Makers Coffee House: Where passion meets perfection in every cup

The newly opened Makers Coffee House in the lobby of Wagga’s five-star St Hugh Hotel promises excellent coffee from a familiar local barista.

Located at 81 Forsyth Street, Makers Coffee House officially opened its doors to the public late last month.

Owner Jesse Rendell worked at Trail Street Coffee Shop for the past three years before making the decision to begin a new venture.

“I drove past one day and saw the windows going in and I remember thinking to myself, ‘I wonder if they want a cafe in there?’ Jesse recalled.

“I had forgotten about it but then a friend approached me asking if I wanted to run a cafe and told me they knew people who were looking for someone.

“When I turned up for a meeting, it was at this place.”

Born in Cooma, Jesse grew up in the snowy country and lived around the coastal regions before moving to Wagga with his wife in 2020 with the aim of opening a cafe.

“It took us a couple of years to get there, but I feel great we’re open and excited about what we can do,” Jesse said.

“I want to do more and be more present for my customers – I’m passionate about valuing people.

“At the moment, I’m just a bit stretched trying to serve and make coffee.”

The father of an eight-month-old boy said his son is the “treasure” of his life, and his “amazing wife” supported him in getting the cafe off the ground.

“She’s the backbone of the business. She’s the reason we’re successful,” Jesse smiled.

Makers Coffee House offers a unique coffee blend, sourced from Jesse’s former employers at Artisti Coffee Roasters in Coffs Harbour.

“The blend has milk chocolate, maple syrup and jasmine flavours,” he said explaining that his time with the company taught him how to deliver a strong and delicious coffee.

“Our shots are heavier, and the caffeine really kicks in,” he explained.

“You want to ensure your coffee is the correct recipe for what your roaster suggests. For instance, ours is 22.5 grams into the basket, and you want it to run for 32 to 34 seconds.

“You want a full-body extraction. Ensure your coffee puck is good. You want to disperse it, make it nice and flat, and then tamp it, which has much to do with helping your extraction.”

Along with excellent coffee, Jesse also offers treats from Artisan Bakery and homemade muffins, cookies and bliss balls.

“Our edge is the different coffee we bring and a small variety of pastries.”

Since opening, Jesse said he had received plenty of positive feedback that people love his coffee, the location and the online ordering app – Skip.

“A massive thank you to the community for all the support and everyone who’s been cheering us on.

“We couldn’t have done it without the guys at the hotel.

Makers Coffe House is located at 81 Forsyth Street, Wagga Wagga, and is open Tuesday through Friday from 6 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 6 am to 1 pm.