For some time now central Maitland has played host to a wide variety of cafes and coffee shops, and now it appears East Maitland is on trend.

The coffee shops are locally owned and ensure that there is a coffee to cater to everyone’s taste. 

When the Mercury went out one Friday morning to taste their way around the town, it was assumed the task would take about an hour.

Not so.

Every café and espresso bar had queues of office workers and other caffeine lovers seeking a mid-morning fix. Three hours, and countless coffee shots later, the task was complete. 

The morning began on Melbourne Street where, only four months ago, Alley Cat Espresso opened.

Alley Cat began pouring its coffee a two-minute walk down from café Vintage on Melbourne. Now, Little Black Pony Espresso has opened directly across the road.

"Competition is healthy,” said Annabella Rossini, of Alley Cat Espresso.

 “It's good to have choices. It's like we've got a little bit of Melbourne on Melbourne."

Maggie Quinn, from Little Black Pony Espresso, doesn’t shy away from competition either. 

"The more competition the better," Ms Quinn said.

"East Maitland is developing such a culture, Maitland and Newcastle has had it for quite some time." 

Many believe these businesses are able to thrive due to the supportive nature of the East Maitland community. 

"East Maitland is cultivating little pockets. It's becoming extremely community minded," said East Village Deli Café owner Laney Robson.

"Loyalty is a huge thing."

With this coffee culture comes an expectation for good coffee,.

Gone are the days when people ordered either a latte or flat white. 

"People are becoming more educated on coffee, more refined," Miss Robson of East Village Deli Café said.

Customers are beginning to ask what beans and blends cafés use. 

"The culture has really increased Australia-wide,” Bearded Cactus barista Bec Mitchell said. “People are craving quality coffee. There is a demand for it." 

However these cafes and espresso bars haven't simply appeared for no reason. They are the result of an influx of businesses and workers in the area. Additionally, the recent work to the roads and footpaths along Lawes Street and High Street has made the area more attractive to business owners. 

"The vacancy rate is extremely low, there are only three vacancies in the entire East Maitland shopping village," Maitland City Council's Councillor Philip Penfold said.

"It's been gradually building over time. The third river crossing has helped."

The revitalisation of Lawes Street and surrounding areas comes just as workers begin the renovations on Stockland Green Hills. 

"People are looking for an alternative to big shopping centres," Cr Penfold said. 

"There's a good deal of parking and it's a different experience. It's beginning to have a village atmosphere.”