Somers General Store

FOR those who like coffee with an eye on Western Port, it's difficult to beat sipping your beverage of choice from the deck of Somers General Store. About two years ago, Leisa Wharington renovated the old shop to create a small store, post office and laid-back cafe with views of Western Port and Somers Beach.

Somers General Store serves up to 600 coffees a day during the summer season. And Wharington warns that each coffee is made to an individual order — and if it's busy, this can take some time.

Wharington switched to Di Bella coffee four months ago and says she has been impressed with the company's service. She uses Di Bella's premium 100 per cent arabica medium-roast blend, which has a sweet caramel flavour and a nutty finish. She says the smooth all-round coffee has delicate notes and a full flavour. Milk is heated to an optimum temperature of 65 degrees on the Nuova Simonelli machine, though some customers often ask for hotter coffees. To cope with demand, there's a Wega coffee cart out the front of the cafe at weekends and public holidays. She employs four experienced coffee makers (she prefers this term to barista).

On the food side, there are all-day breakfast offerings, while lunch might be fusilli with braised rabbit and peas, beef burger with relish and chips or a simple tart with salad. Service can be erratic.