Axil Coffee partners with Square to power next stage of growth as it opens first venue in Sydney
The new partnership between Square and Axil Coffee blends tech innovation with hospo excellence
Axil Coffee Roasters, one of Melbourne’s most decorated specialty coffee brands, has chosen Square to help power its next phase of growth as it expands beyond Victoria, opening its first Sydney café in Surry Hills.
Founded in 2010 by Australian barista champion David Makin (pictured above) and Zoe Delany, Axil has built a reputation for quality, consistency and community. From its first roastery in Hawthorn to now 17 venues across Melbourne and now Sydney, Axil’s growth has been fuelled by its uncompromising focus on craft and connection, both with customers and with the cafés it supplies across Australia.
The move into Sydney marks a major milestone for the brand. The new flagship in Surry Hills brings Axil Coffee, the roaster behind the World Barista Champions in 2022 and 2025, to a new neighbourhood and expands its wholesale footprint across New South Wales, with space to host training, events and collaborations with local cafés. Square already powers all of Axil’s Melbourne venues and will now support the brand’s 17th as it expands into Sydney and beyond.
To celebrate the launch, Square will be partnering with Axil to shout the first 100 regular-sized coffees each morning for free between 28 November and 4 December 2025, giving Sydneysiders the chance to experience the same quality, consistency and community spirit that have defined Axil’s cafés across Melbourne.*
Powering growth with Square
As Axil scales its retail and wholesale operations nationwide, Square’s powerful technology is helping streamline service and deliver a faster, more connected customer experience. Each piece of hardware plays a role: Square Register powers counter service, Square Handheld (pictured below) enables quick table-side ordering, and Kiosks in high-traffic locations such as Melbourne Airport help cut wait times. Together with integrated Loyalty and Marketing tools, everything runs on one platform, connecting every Axil venue and in-store customer touchpoint.
“Square gives us the tools to scale efficiently while keeping our focus on what matters most: quality, consistency and connection with our customers,” said David Makin, founder of Axil Coffee. “Square’s technology is intuitive, reliable and built for businesses that want to move fast without losing control of the details.”
One challenge that Square helped Axil solve was streamlining the ordering process. Takeaway orders now automatically print onto stickers, while dine-in orders print on paper dockets in the kitchen. It sounds simple, but it speeds up service, helps the team serve more coffees and creates better experiences for customers.
Makin said the partnership also allows Axil to bring every part of the business together, from in-store operations to its customer relationships. With Square Loyalty, Axil now offers one connected program across all stores nationally, rewarding customers for every dollar spent on coffee, food or retail products such as beans and brewing gear.
“Axil is one of Australia’s great success stories in specialty coffee, and it’s a perfect example of how technology can help ambitious businesses grow without losing what makes them special,” said Colin Birney, Head of Business Development at Square in Australia. “We’re proud that Square is powering their next chapter, helping them deliver the same level of speed, consistency and service excellence in Sydney that has made them an institution in Melbourne.”
Welcome to Surry Hills
Axil’s new Sydney flagship sits on the corner of Crown and Foveaux in the heart of Surry Hills, a neighbourhood chosen for its vibrant food scene, creative energy and strong sense of community. The space is large enough to host training sessions, coffee events and wholesale partners, giving Axil a base to grow its presence and community in Sydney.
“Surry Hills is the perfect neighbourhood for us,” said Makin. “It’s full of great food and culture, and gives us the space to bring the Axil experience to life while supporting our wholesale partners.”
Customers can expect Axil’s signature drinks from its world champion barista on the Sydney menu, along with the brand’s hallmark focus on quality, consistency and craft.
Looking ahead to 2026
The year ahead will focus on embedding the Axil experience in Sydney and deepening wholesale partnerships across New South Wales. Once the Surry Hills venue is fully established, the team plans to expand north to Brisbane, continuing Axil’s steady growth across Australia.
“We’re focused on getting Surry Hills right first,” said Makin. “It’s about building the same standard of quality and consistency that people know us for in Melbourne, while creating strong connections with café partners across Sydney. Once we’ve done that, Brisbane is the natural next step for us as we keep growing the Axil brand nationally. 2026 is a big year for us, and we can’t wait to get started.”
- Offer available 28 Nov - 4 December while stocks last, limited to one coffee per person per day. Coffee giveaway hosted by Axil Coffee in partnership with Square.