Caffettino: A Custom Espresso and Pasticceria Counter for a Busy Travel Hub

A Coffee Ritual, Rebuilt for the Pace of a Departure Lounge

Official: Caffettino Espresso at Sydney Airport

Caffettino is an espresso and pasticceria bar set inside a large, airy travel hub, serving freshly brewed coffee with artisan pastries and light bites to passengers moving through an international terminal. The counter needed to look like a proper Italian coffee bar while standing up to a rhythm measured in minutes, not long sit-down visits. RON GROUP designed and manufactured the full counter and furniture package, prefabricated in the workshop and installed on site so the store could open with minimal disruption.

"The prefabricated counter meant the coffee bar came together on site in days, not weeks, and it still feels like a proper espresso bar, not a concession stand." — Caffettino Team

A Compact Espresso Bar Built Around the Counter

Caffettino serves customers who are usually short on time, so the store is designed around a single service counter that handles ordering, coffee making, pastry display and collection in one continuous line. The warm timber kiosk with curved forms and frosted glass railings sits comfortably in the wide terminal interior, inviting a brief pause without asking travellers to commit to a long sit. Because floor space is limited, nearly every element had to earn its place.

Around the counter, a handful of ring-legged and spiral-legged tables and low bar stools give passengers a place to rest a bag and finish a coffee before boarding. The layout keeps service fast while still offering the kind of warm, tactile materials that make a specialty coffee bar feel considered.

Client Needs

• One custom counter that combines espresso service, pastry display and point of sale in a small footprint.
• Premium materials such as timber, marble and brass that still withstand heavy daily traffic and cleaning.
• Fast, low-disruption installation inside an operating terminal environment.
• A refined espresso-bar identity that reads instantly to time-pressed travellers.

How We Meet the Vision

The Counter Does the Selling

Illuminated Panino and Pasticceria signage and a transparent glass case turn the counter itself into the menu. Pastries and light bites sit where waiting customers can see them, while a backlit menu board shows coffee and juice choices, so most of the selling happens without a word. The layout lets a traveller decide, order and step aside quickly.

Materials With an Espresso-Bar Feel

Timber veneer, dark and white-veined marble and warm brass detailing give the counter the character of a European espresso bar rather than a generic food stall. The surfaces are specified to be wiped down easily and to hold their finish through constant use. Ambient lighting works with the wood panelling to keep the bar feeling warm even at very early opening hours.

On the pastry side of the bar, a dark marble top with white veining and a curved glass dome keeps baked goods protected and presentable. The combination of brass trim, a sculptural timber base and a clean white menu board draws the eye without making the counter feel crowded.

Finishes That Carry Through Glass and Trim

Ribbed glass panels and slim metallic trim add depth to the wood-clad counter without adding visual noise. The same warm timber language continues into the few seating spots nearby, so customers who pause for a coffee still sit within the espresso-bar world the counter establishes. Small details like stacked cups and neatly arranged coffee bags reinforce a sense of craft and care.

Designed in 3D Before It Reaches the Floor

RON GROUP prepared a 3D layout plan of the counter before manufacture, so the bar stools, coffee machine and signage positions were agreed while the design was still on screen. This early planning kept the finished counter within the tight footprint of the terminal space and avoided rework on site. The result is a compact bar that places the coffee machine, seating and branding exactly where the daily flow needs them.

Back of House Kept Clean and Calm

Behind the counter, stainless steel work surfaces keep food and coffee preparation easy to clean and safe to work around. Timber cabinetry with slim gold trim extends the front-of-house finish into the kitchen, so staff work in a space that feels as considered as the customer side. A dedicated sink area and tidy storage support continuous service through a long operating day.

The prep and washing areas use the same practical language: hard-wearing stainless where hygiene matters, and timber details where the room is visible to customers. Keeping the back of house tidy supports the fast, consistent service a departure-lounge coffee stop depends on.

Project Results

• ✔️ A single custom counter unifies espresso service, pastry display and point of sale in a compact footprint.
• ✔️ Timber, marble and brass finishes give the bar a refined espresso-house identity under demanding conditions.
• ✔️ Prefabrication and 3D planning kept installation fast and low-disruption in an operating terminal.
• ✔️ Durable, wipe-clean surfaces support long daily service hours with easy maintenance.

Because the counter, display cases and furniture were built in the workshop first, the team arriving on site had only to assemble and finish what was already fitted and tested. That approach is what allowed a fully custom espresso bar to come together quickly inside a busy terminal without long closure periods.

Why Partner with RON GROUP

• ✔️ One supplier handles counter design, manufacture, furniture and installation, keeping the project coordinated.
• ✔️ Workshop prefabrication cuts on-site time and disruption, ideal for operating venues.
• ✔️ Commercial materials and finishes are selected for heavy traffic, frequent cleaning and long service hours.
• ✔️ A repeatable design and specification can be rolled out to further locations.

Caffettino shows how a compact espresso bar can deliver the full character of a specialty coffee shop within a fast-moving travel environment. By designing the counter, furniture and finishes as one prefabricated package, RON GROUP gave the brand a warm, refined presence that travellers can recognise in a glance and enjoy in the minutes they have.