A CHAMPION barista is aiming to give North East coffee aficionados a taste of something different.

Former banker Joe Meagher opted for redundancy so he could follow his dream of opening a coffee shop with a difference and his Flat Caps Coffee Cafe has now been open in Newcastle for almost two years.

Mr Meagher, who took the North East Culinary Trade Association barista competition title last year, is investing in a specialist cold drip brewer coffee maker.

It will be the first of its kind in the city and is part of his aim to stay one step ahead of the coffee competition and stand out from the multinational chains in the city centre.

Last year, he bought the unusual Syphon coffee maker.

He said: “We currently remain the only place in Newcastle to sell this type of coffee. I hope that people will see that we’re not your average coffee shop and are constantly striving to be innovators in this industry.”

The popularity of the shop in Ridley Place near the Haymarket means Mr Meagher is now also looking to expand his team.

“As well as special devices I am also taking on an apprentice,” he said. “The hope here is to gain a full time member of staff whom I will train up from scratch in the art of being a barista and get them to a standard that will rival some of the best and most experienced baristas in Newcastle.”

He started the business after taking redundancy from his job arranging loans with Blackhorse Finance, part of the Lloyds Banking Group.

To add to his passion for coffee, took two barista courses and earned a City and Guilds in the art of preparing the perfect cup.