We love delicious coffee and everything that happens around it

We’re a Gadigal land / Sydney-based specialty coffee company established in 2011, with a unique focus on rotating single origins, uncompromised quality, ethical sourcing, and homebrewing accessibility.


Coffee tree leaves with the Sample Coffee Surry Hills shop canopy behind.


What first brought us to business is the pure enjoyment of coffee’s flavour. It can be nuanced, complex, and exciting; also, consistent and comforting. It can be so many things, but for us, it’s never boring.

Then, we also fell in love with all the little things that happened around it: moments, discoveries, connections. A nice morning ritual, alone or in company; a reason to take a break or keep going; an excuse to leave the house, or stay in it; a source of learning and a connection to other people and cultures…

Today, our feelings and mission remain the same.

We’re here to explore the world of delicious coffee and share it with those who, like us, appreciate its taste as much as all the little things around it.


Reuben and two Sample Coffee staff behind the bar sometime in 2011-2013.




Our story: sampling and sharing the coffee world since 2011

When we opened our tiny Surry Hills shop in 2011, the goal was simple: to let our customers taste (sample) delicious, diverse and nuanced coffee from around the world. Our offer focused particularly on rotating single origins and black coffee styles, something not so popular or well-brewed back then.

In 2014, we opened our roastery and second cafe in St Peters. This space allowed us to curate and share the coffee menu of our dreams: a generous, weekly rotating list of exceptional single origins, smooth espresso blends, and noteworthy decaf.

Over a decade later, slowly and organically, we’ve grown a community of homebrewers and partner venues that love our coffees as much as how we do business.

We still are and do things small, by choice. This helps us stay nimble, flexible and hyperconnected with every part of the coffee journey.


Explore our story and brand life


Why “Sample”?


sample (verb)
(1) to taste a small amount of food or drink to decide if you like it
(2) to experience a place or an activity, often for the first time


We called ourselves Sample Coffee because we wanted to be a ‘place’ for people to try delicious, diverse and exceptional coffees from around the world.

A place where anyone could experience the beauty, nuance and stories behind each cup.

A place where everyone, from first-timers to coffee nerds, could equally enjoy and fall in love with the different rituals around this drink.

A place to, well, Sample Coffee.

Reuben roasting coffee with our Loring Kestrel S35 in St Peters.



Our approach: quality, consistency, transparency, respect (and a little bit of fun)

What is delicious coffee? What makes it exceptional?

For us, it starts with transparent, high-quality sourcing. Then comes the consistent roasting. And that’s not enough: we want to run the non-coffee side of our business with the same integrity, creating a respectful, generous, and thoughtful experience for everyone involved.

This is some of what we do to turn these words into action:


We source only high-quality lots through ethical importers that pay above Fair Trade and C-price

Our roasting style seeks clarity of flavour, building upon each origin’s own character

We practice full transparency and accountability: we’re a certified B Corporation

Our packaging is ABA certified home compostable

We donate $0.20 per coffee bag sold (all year round) to social and environmental nonprofits

We take the time to share our knowledge: we believe everyone can make and enjoy delicious coffee


Learn everything about our coffee philosophy and business approach


Our team posing in front of the St Peters roastery roller door.



What we do:

  • Source and roast specialty coffee in our St Peters warehouse
  • Brew, serve and sell our coffee beans and brewing gear through our cafes, online store and subscriptions
  • Share our knowledge openly through online resources and community events
  • Supply other cafes, restaurants, gyms and businesses through our wholesale service
  • Produce co-branded coffee products, thoughtful swag, merch and group gifts
  • Organise coffee carts for event catering and contract roasting

Our community includes homebrewers and businesses in Australia (with the core in Sydney and Brisbane areas), Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, Thailand, Japan) and beyond (Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands).


Check our current coffee lineup, subscription plans or wholesale offer



What people say about us

OK, we’ve already talked a lot about ourselves! Head to our awards and media features and our customer reviews to know what others have to say about our coffee, service and people.



Our locations

If you’re ever around Sydney, make sure you come say hi to our cafes and roastery in Surry Hills and St Peters.

  • An outdoor shot of our Surry Hills espresso bar.

  • An inside shot of our St Peters Pro Shop cafe.




Contact

You can always write to us at [email protected]. Also, stay in touch via newsletter, Instagram and YouTube.



Manifesto


We use the word ‘we’.
We find the positive.
We’re always there to belay our mates.
We celebrate the underdog.
We recognise the next hold may not be the most obvious.
We celebrate the journey as much as the outcome.
We leave no trace, whether in a customer’s venue or campsite.
We give first and take only what we need.
We’re generous with our time, our knowledge and our beans.
When we have the opportunity to add value, we pass it on.


The Sample Coffee team of 2019 gathers chatting in a circle, in an outdoor setting (like a park), with a sunset sky behind.