master brewers From Humble Grounds – let us now turn to four of
the best who combine both roasting and brewing. Each supply their
beans to other cafés and restaurants, so be sure to keep an eye out
next time you order a coffee.
If you, like me, are a fan of cosy nooks, Goodness Coffee Co. in
old Aldinga, with its shady garden alcoves and earthy interiors, is
the place to start. When choosing coffee beans, co-owners John
Wegener and Damien Loiterton recommend talking to the roaster
about how you brew your coffee because different types of roasts
and even origins will suit different brew and extraction methods. Head
roaster Damien tells me the coffee you make at home will rarely be
exactly like the one you get at a café, even if you use the same beans.
‘It’s usually a $15,000-plus machine making that coffee’, he says.
But it’s not just the perfectly roasted beans and La Marzocco Linea
coffee machine that has turned Goodness into an overnight Fleurieu
favourite, it’s the friendly baristas, turn-up-in-your-wet-bathers vibe
and hands-down-delicious coffee.
Damien was inspired to get into coffee roasting after seeing the
results master roaster John Saunderson had been achieving at
Qahwa in Victor Harbor (pronounced ka-wa and meaning ‘coffee’
in Arabic). John and his dad Andrew had been keen to improve the
quality and freshness of the coffee they served and realised the best
way to achieve this was to roast the beans as needed.The family-owned business is now run by Katie (nee Saunderson)
Moffett and Dave Moffett with Jesse Saunderson taking on the
roasting duties. Housed in Victor Harbor’s Old Red Brick Building
on Bridge Terrace, the enviable location combined with its chilled
atmosphere, delicious, healthy food and superb coffee make this a
hang-out space that you will struggle to leave. When you do manage
to tear yourself away though, be sure to grab a bag of their freshly
roasted beans. John recommends French-press, pour-over, and
Aeropress for a good, speedy home brew.
When the Qahwa crew want a change of scene, they head over to
Port Elliot for a sneaky De Groot coffee. Tucked away at Factory 9 on
Hill St, De Groot Coffee Co. is everything you want in a coffee >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.
Above left: The lovely Angel can sometimes be seen employing her serious barista skills behind the La Marzocco at Goodness Coffee Co. in Aldinga. Photo: Angela Lisman.
Above right: The chilled atmosphere, delicious, healthy food and superb coffee make Qahwa a hang-out space that you will struggle to leave.