THE MARRICKVILLE BEAT

January is a spectacular time to be in Sydney. There’s so much going on, so much time to do it, and the hoards have hit the roads to populate the north and south coasts, leaving the city with room to explore. Most of you need no introduction to Marrickville, a suburb with countless hidden gems […]

TWO SILLY SEASON SPARKLE PUNCHES

TWO SILLY SEASON SPARKLE PUNCHES Here are two Christmas coffee punches using all seasonal ingredients. By which I mean ‘tis the season to be jolly, festive and sillier than usual, so we have two mulled coffee recipes using our seasonal Sparkle blend – one jolly and festive, the other jolly, festive and very silly. Because […]

A CHAT WITH MATT

Matthew’s happy place is behind his coffee machine, where he can fuel his quest for creating the idyllic coffee, from an exquisitely pulled espresso, to impeccably textured milk. And of course, perfecting the cherry on top – the rosetta. He calls himself a hobbyist, but I would say he’s a real coffee enthusiast – on […]

COFFEE OF THE MONTH: TIMOR-LESTE EMERA

Emera is back because you loved it – and that is the only excuse we needed to get it back into our roasters and hoppers. This is a Hybrido de Timor varietal, and believed to be a spontaneous hybrid (that’s the translation of ‘Hybrido’, for those who don’t speak Spanish) between the Tipica and Canephora […]

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 […]

April Fika coffee and skating

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 […]

Brazil Mantiqueira Sitio Melado hold in hand

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 autumn halloumi salad

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 […]

Hole in the wall

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 […]

Burundi coffee bag held in hand

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 […]

FIKA: SUMMER EDITION

In January, fika really just self-actualises. Those hours that throughout the year were spirited away by ear specialist appointments, school drop offs, key indication officers and efficiency consultant meetings, are now gaping holes in your diary, what with the ear specialist on holiday in Mallorca, school out for summer, and the key indication officers efficiency […]