If you take a trip to Moonta and only stay in the main street or on the foreshore, you’re doing it wrong! Head less than 5 minutes from the Moonta town centre, down Spencer Hwy and you’ll find the hidden gem, that is the Coffee Barn and Gelateria! Well, we say hidden but the Coffee Barn and Gelateria is such a Copper Coast icon, that everyone in town will be telling you to visit anyway!
Carl and Emma bought the business a few years ago and have worked hard to stay true to the vision of the original owners (all the gelati is still made onsite!) while injecting their own fresh ideas and personality. The first thing you will notice is that this isn’t your run of the mill scoop shop! Even the carpark has personality with the old cars, statues and wheel on display. Once you get in, there are several areas to choose from including outside at the front, in a courtyard off to the side, under the large enclosed verandah area or inside the homey cafe.
The gelati freezer will tempt you right away, but don’t overlook the baked goods in the cabinet on the other side! (Have something from each side we say!) There is also a menu full of dessert delights, so take your time to choose.
While you are deciding, the kids can play with the outdoor giant games – pay close attention to the giant Jenga! Carl has lovingly branded each block as well as adding some extra challenges to the game. It’s certainly not your everyday Jenga set! If it’s a cold or wet day, you’ll also find some board games inside, so either way the kids will be occupied.
We judge all cafes by their hot chocolate and this one was a winner! The kids also loved their smoothies but of course the star of the show was the gelati. The kids went for the “Especially For Kids” option which was a sundae (they get to choose their own gelati flavour), topped with cream, smarties, marshmallows and chocolate topping. Sugar overload? Yes. Worth it to see the looks on their faces when it was brought out? Also, yes.
For us adults, we treated ourselves to a serve of the donuts and the waffles – of course, topped with our choice of gelati flavour! Both were delicious in that “I’m sooooo full, but I also want more” kind of way!
The final delight was a babyccino for the kids. Carl and Emma have been working hard on their babyccinos (expect to see them vying for Best Babyccino in our annual comp next year!) and the result is gorgeous. The drinks are beautifully presented on branded boards, complete with ice cream themed handmade chocolates. So cute!
Did we mention the puppaccinos yet? Yep, the Coffee Barn and Gelateria are also dog friendly and you can grab a treat for your pooch too, also all completely made in house!
The Coffee Barn and Gelateria is a true labour of love for Carl and Emma – have a chat to them about their story and how they came to be a part of one of the most iconic spots on the Copper Coast! It’s a regular spot for us to visit on our trips to Yorke Peninsula, make sure it’s on your itinerary too! As for their most popular flavour? According to Carl it changes all the time, so just try them all!
The Coffee Barn and Gelateria
12775 Spencer Highway, Moonta
Follow them on Facebook or Instagram
Open 10am- 5pm on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays.
They do close for six weeks over winter so check their socials before you go!
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