Seek out specialty coffee roaster Ground Control in the bustling back streets of Tweed Heads’ industrial estate to kickstart your day. If the roller door is up, you’re in luck! Stop in and fuel up just metres from where the beans are roasted, ground and packaged. The industrial space is a haven for all things coffee, with the retail space stocking everything for the avid home brewer. The crew roll with a motto of “good coffee, good times” and have a focus on sustainability to support the development of the global coffee industry. You’ll also find Ground Control served in a slew of local cafes including Baked at Ancora, Wild Thyme, Pastry Bread Espresso and Kiosk at Casuarina.
Housed in the heritage-listed Uki Post Office, take a country drive to Uki and savour a cup of the regions finest while watching the comings and goings of Uki village life. The Post Office is also a gallery space dedicated to showing the work of local artists with a constantly evolving curated collection on display. Chat with the friendly Post Master/Roast Master Gary and head out back to “the roast office” to watch the magic happen as Gary expertly roasts, grinds and creates his quality range of roasts. Take home a batch of “Alt” a unique first of its kind coffee roasted exclusively for use with milk alternatives such as soy, almond, oat, macadamia and coconut.
Another roaster with a strong sustainability focus is Therefore Coffee with a “brew good, do good” philosophy. The team provide transparency on their labels and pay premium prices for beans and build strong relationships with suppliers to breed confidence and security for producers as well as donating $1 per kg sold for social initiatives. You can sip Therefore Coffee and feel smug about your sustainable choice at Stone Studio in sunny Kingscliff.
Coffee aficionados Pat and Tam have a long history in the coffee trade and have recently moved their wholesale operations to Murwillumbah after previously running a successful café in the Northern Rivers. You can taste The Branches blends at Brew & Bake in Kingscliff and pick up a sweet treat while you’re there.
Originally from Melbourne, coffee lover Nick Pearce was passionate to learn more about the origins of coffee, the coffee roasting process and sustainable methods to bring a quality brew to the region. Blackboard Coffee was born and Nick and his family, who settled in Cabarita in 2015 have since opened Tucker and Jordy’s in Casuarina where Blackboard signature brews are served. You’ll also find Blackboard served in some of The Tweed’s favourite cafes including Black Drop, Paper Daisy and Mockingbird.
Flutterbies in Tyalgum offers a cornucopia of pleasures including Double or Nothing Coffee. With a desire to serve a local brew at the dining destination, Double or Nothing started roasting from a 2kg roaster in 2010. They’ve since outgrown those humble beginnings, roasting offsite, however, the original roaster still sits proudly in Flutterbies Cottage Café. This award-winning small-batch roaster is the perfect brew to go with Flutterbies signature cakes for an indulgent afternoon tea.
Wake up and smell the coffee at Origin House! Stay in luxe accommodation overlooking the award-winning Wirui estate coffee plantation in the picturesque setting of Carool. Wirui Estate is a small estate producing one of Australia’s best single origin coffees. An artisan coffee producer, Zeta’s Coffee started planting coffee in 1994 in the region’s rich volcanic soil. These days the crop is sold as a microlot to Campos Coffee depending on availability. Charming host Zeta Grealy offers guests staying at the luxe two-bedroom villa an opportunity to experience how coffee is grown and produced as well as plenty of coffee to enjoy during your stay.
Inspiration
Inspiration
We wish to acknowledge the Ngandowal and Minyungbal speaking people of the Bundjalung Country, in particular the Goodjinburra, Tul-gi-gin and Moorung – Moobah clans, as being the traditional owners and custodians of the land and waters within the Tweed Shire boundaries. We also acknowledge and respect the Tweed Aboriginal community’s right to speak for its Country and to care for its traditional Country in accordance with its lores, customs and traditions.
