Homegrown Heroes: Sydney-based Coffee Roasters

In Sydney, seriously good coffee is the norm. We’re a city of caffeine lovers, and our baristas have perfected the art of brewing the perfect cup. At some cafes, all of the magic happens in-house. They take coffee into their own hands – literally – and roast the beans themselves, so you get the freshest, most unique blend.

When the coffee cravings kick in, go straight to the source and head to one of Sydney’s artisan roasters.

Mecca Coffee

Mecca Coffee takes its coffee seriously, and they’re just as passionate about teaching the public just how it’s done. At their Alexandria site, you can watch a roastery up close while sipping on your brew of choice (and there are plenty to choose from!). You can also get your fix at the original Mecca Coffee in the CBD, or its sister café in Ultimo, Soma.

Alexandria, Sydney, Ultimo

Sample Coffee, SydneySample Coffee

It may be tiny – we’re talking the size of a shoebox – but Sample Coffee boasts some of the best coffee in Sydney. Little more than a wooden bar, Sample churns out a selection of single-origin, freshly-roasted beans. Go for the special (the ‘Cup of Excellence’), and if you’re after more of a sit-down experience, head to the new roastery in St Peter’s.

Surry Hills, St Peters

Single O

Single O is on top of their game, constantly sourcing, roasting and blending beans. All of their coffee is roasted on-site, and you can try it at the original Surry Hills cafe, or the espresso bars in the CBD and Carriageworks. Opt for the Reservoir blend or single origin special – and if the rare geisha beans are on the menu, it’s your lucky day!

Surry Hills, Sydney, Eveleigh

Artificer Specialty Coffee Bar & Roastery

After stints working at some of the best coffee roasters in Sydney, Dan Yee and Shoji Sasa decided to branch out on their own – and they haven’t looked back. The duo buy beans in small batches and chooses roasting methods according to the qualities of each batch of coffee. The result is a cup that’s perfectly balanced, and meant to be savoured.

547 Bourke Street, Surry Hills

The Little Marionette

Once a small café-slash-roaster in Balmain, The Little Marionette is at the forefront of boutique coffee roasting. Now, you can buy their specialty beans online, but for the best experience, head to their Annandale or St Peter’s cafés. With the help of single origin batch roasts, they’ll make your coffee just the way you like it: strong, smooth or sweet.

St Peters, Annandale

Double Roasters

Occupying a 1950s warehouse, Double Roasters is a hive of activity: there’s coffee roasting, coffee-making, and coffee-centric conversation. Order a feast of fritters, and sample as many of the brews as you can. You can’t go wrong with the crowd favourite, Flight Path – a blend that’s named after the planes that fly over throughout the day.

1/49 Carrington Road, Marrickville

White Horse Coffee

When people are queuing up for coffee every morning, you know it has to be good. With legions of fans in The Shire, the café sources, roasts and extracts its own coffee on-site, and rotates in new blends every couple of weeks. The baristas know their brews, and are guided by owner and former Grand Barista Champion, Dom Majdandzic.

2/137 Flora Street, Sutherland

Coffee Alchemy

Tucked away in Marrickville, Coffee Alchemy continues to win over coffee connoisseurs. It started as a wholesale coffee roaster before opening up to serve its range of roasts to the public. The owner, Hazel de los Reyes, has a slew of awards to her name, and it shows, not only in the coffee selection, but the many brewing methods. Coffee Alchemy also has a second espresso bar in the Strand Arcade, Gumption

Marrickville, Sydney