A Gillingham speciality coffee shop has achieved four notable awards within just three months of opening, including Best Café in North Dorset and Best Business in the Town. TheKaffee, which opened in September 2024, has transformed a former bank premises in the Dorset town of 7,000 residents.
The family-run café was created by Toni and Ewelina Wiesner, with Toni’s father, Steffan, leading all building and interior work. The family began renovations almost immediately after deciding to launch, and Steffan hand-built the majority of the interior – from the bespoke coffee bar to the cladding and custom furniture.
Toni contributes creative direction and coffee expertise, Ewelina manages operations and finance, and Steffan’s construction skills have shaped the distinctive setting that customers frequently highlight in their reviews.
Toni Wiesner, chief barista and creative director, said: “We’re creating a space where people feel they belong. When someone walks in, we don’t just smile and take their order – we’re genuinely interested in what they’re doing today, we remember their name, and we build real relationships. That’s what’s missing from the big chains, and that’s what our community deserves.”
TheKaffee features a family-friendly design with a children’s play area, dog-friendly facilities, and strong WiFi with charging points that appeal to remote workers. One customer now travels 11 miles solely for the coffee.
Their coffee offering centres on premium single-origin beans carefully sourced and roasted to enhance each origin’s distinctive character. Working with Girls Who Grind Coffee, a highly regarded local roastery, the café uses beans roasted within seven days to ensure peak freshness. Staff closely monitor extraction to maintain flavour consistency, and the café offers a range of alternative brewing methods. Around 50,000 cups were served in the first year.
Ewelina Wiesner, business partner and investor, said: “We wanted to create a hub where the community comes first. This building was empty whilst our High Street was declining. Now we’ve created something people actively seek out and make part of their lives. It’s pure family teamwork – Toni’s creativity, Steffan’s building skills, and my business experience all came together.”
By December 2024, TheKaffee had won three major accolades: Best Café in North Dorset, Best Business in Gillingham, and Best Restaurant. A year later, it secured Best Christmas Window display.
Google reviews consistently praise both the café’s atmosphere and food. One reviewer wrote: “So nice to go somewhere local and chill with coffee and the best carrot cake. Beautiful interior.” Another commented: “The expansion to a couple of nights serving cocktails is a great addition to the business and the town.”
The café gained its alcohol licence in August 2025 and now serves cocktails on Friday nights, with the Passion Fruit Martini proving the most popular. The food menu has grown to include artisan sandwiches and homemade cakes, with the Basque cheesecake becoming a customer favourite.
The venue also offers private hire for events, community groups, and meetings, with future plans for bingo nights and live jazz performances.
Visitors can find TheKaffee at 11 High Street, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4PY.