The Super Bean Café started as an idea when the owner, William Estephan, was talking to a group of friends about a coffee bean wearing a cape. He saw an opportunity to create a mobile coffee van that could give parents the caffeine hit they craved when running between different locations to watch their kids play sport on the weekends.
In 2022 it came to life with a coffee superhero splashed across the sides and rear of the van with the help from the specialist vehicle signage designers from Sign Up Fleet.
Not working in hospitality when starting the journey to create Super Bean Café meant there was a lot to learn along the way for William and his partner. Then the COVID pandemic hit which delayed the launch a few years.
The multiple lockdowns provided time to sketch ideas for a character until it became something fun that would be relatable to kids and adults which is a contrast to existing café design trends.
To get from a coffee bean wearing a cape to a handsome and dynamic super barista, William found a sketch artist on Facebook who was able to transform his initial drawings and ideas into an engaging character that stands out in a crowd to create some interesting conversations with customers.
“When I bought the van I started looking for someone to help me bring the superhero theme to life,” explains William. “I had used a company before for van signage but they weren’t fleet signage specialists. When I started researching online I found the Sign Up Fleet Instagram page and saw some really interesting designs.”
William reached out to the team at Sign Up Fleet and found them to be super friendly, super easy to deal with, and they kept him informed during every step of the process.
“It worked so well,” says William. “I was able to share my design vision with Brooke and she understood what I was trying to achieve. When I visited the factory to discuss some changes to the artwork, I could tell they were professionals which gave me confidence that the van would look amazing when finished.”
The van is now on the road around Sydney and can be seen during winter at the Bernie Mullane Sports Complex in Kellyville. It’s a great way for William and his young family to get out of the house each weekend and connect with different communities across Sydney.
“We’re always looking for new events to attend and after experiencing the Sydney lockdowns it’s great to be out of the house in the fresh air and greeting people with a smile and great cup of coffee.”