A caffeinated Christmas morning

FOR the sixth year, Johnny Alloo and FIKA Coffee Brewers staff will serve coffees on Christmas morning for a good cause.

The Berry Street Christmas Appeal will run from one base at Johnny’s on Drummond Street, with all sales of brews and pastries between 8am and 11am donated to the child, youth, and family services organisation.

“It’s important to us to support a local charity close to home that the community here can get around, that being Berry Street,” said venue manager Sam Anstis.

“Their cause resonates with us and has a local impact.”

This year, a laneway market is also set to run beside the cafe, with locals organised to bake or make food or crafts to sell.

“Some of our regular customers and community members will be baking things to sell to generate some more proceeds for Berry Street.

“That’s a new addition this year, and something we’ve been wanting to do, getting everyone involved rather than just our team,” Mr Anstis said.

“Our aim every year is to improve on what we achieved the previous Christmas, so it would be awesome to see an even bigger turnout, especially through support of the market and that community involvement.

“Our goal is always to build on that.”

Mr Anstis said the feel on Christmas morning in the cafe, and outside on the footpath, is a positive and warm one, and he encourages everyone to drop by to experience it.

“Overall, the mood on the day is really electric,” he said. “Everyone’s there with one cause in mind, and there’s no impatience, everyone’s happy to wait, and it’s like one big Christmas party.

“There’s a family feel, a buzz, and a lot of energy over the three hours.”

Attwood’s mimosas will be available from 9.30am, and the FIKA shopfront on Doveton Street North will be closed.