Fleurieu Living Magazine – April 2019

Coffee revolution

Every few weeks, Jim Banman from Villeré

Coffee rolls down my driveway to deliver

a fresh batch of artisan coffee beans,

skilfully roasted by his business partner

and wife, Carol. This week we’re drinking

the Brazil blend – the tasting notes tell me

to look for cocoa, caramel sweetness,

red berry, bright citrus acidity and roasted

hazelnuts. While I can’t say my palate is

completely up to that task, I can say that

it’s damn delicious.

Story by Nina Keath.

Villeré supplies local businesses across the Fleurieu but when I

recently asked Jim to nominate a favourite café, he quailed, saying

that would be like ‘asking me which of my children I love the most!’

But actually, choosing a decent café is important. It doesn’t matter

how good the beans are, if they’re treated badly, the coffee can be

destroyed. This is a problem our Managing Director here at Fleurieu

Living Magazine, Petra de Mooy, knows only too well. After bumping

into her at the Willunga Farmers Market one sunny Saturday morning

(as you do!), Petra regaled me with an ardent account of what she

called the ‘mini coffee revolution’ underway here on the Fleurieu. Her

passion was no doubt heightened by the silky From Humble Grounds

coffee she’d just imbibed (flat white – ‘always and only’, she tells

me). However, she was quick to dispel any notions of a coffee utopia,

saying ‘there are still plenty of opportunities for sub-par coffee on the

Fleurieu.’ Buyer be warned!

With this in mind, I have taken it upon myself to save you from the

affront of an accidental ‘sub-par’ coffee by sharing the outcome of

several years’ diligent research into the region’s best coffee. Having

already introduced you to two bedrocks – master roasters Villeré, and

Above left: The large Loring roasting machine at Villeré coffee being carefully managed by Carol Banman. Right: In recent times, From Humble Grounds has been producing a

very fine cold brew for retailers – perfect for a sneaky mixed drink or a healthier alternative to off-the-shelf iced coffee. Just mix with milk and enjoy!