THOSE chasing a mug of that perfect blend need not look any further than Capella's new John's Coffee Lounge.

The brainchild of long-time resident John Hallem officially opened on Wednesday with everything on the menu free for the crowd of eager first customers.

"It's just a morning to introduce the new business. There's no dedicated coffee shop like this in Capella," John said.

"I've been here for 27 years and I'm always looking for new ideas.

"It's about public demand. There were that many saying 'I wish there was somewhere nice, quiet and private to go and have a coffee'."

With a discerning eye, you can catch a glimpse of what used to be. The old saws and lawn mowers and assorted work gear scattered meticulously around the shop add unmistakable character, but blend splendidly into the fresh, inviting and comfortable decor on offer.

"This used to be my auto electrical shop… and you could never tell," John said.

"I've been planning this for 12 months.

"I've been asking people a lot of questions about what they would like.

"I've been gathering a lot of feedback, just word of mouth research.

"So the people helped me build this, the community and everyone who had a chat to me.

"I'm extremely excited about it."

Jennifer O'Brien, one of the first customers on Wednesday morning, was very satisfied with Capella's latest offering.

"Great coffee and very comfortable. I will definitely be back," Jennifer said.

John's Coffee Lounge is open from 8am to 1pm each day.