We check in with the Melbourne-based coffee roaster to see how they’re faring.
Locale is a Melbourne-based, specialty coffee roaster committed to bringing coffee and community together. Part of the coffee scene since 2015, Locale is all about making specialty coffee more approachable. They’re also big on minimising their environmental footprint with an aim to leave the coffee industry (and the earth) in a better position than when they found it.
How have you been travelling? What is it like to run a coffee-based business during these crazy times?
It’s been a wild few months, but we consider ourselves lucky so many people view coffee as essential. We’ve managed to adapt our business as health advice changed and tried to give our cafe partners a boost where we could. We really encourage folks to get out and support their local cafes. They’ll need our help getting back on their feet, especially those in Melbourne hit hard by lockdown 2.0.
Tell us a bit about the coffee bean creation process? Why is it so important that your beans are made in-house?
For us, it’s important that our Coffee Development Team personally oversee the entire process, from sourcing, through to roasting and quality assurance. This, in conjunction with our state-of-the-art facility, helps us to maintain that level of quality and consistency our coffee is known for. Relationships are essential too, partnering with like-minded producers allows for direct feedback about each harvest and a more tailored approach.
Do you have a favourite coffee blend that you offer? Why is it your favourite?
We don’t like to play favourites, we love them equally, but we do have a soft spot for our Organic Blend. It incorporates a Sumatran coffee from the Orangutan Coffee Project which helps to support orangutan conservation and rehabilitation. We also spend quite a bit of time sourcing interesting single-origin coffee. We currently have a delicious Brazilian blend that won first place in the Carmo Best Cup coffee competition from over 800 entries!
The manufacturing of coffee and the incorrect disposal of used coffee grounds can contribute to climate change in various ways. What is your sustainability ethos?
We’re big on sustainability. It’s a key focus for us and something we’re really passionate about. Our roasting facility is solar-powered and we offset our emissions by purchasing carbon credits from renewable energy programs around the globe. This means all of our coffee products are certified carbon neutral. We also compost our used coffee grounds onsite and are working towards closing our own packaging loop. Stay tuned for exciting updates in the coming months.
Tell us a bit about your coffee delivery service. How can one get their hands on your beans?
Many of our cafe partners stock Locale beans in-store and we love to endorse supporting local. If you prefer to order from the comfort of your home, you can buy online through our website. Our newsletter subscribers get an ongoing 10% off beans online, plus we offer free shipping on orders over $50. You can rest easy knowing our delivery service is also carbon neutral via Sendle.
Score yourself some Locale Espresso coffee beans at their website or find their coffee stocked at a cafe near you.
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