Some people like their coffee. Other people loooove their coffee. What kind of café would cover both of these? Where could you go for a casual cup while sitting in the sun with a magazine, or spend time pouring over the bouquets, tastes and flavours of the brew?
Red Brick Espresso in Curtin, that’s where.
History and philosophy
Located in a space previously occupied by a real estate agency at The Curtin Shops, some serious work was done to install windows and let the light stream in from the fantastic northeast aspect. After 12 months, the café had expanded from its original 40sqm, took over the space next door and from here a whole new world opened.
Producing a great cup of coffee involves many different aspects: the origin, the way it is processed, the subtleties of the blend, or the grind and the pour. This is one café that focusses sharply on these elements, without forgetting that coffee shops are a place people go to relax and take a break from the everyday hustle.
Roasting
Ask the team behind the counter about coffee and they’ll speak excitedly of the latest blends that have arrived in-store (take for example this month’s Ethiopian beans from Olso’s Nordic Approach). Meanwhile, the in-house roaster stands ready for the next session, bringing the rich aroma of fresh coffee throughout the busy room, and customers are more than welcome to learn about the journey from growing and harvesting all the way through to roasting, grinding and pouring.
As for roasting, there is a fine art to it. Tim Manning and his team work carefully and thoroughly to identify the best processes and techniques for bringing out the unique characteristics of the beans. The aim is to respect the coffee and, in turn, deliver the customer a very clear and precise picture of what the blend can produce.
Café Partnerships
For this reason, Red Brick Espresso is becoming increasingly known as a quality wholesaler, and works very carefully with each outlet to determine the specific aims for their coffee, as well as what personality each venue is trying to project. It’s a thorough process, but one that means Canberrans are increasingly drinking coffee that is unique in flavour, while sharing the common element of Red Brick Espresso’s dedication to quality and flavour.
For those really interested in the process, anyone can come in and take a cupping session. The team ‘cups’ most mornings and, if you’re in the shop, you are more than welcome to join in. it’s a great way to learn about RBE’s processes and techniques, and helps to bridge the gap between the wholesale and retail aspects of the coffee trade.
Community
Being a café is more than just serving coffee, though. Tim is keen to promote community events such as a recent fundraiser for a group of customers who were climbing Mt Kilimanjaro to raise funds for UNICEF. It timed nicely with the cafes second birthday, thanks to the sale of some t-shirts and the efforts of the staff, around $3,000 was added to the cause.
With care for the coffee as well as the community, Red Brick Espresso is very much aware of its place as part of a global trade. Still, there maintains a friendly, family feel that permeates the cute little cafe in Curtin – and proof that the Canberra suburbs have their own coffee magic.
