Our Story

I remember the exact moment that I became aware of coffee even if only as a dreamy distant memory. I could not have been more than three or four years old at the time and we were at my Grandmother (Nonna’s) house in Brookvale on Sydney’s northern beaches. The first thing I recall is the aroma that we followed from the front door that led us into the Kitchen where many of my loved ones were gathered around the kitchen table. The focal point (or at least as I recall) was the bubbling percolator and I carefully watched as Nonna poured and passed around cups filled with what she called cafe in a somewhat ritualistic manner. I can remember not understanding what was so special about this beverage but knew that it brought together people that I loved, and it put a smile on their faces.

It’s not surprising that as I grew so did my love for coffee. It’s roll as protagonist in my life was firmly cemented when in 1994 when my family and I returned to Italy where my parents and of course Nonna was born. Whist visiting countless relatives for the very first time I began to partake in the sacred ritual I had witnessed years earlier, I had become one of the smiling faces around the Kitchen table and I loved it.

Returning from Italy I began working numerous part time jobs in hospitality whilst in high school, I naturally gravitated to the coffee machine. The years past and odd jobs turned into a career opening my first venue in 1999, then going on to open multiple sites.