of their son, Tom, they have built what they believe to be a continuously rewarding lifestyle within a dynamic region of WA.
As enthusiastic as they are about learning more about their industry, it may come as no surprise to learn that Kristy and Alex are obsessed with a love affair other than their own — homemade food and great quality coffee. The house blend is an artful combination of Indonesian and PNG flavours that are characterised by bright, fresh aromas, a big, bold taste, and undertones of pleasant earthiness and lingering complexity.
The novelty menu item, the Doorstopper Toast, is a meal in itself. When asked how the toast came into existence, Kristy said that it started from the fact that she didn’t like the look of smaller sliced bread and started to cut it in larger sections. Her dad thought it was too thick and said it could stop a door – voila Doorstopper! It is something that has given them a unique edge from the beginning and thus maintained a spot on the menu throughout the years.
While Bunbury, for many, is a stop on the road on the way to a further destination, Cafe 140 has managed to stake a claim on the historical town’s bustling cafe strip. With a corner location and open plan overlooking Victoria Street and Anzac Park, Kristy and Alex are always on the lookout for new opportunities and ways to expand. Their energy is contagious and a visit to Cafe 140 leaves you with the feeling that you’ve experienced a meal and a coffee made by people who truly love what they do.
Cafe 140
140 Victoria Street
Bunbury, WA 6230
Opening hours
Monday — Friday 7:00am — 4:30pm
Saturday 8:00am — 3:00pm
Sunday 8:30am — 2:00pm
oneforty.com.au
facebook.com/CafeOneForty
twitter.com/cafeoneforty
