First Look: Li’l Brew Espresso Bar

Posted on 5 October, 2023

In exciting news for caffeine lovers, a new addition to the Brew and Brew family has opened its doors in NewActon to bring good coffee and delicious grab-and-go food options to the area.

Taking over the space previously held by ILY, Charlie and Odul Dagseven of Brew and Brew Café and Bar are unveiling Li’l Brew Espresso Bar, their latest hospitality enterprise.

Aiming to help re-vitalise NewActon and bring new business to the area, the owners acknowledge that it will be a challenge to fill the big shoes left behind by the much-loved ILY team– but one that they’re up for.

“We love this space, we love the venue, the location and we understand it’s going to be a challenge. It’s been deactivated for so long and it’s scary for us as small business owners, but I think we’re up to the task,” says Charlie.

“We have a lot of experience, and we have a strong following in Canberra having done so many cafés here.”

Working together in hospitality since 2007 (which has seen them open Glasshouse Café, Chatterbox Espresso Bar, Mingle Espresso, and three Brew and Brew locations across Canberra), the brothers have always planned to do a continuation of the Brew and Brew chain. So, when Molonglo Group approached them to take over the vacant space, they decided ‘Why not?’.

“We wanted to downsize a bit and when this location came up, we thought it would work really well for the ideas we have,” says Odul.

“This one is Odi’s baby,” adds Charlie.

Bringing their signature coffee (which is roasted in affiliation with Vaneziano Coffee Roasters), caffiends will be excited to hear that drip coffee, filtered coffee and cold brew will also be on the menu.

 

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And for those searching for a quick and delicious breakfast or lunch, fresh sandwiches, hot pastries, salads, poke bowls, sushi, and healthy cakes and slices are just some of the offerings.

“It’s definitely an affordable, wholesome place. We’re not trying to chase this huge price point – we want people to be happy with the product and come back to us comfortably,” says Charlie.

“We have the other cafés to fall back onto. We have that full commercial kitchen which will be supplying us from Barton, and we have a variety of suppliers that our other cafés use that we might tap into and use here as well.”

“We respect our neighbours so much and we really don’t want to impede on them, so we just want to keep it fresh and different.”

 

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Now fitted out with calming dark blue interiors (that pays homage to the blue Brew and Brew brand), the original space ILY occupied has been subdivided, seeing limited indoor seating available in Li’l Brew (approximately 20 chairs).

While we’re currently unaware of what’s going in the area next door, to make up for the small capacity, the espresso bar will also be claiming some of the courtyard space outside Bicicletta – with plans to activate it just in time for the warm weather to kick in.

And with opening hours including Saturday mornings, it looks like it’ll be the perfect place to stop off pre- or post-lake walk for a coffee and a quick bite to eat.

“We’re going to bring a new taste to the New Acton area. We’re really looking forward to it,” says Charlie.