The owner of a thriving independent cafe in the heart of Reading has said that after switching up the layout of the whole place, business has been booming. 

Filter Coffee first opened its doors last year 2023 on Castle Street and has subsequently remained a firm favourite for surrounding businesses. 

The owner of the cafe Reading local Mac Dsouza recently decided to move the counter from the back of the store to the front - right by the window so customers can see all the tasty treats they have on offer. 

"We first had benches and chairs right by the window for people to eat in," he said. "It was good and I did like it, but the trade over here is more grab-and-go.

"People working for the police, the medical college, the council will just come and take away our food rather than choosing to sit in and eat."

Because of the size of the cafe, which is relatively small and cozy, Mr Dsouza said that it didn't make sense to have the seating area there if not many customers were going to use it. 

He then made the overnight change of taking the counter up to the window and getting rid of the benches, allowing passersby to gaze in at their selection of pastries and banana buns. 

"Because of this small change, our income has gone up by around 30% which is just amazing," Mr Dsouza continued. 

"It's because people see the display out through the window and want to try our food. You see it and you want it, so you buy it!"

He went on to say that the change really helped during the summer when more people were out and about strolling past the cafe. 

Mr Dsouza also said that the change has allowed him to reach new customers who perhaps wouldn't have known about them before. 

"It's been a really good change," he said. "Well worth it as it has paid off for business. We are doing great at the moment." 

Serving a unique blend of Arabica, Robusta, and chicory, Filter Coffee’s decadent taste is the deciding factor on them becoming many residents' go-to coffee run.

The café doesn’t only just serve excellent coffee, but fresh shakes, teas, and speciality snacks that all derive from Mangalore – a tiny town in Southern India. "Not many people know about our town" said Mr Dsouza, "but we have amazing food there."