Trader & Co. is more than just a cafe. The charming Yass venue is a community hub in its own right. Photo: Trader & Co.
Who are you?
We are Daniel and Toni Neuhaus, co-owners of Trader & Co. in Yass. We’ve been married 18 years and have four wonderful kids.
How did Trader & Co. get started?
We actually ran a coffee roasting business first, called Six8 Coffee Roasters. We regularly took our coffee van to local markets, where we eventually met two other small business owners. The four of us became friends and business partners, founding Trader & Co. together in 2016 as a co-op cafe, a wholefood market and shared workspace.
We’re really proud to carry on that legacy, and the cafe is constantly evolving.
We still roast our specialty coffee at the cafe. We also stock our Yass Wholefoods range of dry goods, meals, home and lifestyle products, which are all ethically sourced.
Tell us about your business philosophy.
Toni: Hospitality is about people. Food has always been a great connector; that’s why we started this whole journey. It was mostly about our family connecting with others at first, but over time, we’ve seen just how much joy our little cafe brings people. That has become one of our biggest points of pride.
Daniel: We’ve always had a passion for making people feel welcome and loved, and for produce that is as organic and sustainable as possible. So, we guess our philosophy is to look after your land and your people and they will do the same for you.
The Neuhauses describe their venue as a little bit rustic and a whole lot homely. Photo: Trader & Co.
Breaking into hospitality with no prior experience is tough. What challenges have you overcome?
Finding a balance between what we want to do out of love and what we need to do to run a sustainable business took some time. If we could open our home and kitchen for everyone to enjoy for free, we would.
Prioritising time with our kids has always been really important to us.
Favourite venue to visit in Canberra?
Our favourite coffee shop is Barrio in Braddon, their coffee is just beautiful.
What’s a must-have treat that you couldn’t go without?
We both drink black coffee, so our Ethiopian single-origin beans are a must for us. As far as food goes, our snickerdoodle cookie is a real crowd pleaser. Golden and crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, with a rich white chocolate drizzle … yum.
Who inspires you in the kitchen or behind the coffee machine?
Toni: One of my big inspirations is Woudy, who was one of our cooks (and a customer before that) and still a good friend. She is creative, beautiful and wholesome in her approach to both food and life.
Daniel: My mum has always had such a huge heart for hospitality. She is very much my inspiration in creating great food and drinks, and connecting with other people through them.
Trader & Co. is also home to Six8 Coffee Roasters and Yass Wholefoods. They even have a juice bar. Photos: Trader & Co.
If you could have the whole T&C community over for dinner, what would you serve them?
Daniel: Homemade wood-fired pizzas cooked outdoors.
Toni: Warm sourdough and something chocolatey for dessert.
Current food obsession?
Pardon the repetition, but homemade wood-fired pizzas! They’re great to get the kids involved, too.
What taste reminds you of childhood?
Toni: For me, it’s got to be freshly squeezed orange juice. My mum would send us out to pick them; her tree has this really distinct flavour I’ve never found anywhere else.
Daniel: My favourite meal as a child was mashed potatoes, baked beans and sausages. Nice and simple.
What TV series do you love to watch together?
We’re a bit late to The Crown but love that, and we’re also making our way through The Wheel of Time. Also, Doctor Who never gets old.
Almost 10 years on, Daniel and Toni still love being behind the counter with their work family. Photo: Trader & Co.
What’s a travel destination you’d love to see with the kids?
Oh, that’s a good one. Well, T&C would have to be self-sustaining for a little while, but we’d love to take the kids and caravan around Australia for six months. We hope to do that in a year or two.
Old world Europe is stunning as well, but that might be a little further away.
Tell us what you love most about living in Yass.
Toni: This is my absolute favourite time of year. The trees get so vibrant with the last of their Autumn colours, and when the temperature drops, you can get all cosy indoors.
Daniel: Our community is so solid and genuine, we are so grateful for them. I also love the pace of Yass, you get to slow down a bit and smell the roses.
Before you go, what’s your go-to coffee brew?
We have the same order, funnily enough, and that’s a filter coffee. We use a hand plunger to make it at home. If you’ve never tried it before, you should give it a try!
Trader & Co is open from 8 am until 3 pm Monday to Friday, and 8:30 am until 2 pm on Saturdays. Drop in and say g’day at 92 Meehan Street, Yass, or visit Trader & Co. for more information.
