There’s a certain kind of cafe you only really find in a beachside suburb, and Caffene Break in Runaway Bay is exactly that. Not the one with the queue out the door and a long wait for a flat white. The one where the coffee is already being made before you’ve finished walking through the door, because the person behind the machine knows what you order.
Tucked into Bayview Street on the northern end of the Gold Coast, Caffene Break has quietly become one of the most loved places for coffee in Runaway Bay.
Where the Runaway Bay regulars have regular seats
Mornings at Caffene Break start early and move at exactly the pace you want them to. Tradies and commuters swing through for a takeaway on the run. Walkers coming back from the Broadwater settle in for breakfast. Mid morning brings the catch up crowd, the ones who came for a coffee and are still there an hour later, because nobody is rushing them out.
A new drinks menu, built with intention
Here’s the part most customers won’t notice, and honestly, that’s the point. Behind every good cafe menu is a lot of quiet work.
Caffene Break recently came on board with Kellys Distributors, a family owned cafe drinks supplier delivering to venues across South East Queensland, with a range that spans alternative milks, syrups, juices, sodas and specialty drinks. What started as a simple enquiry turned into a proper collaboration.
“We reached out to Kellys and got a call back from Katrina, and she organised to come in and sit down with us.”
From there, the two worked through a full refresh of the drinks offering together.
“We’ve been collaborating on a new drink menu completely with her input, and the whole experience was made really easy.”
For a cafe with a clear sense of its own identity, finding a supplier who could keep up was the real test.
“We thought we had a very unique and custom taste in drinks, but Kellys had everything we were looking for.”
That range turned out to be a genuine surprise.
“We only knew about one or two products that Kellys had, and then we started to explore the other options. We didn’t realise the range was so diverse, but it offered us a one stop shop solution.”
And it wasn’t just about what was on the list. Even the very first order came with a hand on the shoulder.
“Even our first order we worked on with her, looking at where to take advantage of the best discounting, so it’s really helpful. We’re working with a supplier that actually wants to save you money as well, which is pretty good.”
Running a local cafe means making careful decisions every single week. A supplier who helps you order smarter isn’t just a nice extra. It’s part of how a local cafe stays a local cafe.
Why it matters to you, the person just wanting a coffee
All of that behind the scenes work shows up in your cup.
More ways to have your coffee. A proper alternative milk range means anyone who doesn’t do dairy isn’t stuck with an afterthought.
A specials board worth reading. A considered range of syrups and specialty products means seasonal drinks actually change.
The little cafe stays the little cafe. A supplier who helps the team buy well is one of the quiet reasons a local can keep doing things properly.
Visiting Caffene Break in Runaway Bay
Address: 8 Bayview Street, Runaway Bay QLD 4216
Best for: morning coffee, weekday breakfast, takeaway on the run
Getting there: a few minutes from Runaway Bay Shopping Village, and an easy stop if you’re heading north along the Gold Coast Highway.
Order the usual, or ask what’s new on the drinks menu. There’s a good chance the answer will be something they built themselves, with a bit of help from a supplier who came and sat down at the table.