Amongst Murwillumbah’s delightful Art Deco and red-brick buildings, Old Quarter Coffee Merchant’s navy-blue facade commands attention. The venue is the second coffee-centric outpost for Amelia Hicks and Yosir ‘Yose’ Le Cerf, the founders of Old Quarter Coffee Merchants, who were attracted to the area’s thriving arts community. While it’s still early days, the response from the community has been incredible, Amelia says, before declaring Murbah – as the locals call it – a filter coffee town.

Although Old Quarter is not the only coffee spot in the area, Amelia and Yosir are taking a different approach. Their plan is to shine a spotlight on some lesser-known coffee regions in Southeast Asia. On the decks, you’ll find an incredible selection of beans that are available as pour over and batch brews alongside multiple espresso options for both milk and black brews. You needn’t know the ins and outs of complex flavour profiles or growing regions to enjoy a coffee here, but for those who are interested in learning, the team is only too happy to offer some gentle guidance. “We want to be your trusted advisor on coffee,” Amelia says.

The Old Quarter space is intentionally minimal, with the exception of a giant velvet curtain that adds a little drama to the otherwise clean backdrop. A scattering of low-set stools at the entry are filled with patrons who have struck up a conversation, and in the cabinet, you’ll spy a selection of baked goods from Fuel Bakehouse including cruffins, doughnuts and Portuguese tarts.

The thing that really sets Old Quarter apart is the social enterprise side of the business they affectionately call the Optimism Exchange program. Amelia and Yosir, who had just returned from visiting an all female co-op in Vietnam when we caught up, believe that it’s important to be on the ground, listening and learning, which is why they travel back regularly. “It’s like visiting family,” Amelia tells us. Old Quarter is proudly Australia’s only specialty coffee company sourcing 100% Southeast Asian green beans direct from farmers. The Optimism Exchange program is aimed at creating a positive impact and leaving things a little better than they found them. An example of the Optimism Exchange in action is in Sumatra. In discussions with the famers, it was identified that the roads and infrastructure were hazardous. Old Quarter’s contribution went towards paving 500-m of dirt road as part of a broader project across eight villages. In Laos, the farmers tend to some of the finest crops in the world, but don’t have consistent access to clean drinking water. By selling 1000-kgs of Laos coffee, Old Quarter will raise enough money to build a water well to provide clean drinking water and change the lives of these farmers and their entire village.

If you’re keen to support Old Quarter Coffee Merchants and their mission to make the world a little bit better, you can buy beans here, or sign up to a subscription for ethical coffee delivered straight to your door on a regular basis. Next time you’re down Murwillumbah way, swing by Old Quarter Coffee Merchants for a brew. You’ll be glad you did. 

Image credit: Supplied.