Her Coffee series: Tupelo Coffee Co.

Posted on 12 January, 2015

Last Wednesday Canberra welcomed Tupelo Coffee Co. into the neighbourhood –  and, boy, have they got off on the right foot! While Tupelo isn’t the first of its kind in Canberra, it’s easy to see that there’s definitely something distinctive about this place; something that brings a whole new dimension to Canberra’s already-thriving coffee culture. Owner Nic Walker shares with HerCanberra what Tupelo is really all about.

Born and raised a Canberran, Nic is passionate about coffee culture and had been dreaming up this particular Tupelo concept for around two years. Tucked behind the City Bus Interchange on Alinga Street, Tupelo is handy for commuters and hard to miss – though you wouldn’t want to. The sheer simplicity of the place stands out from the regular urban noise with its minimalistic interior.

Filled with natural light, the cafe is open, airy and easy on the eye creating a relaxed vibe: white walls, white tiles, a small blackboard menu and some super cool DIY wood furniture offer a  calm haven in the midst of city chaos. It’s a space that allows you to focus on your coffee and be alone with your thoughts.

“We’re not exactly interior designers but we’re all about sustainability and focus,” says Nic as he explains how the interior reflects Tupelo’s core ethos of focus when it comes to making coffee.

“We take coffee seriously. All of our staff members are professionals in hospitality [and] our aim is to deliver industry leading coffee [so focus is key].”

As the conversation continues, it’s revealed that Tupelo source their coffee from well-known Melbourne-based coffee roasters Code Black. I sampled the delicious Ethiopian filter coffee, which has some really sweet tasting notes of vanilla, honeysuckle and orange blossom. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of filter coffee, don’t be scared to try it! It’s really easy to drink and goes down a treat especially with some delicious housemade peach and white chocolate muffins.

Now, you’d be a fool to think I’d stop at just one coffee, so I moved onto my usual order of business—a soy mocha—which is usually followed with a bit of flak. Sharing with Nic that it’s a genuine intolerance of full-cream milk not just another hipster trend, Nic responds.

“We want to get rid of any hesitation people might have and allow them to express themselves with their own coffee,” he says.

Tupelo just scored some brownie points with that lovely little sentiment alone.

In addition to the coffee, Tupelo also offers fresh orange juice and a selection of housemade treats. There’s fresh muffins (including the aforementioned peach/white choc combo – to die for), walnut and banana bread, baguettes, even a triple cheese jaffle (fancy talk for a toasted sandwich) with pumpkin soup dipper.

“We want the food to be a bit nostalgic and seasonal,” Nic says. “It’s the same with our coffee – we want the coffee we offer to be seasonally correct.”

Eventually kissing the cup goodbye, it was time to leave; not with a heavy heart but rather feeling re-invigorated and excited about Canberra’s prospects as a respected coffee-capital. It’s clear that Tupelo is focused on providing customers with nothing but a good coffee experience—I certainly enjoyed mine and can guarantee I’ll be back. Frequently.

The essentials

Place: Tupelo Coffee Co.
Where: 92-100 Sydney Building, Alinga Street, Canberra City
When: 7am-4pm weekdays and 8am-12pm Saturday
Web: Find them on Facebook  and Instagram @tupelocoffeeco