Their labour of love, Onyx Espresso Bar, is a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of busy Maitland Road and is fast becoming a hub for friends, families and even business associates to meet. 

And don’t be fooled by its name. Onyx Espresso isn’t one of those venues that tries way too hard to be hip. Here, it’s all about friendly faces and home-style cooking in a cosy, warm and welcoming environment. Oh, and coffee. Good coffee. 

Inside, there is a strong sense of “home” created by the carefully selected furniture and colours. It’s warm, cosy and familiar, and artwork by Newcastle creative types adorns the walls.  

Leya has a background in hospitality management and is passionate about coffee. As for Kathy, she describes herself somewhat modestly as “a good home cook”.

In 2014 the pair decided to combine their talents and open a cafe in Newcastle, drawn by its thriving arts scene and beaches. It took them two years to find the perfect spot.

“We are proud that we have created a small but comfortable espresso bar environment that has been warmly received by businesses and locals,” Kathy said. 

“As a mother and daughter team we’ve had a bumpy ride starting our new business but our respect and love for one another has been a great foundation for an enduring business relationship.”

On weekdays tradies and business people grab a coffee, pastry or toastie on the run but on weekends the atmosphere at Onyx is relaxed and popular with families. The menu, which includes a “build your own breakfast” option, is a team effort. 

“Our wonderful staff member Demi contributes a great variety of vegan and vegetarian options while Kathy is good with the classics,” Leya explained. 

“Our home-made soup is proving popular at the moment and our cronuts are crowd favourites.” 

Newcastle is known for its strong coffee game however Kathy and Leya feel they more than hold their own.

“After sourcing and trying five local coffee roasters we decided to go with Glee Coffee Roasters who not only have a passion for coffee but are also a family-run business,” Leya said.

“Every Thursday a Glee family member delivers the beans personally to the cafe.”