Mecca - Alexandria
We are back at Mecca! Making coffee since 2005, Mecca has had a huge impact on the Australian specialty coffee market, from increasing awareness of coffee transparency to birthing many great roasters and cafe owners. It's definitely worth checking out their site in Alexandria!
"We started this place as an outlet for really great coffee. Despite a mature and booming cafe culture, most of Australia's coffee roasters had very limited access to the transparency at the farm and origin level. When questions surfaced like "who grew this coffee, how much did they get paid, and why does this lot taste so different to that one?" we found the answers were unclear, so we set out to find some ourselves.
Sure enough, it was a serious can of worms. What else do you expect to happen when you start turning over rocks in an industry this big? It seemed like wherever we traveled, cupping spoons in hand, there was far greater things to discover - stories of crop disease, fair-trade labelling upsets, dodgy deals and logistical nightmares. We have spent many long flights, road trips, skype session and coffee dates asking how we can do better for our planet and for the people who deserve more recognition for producing good quality coffee. We haven't compromised on our standards since day one, and that's the reason we're still here so many years later.
It's easy to talk about the impact of the soil, altitude and variety on flavour quality. It's so much harder to recognise all the effort and work that went into creating the infrastructure ip on those hills, or the difficulties of navigating shipping lanes. We always try to keep in mind the many hands that have touched our coffee before us. Those who have taken so much care and pride in their work before it ever arrives at our door. We really believe that we are a small piece of the puzzle, so we do our best to honour the efforts of the full community of people working together to bring you the delicious coffees every day."
"Everyday we pour hundreds of House Blend. Why? Because we specifically tailored this specialty coffee blend to suit the palate of our customers. Our coffee roastery is focused on selecting top tier single origin coffee to deliver the best coffee cup every day, all the time."
2/3: Sidamo Ethiopia
1/3: El Volcán, Colombia
Roast date - 24/03/2025
Varietals - Local Landrace & Castillo
Process - Washed
Flavour notes - Orange, Honeycomb & Milk chocolate
"Designed for milk coffees, this a good ol’ all rounder, the one that kicks but at the same time caresses your senses. A specialty coffee blend that makes you want more, the one that eases the Monday blues. This is Moonwalker, a blend created with coffee beans from this planet but inspired by outer space. Bold and complex for those who appreciate a strong full-bodied brew."
2/3: El Volcán, Colombia
1/3: Los Ancestros, Guatemala
Roast date - 24/03/2025
Varietals - Castillo & Bourbon
Process - Washed
Flavour notes - Rich Dark Chocolate, Cassis & Pecan pie
"The Guji region in southern Ethiopia was not a major coffee producer in 2014 when Faysel, the founder of Testi Coffee, first visited while searching for a site to establish a washing station. At the time, there were only a few coffee farmers in the area. Undeterred and confident in the land’s coffee producing ability, Faysel and the Testi Coffee team built their first washing station — Mulish.
Located 40 km from Shakiso town, the Mulish washing station has since become one of the top stations in the Guji zone. Positioned on a slope that leads down to the Mormora River, the station spans four hectares of land and is fully equipped for the coffee-washing process. After opening, the number of local coffee farmers steadily increased, as did the number of those partnering with the washing station."
Origin - Guji, Ethiopia
Roast date - 24/03/2025
Variety - Local Landrace
Process - Washed
Flavour notes - Light and floral: Orange & Jasmine
"After spending a few years searching for better career opportunities, at the ripe age of 18, Carlos finally landed on a coffee farm in Hulia picking cherries. As time went on he observed farming practices and learning how to roast and cup coffee along with industry standards, all the while gaining invaluable knowledge that has lead to him to where he is today.
Now in present time, Carlos and his wife Pato own Finca El Recuerdo in Hulia, Colombia. After operating for 12 years, they currently grow four varieties of coffee and are constantly experimenting with diverse post harvest processing techniques. The couple also prides themselves on practicing sustainable agriculture methods and ensuring they do not leave a negative footprint on the land and surrounding forests they work in."
Origin - Huila, Colombia
Roast date - 24/03/2025
Variety - Caturra
Process - Washed
Flavour notes - Bright & Juicy: Strawberry & Watermelon
Recipes
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Espresso - 9 bar Brew ratio - 1:2.2 (dry coffee : espresso liquid) Temp - 94 Deg C Time - 25-30 seconds. *Adjust grind size to achieve the desired time
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Espresso - 6 bar Brew ratio - 1:2.5 (dry coffee : espresso liquid) Temp - 94 Deg C Time - 25-30 seconds. *Adjust grind size to achieve the desired time
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Pourover Temp - off the boil Ratio - 1:14 (dry coffee:water) Bloom - 30 seconds Flow rate - fast *Adjust grind size to achieve desired flow rate |
Aeropress Temp - off the boil Ratio - 1:14 (dry coffee : water) Bloom - 30 seconds Brew time - 90 seconds (including bloom) Press consistently over 15-20 seconds. |
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Stove top Ratio - 1 - 10 (dry coffee : water) |
