Should you ever end up in Melbourne strolling via Edinburgh Gardens on a sunny day maintain a watch out for Standing Room. After a decade of serving up specialty espresso throughout Melbourne’s college campuses, the Standing Room crew branched out in 2022 and opened up their first off campus cafe. The journey for Standing Room has been an interesting one.
The journey for Standing Room has been an interesting one. Founder Thomas Kelly spent most of his life working in cafes when in the future, whereas attending uni, he realised there was nobody promoting nice espresso on campus. Noticing the hole out there, he opened up a bunch of small espresso spots at Melbourne College, RMIT and Melbourne Central. So small in truth that the clientele might solely, you guessed it, stand!
In addition they fell in love with roasting alongside the best way. Taking full management of the place the beans come from and the way they’re roasted took their complete operation up a couple of notches!
Standing Room finally gained such cult standing on campuses that it was a no brainer to open up the attractive Fitzroy North cafe the place you may get exceptionally roasted Standing Room espresso and select from one in every of many artistic breakfast dishes. Don’t fear, there are many locations to sit down of their cafe in addition to a big standing desk up entrance if you happen to’d prefer to rapidly sip in your espresso and go!
THE ROASTER
We caught up with Standing Room Founders Thomas Kelly and Jordan Taylor to speak all about Standing Rooms origin story, their Fitzroy North location and what’s subsequent for the quickly rising enterprise.
Inform us about you. What’s your espresso background?
We’ve been making espresso since we have been youngsters, working in a busy bakery cafe in Yarraville collectively. Over time we fell in love with making espresso and the significant interactions you’ll be able to have working in a restaurant. Though, there was quite a lot of studying concerned too! We’re tremendous grateful to all of the baristas, roasters and buddies who helped us out alongside the best way! Now we’re fortunate sufficient to roast and promote our personal espresso and share these interactions with our great clients throughout our three places.
How did the model/challenge get began? Discuss us via the method and challenges.
Whereas enrolled as a pupil at The College of Melbourne, I (Thomas) noticed there was a spot out there for cafe high quality espresso on campus so I opened up just a little gap within the wall promoting espresso and muffins to the employees and college students. All through the years our shops have grown; branching out to completely different universities, promoting espresso within the fast-paced CBD and now our first dine-in location in Fitzroy North. After we began roasting our personal espresso in 2020, the ultimate piece of the puzzle clicked… and right here we’re!
How do you supply your espresso beans and what do you search for within the beans you utilize?
We’re fortunate sufficient to work with some nice importers who’re all very thorough and clear with their inexperienced bean sourcing. All of the coffees we purchase are traceable again to the mill or farm they’re processed at – typically to the farmers who produced them. We’re at all times in search of coffees that we predict actually have a good time the nations and areas they arrive from and current a stunning balanced cup for everybody to get pleasure from. We particularly love shopping for the identical coffees 12 months on 12 months. It’s a good way to help the farmers and households again at origin and our clients actually get pleasure from seeing their favorite coffees return every season!
Except for at-home, the place can our subscribers drink your espresso?
We’ve presently received three places throughout Melbourne! College students can discover us at The College of Melbourne’s Parkville campus together with RMIT’s metropolis campus. Our latest retailer in Fitzroy North on St. George’s Street has been open for a 12 months now. It’s a stunning place to cease by for some brunch or a espresso to take to the park! Inform us about what’s in retailer for Standing Room Espresso for the remainder of the 12 months? Any thrilling or upcoming initiatives to notice? We’ve received a bunch of latest coffees hitting the shelf from Burundi and Ethiopia in addition to some previous favourites from Colombia coming round Christmas. You additionally would possibly see us at just a little pageant within the New Yr working an espresso martini bar, maintain your eyes peeled!
@standingroomcoffee
standingroomcoffee.com.au
THE GUIDE
The Standing Room Crew instructed us all about a few of their favorite northside scorching spots. We dare you to attempt to go to all of them if you happen to’re ever within the space!
Iris Bakery, Brunswick
This gem could also be new to the scene however their Danish type baked items, particularly the killer cardamom buns, actually hit the spot! You’ll be able to’t go incorrect with something from Iris Bakery.
Julie, Abbotsford
Julie simply opened up on the Abbotsford Convent. It’s wonderful. Benefit from the ambiance on this heritage inside whereas feasting on some epic seasonal dishes.
Public Wine, Fitzroy North
Public Wine is greater than only a wine store. It’s down the highway from Standing Room and options an incredible choice of pure wines and scrumptious
THE COFFEE
Cajamarca, Colombia
FILTER COFFEE
This very particular Colombian espresso was grown and processed by six smallholder producers which might be located across the city and municipality of Cajamarca, Colombia. Anticipate the easiest of Colombian espresso with this one – beautiful clear and crisp flavours, punchy fruits and plenty of sweetness. Standing Room additionally roasted this espresso just a little lighter to intensify the scrumptious fruitiness and acidity.
Espresso Origin: Colombia
Course of: Washed
Varietal: Caturra
Tasting Notes: Notes of crimson apple, caramel and honeysuckle
Advised Recipe:
- Dose: 15g to 250ml water
- Bloom: 40g for 40 seconds
- Pour: Slowly pour the remaining water, in search of the brew to complete at round 3 minutes
Seasonal Mix
ESPRESSO & CAPSULE COFFEE
Introducing Standing Rooms go-to espresso mix! Scrumptious, clear and balanced, its origins change with the seasons however the style is at all times satisfying. At present their Seasonal Mix consists of two coffees in a good 50/50 cut up – a washed Colombian from Huila, El Desarollo, and a pulped pure Brazil from Bahia, Fazenda Progresso. They roast their Seasonal Mix to pair deliciously with milk, whereas additionally being candy and full bodied when loved black.
Espresso Origin: Colombia and Brazil
Course of:
- 50% El Desarollo, Huila, Colombia, washed course of
- 50% Fazenda Progresso, Bahia, Brazil, pulped pure course of
Varietal:
- Colombia: Caturra
- Brazil: Catuai
Tasting Notes: Notes of toffee, macadamia and plum
Advised Recipe:
- Dose: 20g
- Yield: 45g
- Time: 30 seconds
