Cafe Culture Magazine Issue #45

Page 89

Cafe

Lee and Me Cafe 87 CROWN ST, WOLLONGONG NSW 2500

L

ee and Me café is located in the CBD of Wollongong. Owners, husband and wife duo, Lee and

Shay Sullivan (Lee) and Benny (Me) have made a special space right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Crown St Mall. Drawn in initially by the personality of the 1890s heritage building and the inviting atmosphere

2823 ADELINE STREET, OAKLAND, CA 94608

M

ost coffee roasters, when they are finding their way, would have gone

website, so customers can get excited about their purchases. The new warehouse has a retail space and

online and searched a coffee origin

a state of the art cupping room, to

and its tasting profile from the coffee

make coffee sorting more efficient.

enthusiast site “Sweet Maria’s”. I

Maria and Tom started Sweet Maria’s

had the opportunity to call in and

20 years ago, and it has become

see Maria and Tom at their new

a major resource portal for home

warehouse office and showroom

roasters. The Sweet Maria's website

in the city of Oakland near San

has a great information library of

Francisco.

how to source, grade, roast and brew

The new warehouse allows the team to store large amounts of bulk

coffee. It was really a pleasure to finally

green bean, that then gets re-packed

meet this dynamic coffee duo and

into small lots and sent out to home

thank them for the hard work they

roasters all over the world. The team

have contributed to the global coffee

sources coffees from all over the

industry. This unique business has

world, then test roasts the beans and

created great roasters, who were once

reviews them for their information

hobbyists that pursued their passions.

morning breakfast and joined in on the weekend buzz of friends and lovers catching up. The service was friendly and prompt, considering that both inside and outside were packed to the brim. Looking for something simple, I chose the bacon and egg

of fresh flowers and upstairs store, I

roll with my ritual flat white. I was

was highly excited about my dining

impressed with the combination of

experience.

having both the essential options of

When chatting to Head Barista

Sweet Maria's

We stopped in for a Saturday

avo on toast and granola, but also

Jack, latte art and coffee enthusiast,

the offering of a few alternative

he proudly explained that Campos

selections, making me want to

is their choice in coffee, as they can

come back next time to try the salt

always rely on delivering both quality

and pepper tofu. The lunch menu

espresso and filter to their customers. The team are very passionate about expanding their customers' coffee palate with the offering of single

looked delicious, with a variety of old favourites with a "Lee and Me" twist. Having a small takeaway menu

origin, blend and filter. On the

advertising their "pre order" service

espresso menu they were serving

of fresh options, and not just the

Superior Blend; Single Origin Costa

standard grab and go alternatives,

Rica Sangre De Toro; and for filter, a

showed they really are looking after

Colombia Finca LA Negrita Geisha.

both their weekday and weekend

Using a four group La Marzocco

trade.

Lineman PB, their front bench setup

If you’re heading into the CBD

includes two grinders, scales and an

of Wollongong for either work or

array of essential coffee tools. The single origin and Superior Blend share the Mazzer Colt grinder, and the Mahlkonig Ek43 for filter. Coming into winter, filter is their current

pleasure, I recommend stopping into Lee and Me for your coffee and food fix. It can be quick and prompt, or you are free to take some

focus, using the automatic XTS

time, explore upstairs and enjoy the

Fetco, but they also have a variety of

friendly atmosphere.

manual alternatives to experiment

Hours: Mon - Friday, 7am - 4pm.

with.

Sat - Sunday, 8am - 3pm.


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