Page 68 - Tropic Magazine Issue 20

TROPIC • LIFESTYLE

Bean scene

CAFFEINATED INSIGHTS
Cairns has burgeoned into
one of regional Australia’s best
coffee roasting hubs.
OK, we admit it. The Tropic office is full of
coffee snobs. Because life is too short to WHITE WHALE COFFEE
drink bad coffee, right? From magics to
short macs, espresso shots to long blacks, Ali Slotemaker
we love high-quality caffeine hits. And
so we all should. We’re lucky to live in a BACKGROUND BRIEF
region with such a rich coffee history that Started roasting specialty coffee in
stretches back to Tableland plantations in Bungalow in 2010 under the brand
the late 19th Century through to today’s Industry One Coffee. After outgrowing
thriving hub of roasteries and cool cafes. their small industrial shed, the team
We’re spoilt for choice, whether it’s a moved to a new operation on Tingira St
barista-made cup or locally roasted beans and rebranded as White Whale Coffee
for brewing at home. Roasters to reflect their passion for the
To highlight the evolution of the local environment and community.
roasting scene, Tropic talks to some of the
city’s best to get some insight into their What is your ethos when it comes to
process and passion for the bean. coffee and in particular roasting?
Ultimately our goal is to roast coffee
that tastes great to most people. The
name People’s Coffee was taken when we
started out, otherwise that would have
been a great name to encapsulate what
we are about - coffee for the people.

Where do you source your green beans
from?
We buy the best coffee from all over the
world and blend it to create signature
blends. Our Beach House Blend is our
crowd favorite, Stone Hammer is loved
by those looking for a flavor bomb
and Carpenter’s Blend (named after
Steve’s former career) is a new seasonal
JAQUES COFFEE offering designed especially for black
Jason Jaques within the coffee scene, with the coffee drinkers. We are working on an
coffee growing capital just up the hill exciting new direct-trade relationship
BACKGROUND BRIEF on the Tablelands. More eyes from which will hopefully come to fruition
For generations, Jaques Coffee has been the cafes should be focused uphill in 2020. A portion of our coffee
at the forefront of Australia’s coffee where the sun is brighter. beans sales are donated to the Reef
culture, stretching back to the 1980s. Restoration Foundation.
Where do you source your green
What is your ethos when it comes to beans from? Any advice or tips for coffee lovers?
coffee and in particular roasting? We grow it, pure and simple! You Find what you like, drink that,
When we roast our coffee, we know that can drop by 7 days per week from experiment from time to time. Filter at
we are using a virgin 100% pure single 10am – 4pm to the Plantation Café home is a delicious low-cost alternative
origin ecologically sustainable coffee and Roastery to have one of our to espresso-based beverages – check
with no food miles attached. Being baristas craft your favorite espresso out your specialty coffee shop for
in control of the growing, harvesting or cocktail with lunch, or purchase brewing equipment and advice. We
processing. We know our coffee. Truly our beans directly from our online have a free home brewing workshop
a beautiful ethos to stand by. store with free delivery to your on the 12th October 2019 from 12-1pm,
home or workplace. at 2/4-16 Tingira St, Portsmith. No
What does the future coffee scene in booking required.
Cairns look like? MORE: jaquescoffee.com.au
Cairns could have a bright future MORE: whitewhalecoffee.com.au

68 • Tropic • Issue 20