Ms Brill said that her dream as little girl, in her backyard cubby house selling little home-made creations to family and friends, was wanting to own her own business one day.

She does, and her Bridport Cafe has just been branded the best cafe in the country, selected from 21 finalists, three each from seven regions and judged secretly by Cafe Culture Magazine director John Edwards.

To be eligible for the prize, cafes had to create a signature dish using a Don and a Heinz product.

A panel of expert judges decided regional winners and the national winner based on a variety of criteria including customer service, café atmosphere, and the quality of the signature dish entered.

``I was always making something - I loved being creative and still do,'' Ms Brill said.

``I have always worked in the food, service and hospitality industry and as soon as I was introduced to the coffee machine I loved it.

``I love that you can be creative with coffee and that it is continuously evolving there is always so much more to learn.''

Ms Brill said that she was unsure whether the cafe's appearance could be given a specific label.

``It's very much a mix - I suppose you could say its eclectic,'' she said.

``There is a hardwood timber deck with built in bench seats and scatter cushions that has a beautiful plum tree growing up through the middle - the tree provides both shade and an impressive visual.''

The Bridport Cafe hasn't always been in it's current location. 

It was, for six years in a leased building further along the street, but its sale forced a move as the new owners did not want to renew the lease.

``This was heartbreaking - at the time as I had poured so much love, hard work and commitment into this little cafe and in this time I had also had two children Bailey, 8,  Fraser who is turning four next week

``But just up the road a little was a ran down little cottage that sat empty and I thought `what have I got to lose?'

``The owner of the cottage, Sam, was so helpful, understanding and kind she straight away said yes to allowing us to transform the ran down cottage into the cafe.

``The renovations began and we opened just in time for the crazy, busy Bridport summer.''

Just five months ago Ms Brill took on a business partner, Mel Lette.

``I had dreams of owning my own business - Ayla, my oldest daughter, worked at the cafe for over four years and has loved Kate and the cafe since,'' Ms Lette said.

``I felt as a customer that I had some ownership even then, that's how kate and the cafe team make you feel.

``When kate moved to the new location we got chatting one day and things rolled from there - I jumped at the opportunity to become involved in the Bridport Cafe.''

Public voting ran from September 1 and October 9 and cafe patrons were encouraged to vote for their favourite cafe

The seven regional winners from around the country received $1,000 each with Ms Brill and Ms Lette claiming Australian Café of the Year bragging rights and a Renault Clio RS200 Sport.