Latest Blog Posts
COFFEE OF THE MONTH: INDIA THALANAR SUPERNATURAL
If you’ve been to, or heard any stories from anyone that has been to India, you’ll know anything associated with the country described as supernatural is somewhat… natural. India is a land of contrasts and intensities, colour, chaos and mysticism. Everything seems hyper-real and surreal. The story of Brother Baba Budan, the beloved godfather of […]
COFFEE AND CULTURE: A MAN CALLED OVE
A cantankerous white man has opinions about coffee and various other things. ‘People didn’t know how to do that anymore, brew some proper coffee. In the same way as nowadays nobody could write with a pen. Because now it was all computers and espresso machines. And where was the world going if people couldn’t even […]
FORM VS/AND FUNCTION
In my family, the debate of form or function pops up more than perhaps is usual. It could be over clothes, a bridge, the layout of a menu, a hamburger. As the only ‘creative’ in a family dominated by engineers, my arguments on the advantages of form, its ability to ignite a connection, an emotional […]
FIKA IN JULY
When the sun sets two seconds after it rises, things can feel a little gloomy. The following are a few things that have been lighting a little fire in the hearth of my heart when I’m stuck with a day that’s grey and lonely. I just saw Annie: The Musical. It was great. There was […]
THE ARCHIES!
The Archibald has been announced! You were waiting on the edge of your seats weren’t you? Me too. Even though each time I feel like it comes around quicker than the paint’s had to dry. Very much like tax time. Nevertheless, it’s a welcome headline in the newspaper. Arts and Culture section. Which I’m sure […]
FIKA: JUNE EDITION
Happy June everyone! Please enjoy these crisp mornings, the few more minutes snuggled under the doona, the steaming cups of coffee in the morning, the hot soups and crunchy bread, the clear blue winter skies and the smell of firewood kindled merrily on your walk home from work. And also these four things to make […]
FIKA: APRIL EDITION
You know as specialty coffee lovers, we are different. We are nuanced, we appreciate the details, the excellence, the craft of coffee. Coffee is more than a commodity. It’s a subculture. And as you’ll know after reading this article, being part of a subculture is a point of connection with all other subcultures, we are […]
COFFEE OF APRIL: BRAZIL MANTIQUEIRA SITIO MELADO
We’re showcasing coffee from Miguel Fonseca’s farm in Brazil this month. His 84+ crop is situated on the bonny slopes of the Mantiqueira Mountains. He’s spent years improving and rejuvenating his land, the soil, varietals planted, and practices and technologies used on the farm. And the quality has skyrocketed. Varietal & flavour notes This crop […]
COFFEE IN (SKATE) CULTURE
When I was nineteen I moved to Canberra for uni, and made the decision that I was going to be cool. I’d thought about being cool before this, but I was in high school, and it’s hard to change your identity to be cool when everyone already knows you aren’t. But as nobody knew me […]
FIKA: GOOD THINGS FOR MARCH
Hello! It’s Autumn! What a time to be alive. It’s a season I like to think of as cool and crunchy. The early mornings will become crispy, and the summer balmy evenings will become chilly, but right now, in early March – it’s still warm and glorious! It’s like the bonus round on Letters and […]
The Enchanted Hole in The Wall
Of all the ‘Hole in the Wall’ cafe’s that I’ve visited, I’m quite sure that none of them have been literal holes in walls. Maybe a cavity. A cavernous opening. A mouth even. No, not a mouth. There’s been no little portholes like on a ship, or letterbox slots in London doors, or food tray […]
COFFEE OF THE MONTH: MARCH
We’re showcasing this juicy, syrupy sweet coffee from Burundi. It is grown in the Bubanza region, which is located in the northwest of the country. At an altitude of 1700 meters above sea level, the coffee plants in this region benefit from a cooler climate and nutrient-rich soil. The combination of this unique terroir and the […]