OPENING a new cafe in Bendigo may seem like a daunting prospect to some.
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After all, the city is flooded with an abundance of high-quality coffee shops all fiercely competing for a slice of the market pie.
But for Bendigo woman Carly Beggs the opportunity to pour her talents into a business she was passionate about was too good to pass up.
In November last year Ms Beggs opened cafe Thirteen07 in the Bendigo Marketplace shopping centre.
Ms Beggs says the prospect of owning a cafe excited her.
"This opportunity came up so I grabbed it," she said.
Ms Beggs said she trained to be a barista at Bath Lane Cafe about 10 years ago - when she was a teen - where she gained a love of working in the hospitality industry.
Before opening the cafe she was operating her own coffee van - so she has much experience in the art of making the perfect cup of coffee.
The cafe sells cakes, wraps, sandwiches and salads - including many novelty gluten-free items from New Freedom bakery.
One example of a gluten-free goodie includes a vanilla slice, which the cafe started selling just last week.
The cafe is located at the quieter end of the shopping centre, opposite shoe store Skechers, and Ms Beggs said people had enjoyed lunching at a quieter venue that's away from the hustle and bustle.
She said the cafe recently made some changes to its menu, which had been well received.
"We've increased our food range on what we can offer people and the last two and three weeks have been fantastic," she says.
"People love it; they say it's fantastic we're not a franchise. We've had people say that they can't come to the Marketplace without stopping at our shop."
She said having her own business could be stressful at times but her partner Drew - who runs the cafe with her - had been very supportive.
"Drew has been my rock through it all," she says.
And the key to the perfect cup of coffee?
"Getting the milk right is very important," Ms Beggs said.
"You have to get it nice and silky smooth."