Like any good business should, ‘feind Coffee has evolved during its lifespan. Initially starting out as an online marketplace for caffeine geeks to get their hands on beans from lauded Australian roasters, the energising enterprise (founded by Alex Groves and Cameron Walker) swivelled direction early this year by becoming a bonafide boutique roaster itself. In February, ‘feind launched its first blend Homebody – a 50-50 mix of natural Brazilian and washed Honduras beans designed with at-home coffee drinkers in mind. It was a big success, so much so that increasing numbers of Homebody sippers began demanding a central pick-up point to get their perk-up quicker. So, the ‘feind fellas decided to evolve once again – this time opening a cafe of their own in Spring Hill. This pint-sized flagship, a tiny hole-in-the-wall space at the bottom of a five-unit complex on St. Paul’s Terrace, is intentionally cosy, with just enough space for a coffee counter, retail shelf and seating for roughly six covers at one time. It’s just the way Alex and Cameron wanted it – a simple outlet that added a much-needed caffeine source along a notoriously dry stretch of Spring Hill. “A lot of the locals have said that there’s nothing really in Spring Hill,” says Cameron. “It’s kind of like a halfway point, like a corridor. It’s been great [so far], there’s been so many people that have been really thankful that we’ve opened up in the area.”

From a pure cafe standpoint, ‘feind Coffee nails all of the essentials. The chocolatey, nutty and sweet flavour of the Homebody blend, though designed for home espresso machines, translates brilliantly when passed through the crew’s commercial grade machine. Those eager to try ‘feind’s own range of compostable coffee capsules and coffee drip bags (both made using Homebody) can give them a whirl at the Spring Hill site, too, while those that aren’t after a jolt can opt for a coffee made using ‘feind’s decaf Buzz Off blend. Soon the team will be rotating single-origin filters through batch brew and a new blend is in the works as well. Beyond coffee, Alex and Cameron have linked up with A Gourmet Plate in Mansfield to source a small selection of fresh sandwiches and pasties – the perfect accompaniment to a flat white or a long black. Though ‘feind Coffee has evolved, the spirit of collaboration it was founded on remains. Alex and Cameron are currently working on the next Beanvent calendar, which is set to be released in the lead-up to Christmas.

‘feind Coffee is now open to the public. For operating hours and links to the team’s online store, head to the Stumble Guide.