Commonfolk Coffee Roasters, giving back to the community and industry and beyond.

Posted By admin, September 05,2017, in Featured roaster

Featured roaster – SEPTEMBER 2017

We first discovered this month’s roaster deep in Melbourne’s south eastern peninsula. The Commonfolk Coffee Roasters crew are back for another whirl with us, and this time they’re sporting a brand new look.

Coffee aficionado Sam Keck founded Commonfolk Coffee Roasters after countless hours dwelling at public cupping sessions hosted by coffee icons Seven Seeds and Market Lane Coffee whilst studying marine zoology in inner Melbourne.

Settling back into his hometown on the Mornington Peninsula, he quickly discovered that the coffee on offer locally was far from impressive, igniting his mission to expose the locals to the joys of specialty coffee. And he went about this by having a go at roasting it himself (as you do).

In 2013, this vision was realised when an old limestone manufacturing warehouse became available which they promptly converted into a coffee roastery and cafe. Over the years, this space has evolved to become quite the creative hub – with local artists and makers taking shared residence for their studios and stores.

When going about brainstorming what to call themselves, Sam sums up the thinking out nicely “We liked Commonfolk because it encapsulated our philosophy and what we stood for – great coffee, art, and amazing spaces that should be available to everybody. We wanted to create a ‘common’ space for all ‘folk’ to feel at home while still rocking their socks off with our product”. And that’s exactly what they created.

With his team by his side – including Head of Coffee and Q Grader Ryan Toleman, they have since received some well deserved recognition from when we saw them last, going on to win the 3AW Small Business Award last year.

They’ve even gone “mobile” with their very own coffee bus affectionately known as “Bussy McBusface” who helps spread the Commonfolk Coffee joy to the Mornington masses and beyond… Think of it like the infamous primary school dental van, but better (read: full of caffinated treats)… One flat white coming right up!

And their altruistic The Cup That Counts initiative has to date raised over $60,000, continuing to support grassroots coffee farmers in the developing world. Thus far, their efforts have helped establish a coffee demonstration farm in Uganda and the team have also set up Zukuka Coffee – a locally owned coffee company in Uganda used to export and sell the farmers’ collective product to western markets.

A fair effort for a humble out of town roaster, it can only go up from here (Marine Zoology will just have to take a back seat for now)!

This month, enjoy some single origin goodness courtesy of the good guys at Commonfolk:

Espresso drinkers

It’s now time to celebrate the achievements of ‘The Cup That Counts’ four years on, by quite literally enjoying the fruits of their labour. The Zukuka Bora from Uganda is made up of the highest quality lots from the Ugandan side of Mt Elgon, a region well known for amazing Kenyan coffee. This coffee is fully washed before being sun dried on raised African beds. Enjoy knowing every cup counts.

Explorers, you’re experiencing the APK (African Plantation Kilimanjaro) from Tanzania. Discovered by First Crop Coffee on a visit to a Tanzanian mill in 2016, located halfway between Arusha and the Kilimanjaro airport, the First Crop team visited Colombian Farmer Alejandro Galante. His success in Colombia as a coffee farmer enabled him to introduce things like a 3-tier drying system entirely unique for Africa. The result – a Colombian/Tanzanian fusion coffee that displays the best characteristics of both origins.

Filter Drinkers

You too can get in on the ‘The Cup That Counts’ action with the Budwale Peaberry also from their Zukuka Bora farm in Uganda. Made up of the highest quality lots from the Ugandan side of Mt Elgon. Enjoy knowing every cup counts.

Explorers, taste their Kahuro Peaberry from Kenya. Kahuro translates to ‘Lower Part of the Hill’ and refers to coffees grown at around 1500-1800MASL. The Kahuro washing station has 760 members all of whom hand pick and deliver their ripe coffee berries to the washing station the day of harvest. The washed coffee is then sent to a dry mill just outside of Nairobi for final processing, sorting and export. Taste flavours of hibiscus, raspberry and sugar syrup sweetness from this cup.

How are you enjoying Commonfolk Coffee Roasters’ coffee picks this month?

Stay caffeinated.