December 04, 2023
What better way to kick off the holiday season than by showcasing a roastery with a passion for bringing together local communities and supporting social and environmental change? We’re talking about Melbourne’s very own Square One, of course.
Founded by hospitality legend and Mulberry Group’s Nathan Toleman – Square One has been serving delicious coffee since 2015. Their OG roastery is located right in the middle of Melbourne’s inner city suburb of Cremorne. This cool little suburb is known to be home to a whole heap of innovative businesses, which makes it the perfect headquarters for this gang of coffee enthusiasts.
Being a part of Mulberry Group, whose pedigree also includes Lilac Wine Bar and Dessous, means that they share the same extraordinary values as their big brother. Both are focused on making a positive impact by supporting the community and providing authentic experiences for their customers. Basically, using hospitality as a force for good and making meaningful changes in the world.
While Square One started off as a small roastery that focused on quality and ethically sourced beans, they’ve since opened up an ambitious cafe in the Melbourne CBD and have been collaborating with fellow Mulberry Group mates, Common Ground Project.
Their CBD concept cafe, Square One Rialto, doesn’t just serve fantastic coffee. They also attract talented chefs from around the world. With the changing seasons comes a new roster of superstar chefs contributing a dish to their menu. For example, this season they have Kiln’s very own Mitch Orr serving up yam waffles with smoked maple syrup and London hot spot Lisboeta’s head chef Nuno Mendes’ very special Portuguese pork sandwich. All in all, it’s definitely worth a trip to Melbourne’s CBD to try a variety of Square One’s coffees alongside one of their chef’s specials.
Common Ground Project is a 4-acre regenerative farm and social enterprise located in Freshwater Creek, Victoria, about 90 minutes from the city. The impressive organisation is on a mission to connect and empower the community through food and regenerative farming. In particular, it exists to empower agency and access for those who need it most, so that it can support a fairer, more resilient food system for everyone in the region. At the heart of the property sits the farmhouse cafe and Food Hub, perfect for a morning brunch, long lunch or road trip stop-off; celebrating a paddock-plate-paddock dining experience. Square One works closely with Common Ground Project because of their shared interest in building community and making a systemic impact on the world. Square One also donates 10% of all Square One profits to Common Ground Project – their regenerative agriculture farm and its programs.
" Common Ground Project aims to create stronger, healthier, more resilient communities by offering training and employment pathways to people facing disadvantage. Growing organic, nutrient-rich food for the region and helping connect the dots in our local food distribution programs. "
What’s coming up next for Square One? Well, a ton of things! Square One will continue to support their community and make amazing coffee. They plan on launching a new coffee range early in the new year. They’re also expanding their coffee college and education programs, have a bunch of new hospitality partners coming onboard, and have locked in 40 new guest chefs to showcase their dishes at Square One Rialto in the new year!
THE COFFEE
Cerrado Bambu, Brazil
FILTER COFFEE
This month’s filter coffee showcases two amazing producers who are utilising technology to create high quality, sustainable coffee plantations in Brazil. Both are excellent farms that they love working with, Fazenda Cachoeira in Patrocinio and Fazenda Pantano Buriti in Coromandel. It’s the perfect blend to kick-off your morning!
Coffee Origin: Brazil
Process: Natural Process
Varietal: Caturra
Tasting Notes: Notes of chocolate, citrus, honey and caramel
Suggested Recipe:
- Dose: 15g to 250ml water (1:16 ratio)
- Bloom: 60g for 30 seconds
- Lightly agigtate so that all the coffee is wet
- Slowly top up another 190g for a 2 minute 25 second finish
Fair & Square Blend
ESPRESSO & CAPSULE COFFEE
Fair & Square is Square One’s signature espresso blend designed for everyday drinking. It took many attempts for the Square One gang to create a blend that has a perfect balance of volume and melody in the end cup. It comprises a Brazil Sul de Munas Natural, Ethiopia Sidamo Natural and Peru Kontiki Washed. The Brazil adds the smooth and silky caramel toffee over the top of the entire blend. The Ethiopian, a bold layer of rich plum and sweet wine. The Peru comes in with a heavy base note of rich chocolate and gentle acidity. Together they create a perfect balance of strength, smooth chocolate, fruit acidity and rounded hazelnut.
Coffee Origin: Brazil, Ethiopia and Peru
Process:
- Brazil Sul de Munas, natural process
- Ethiopia Sidamo, natural process
- Peru Kintiki, washed process
Varietal:
- Brazil: Bourbon
- Ethiopia: Heirloom
- Peru: Caturra
Tasting Notes: Notes of chocolate, hazelnut and panela sugar
Suggested Recipe:
- Dose: 21g
- Yield: 42g
- Temperature: 94 degrees celcius
- Time: 30-32 seconds
