A new cafe in Didsbury, Manchester, is addressing youth unemployment by specifically hiring 16-year-olds. Mello, opened by owner Sham, provides teenagers with barista training and job security in response to a challenging local employment market for young people.
Sham created the business with a goal to give back to the community. By taking on young staff members, he aims to equip them with practical hospitality skills and steady work early in their careers.
University-trained gelato and canned matcha on the menu at Mello
The shop operates as the little brother to established local spot Caramello. While the focus on youth employment drives the cafe’s daily operations, the menu focuses heavily on specialty desserts and drinks.
The owner utilises their university-level training from Bologna to produce the cafe’s gelato in-house. Alongside the ice cream, Mello serves thick slices of French toast made from homemade brioche with a rotating selection of toppings. Current French toast flavours include pistachio, caramel, Affogato, peanut honeycomb, berry crumble and banoffee, all served in distinct yellow takeaway boxes.
For drinks, the cafe serves traditional coffee alongside smoothies, milkshakes and canned iced matcha, which is prepared and sealed into cans on-site by the newly trained baristas.
Mello is now open, combining its dessert and coffee offerings with practical employment opportunities for young residents.
📍Mello, 153 Fog Lane, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6FJ.
