Lattes on wheels: Hamilton woman launches Truck 44 mobile coffee bar

Before the pandemic hit, Sydney De Marchi had what she likens to be the typical life blueprint. She'd planned to do what people do" and find a stable job, with the typical 9-to-5 lifestyle.

But with three lockdowns and time to think about her next steps, her eternal soft spot" for cafes and restaurants bubbled back up to the surface - the 25-year-old Hamilton woman had always wanted to open her own.

The pandemic changed my perspective on everything," said De Marchi. I was always so envious of everyone else going after those big dreams."

However, her dream wasn't so realistic with the current pandemic measures, with indoor dining still weeks away and COVID-19 still on many residents' minds.

So, she opted for a cafe on wheels - and Truck 44 was born.

Housed inside of a horse trailer she found on Facebook Marketplace, the mobile coffee bar serves up lattes, cappuccinos, iced coffees and teas.

De Marchi also offers kombucha, nitro cold brew, and if you're feeling snacky, doughnuts from Hamilton's own Darling Donuts on weekends.

De Marchi said the transformation of the horse trailer took nearly two months from start to finish. She worked with a welder who helped her reinforce some areas of the trailer and install a serving window.

The motivation behind the horse trailer was based on esthetics, she said. The all-white trailer is finished with silver accents and has De Marchi's logo printed on its side.

I don't love the big, boxy food truck look. I'm going for a small and cute look, and I think it's perfect for that," De Marchi said.

The truck's name is a nod to De Marchi's father - born in 1944 - who died three years ago. She credits him for her love of Sunday morning coffee and baked goods.

All of my best memories were those simple moments of him and I having coffee and enjoying life and talking over everything as I got older," she said. The truck is a way for me to carry forward those memories in a really special way."

Launching the business last month, De Marchi applied for a park pass from the city which allows her to travel across the city and set up shop.

She's served up drinks at Bayfront Park and Gage Park while some businesses have hosted her in their parking lot. The response has been great so far, said De Marchi.

Hamilton is such a cool community to have this in," she said. Everyone is just so supportive."

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com