A bright yellow American school bus has popped up at the side of the A392 – and it’s the best place to grab a coffee and cake in Cornwall.
In May 2021, this dangerously cool imported Texas school bus parked up in Newquay, between Hendra and the Gannel, in the ideal spot to park up and pick up a cuppa.
Meet the Rolling Joe Coffee Co.
Run by couple Luke and Djamila, the retro rolling coffee shop doubles as their home, which they’ve built entirely by themselves, with a wine-barrel wash sink and low footprint solar panels.
Posting on Instagram, Djamila said: Luke had always dreamt of converting an American skoolie, and I’d always dreamt of a rolling coffee shop! Rolling Joe is a product of these two dreams combined.”
They shipped the bus – named Joe, of course – over from Houston and spent winter transforming him into the ultimate ‘work from home’ business. Talk about a lockdown project, right?
Jake and I swung by for a cup of joe and some baked goods during our holiday, and it was honestly one of my favourite parts of the whole trip.
As you roll up to the pitstop, you can pull your car into a little sparking spot inside some building ruins before heading past the American mailbox and up to the hatch to order. A stars and stripes flag hangs from the roof of the bus, with the steps leading into the vehicle adorned with imported number plates. Stood outside this bus, you feel as though you could be anywhere in the world.
Alongside a whole host of coffees, from espresso to macchiatos, Rolling Joe also serves a selection of teas, hot chocolate and American sodas. I ordered a cup of tea and a Soda Folk cherry drink, whilst Jake opted for his all-time favourite Cream Soda.
I love when a venue serves something I’ve never seen anywhere else before, so I couldn’t resist ordering one of Luke’s baked Rattler Cider doughnuts at two for £3. A pint of Rattler is a must for any Cornish tourist (their berry variety is delicious), but now I’ll be telling everyone they have to try a Rattler doughnut! These homemade treats were so rich and spongy, and you could really taste the cider that was soaked into them. It was a match made in heaven with my breakfast brew.
Also on the treats menu is Nutella stuffed cookies and Toblerone brownies, which look amazing, and they’re baked right there on the bus!
You can sit down with your goodies on the picnic bench outside, sheltered by a beach parasol. There are books dotted about the table, and now, a selection of dog toys underneath it, after the duo welcomed adorable English Bull Terrier puppy Duke to the bus life in August. He’s a real cutie.
Rolling Joe Coffee Co is a must-visit if you’re in the area. They’re open Tuesday to Friday from 8am-5pm and 10am to 5pm on weekend.
