Simply Beans: Espresso Bar, One Stop Coffee Shop and Boutique Roastery
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Recently, I was looking for some new coffee lounges to try out on my bike rides around the traps. I found reference to
Simply Beans at the Southpark Complex, 10 – 14 Compton Road, Underwood.
I was curious to try their coffee after I read where
Simply Beans holds International and National awards for their boutique coffee bean roasting and how they produce distinctive coffees using selected Arabica green beans of the highest quality. The information stated
Simply Beans is a supplier of 'Coffee of Distinction' as well as a 'One-Stop Shop' for all things coffee including, commercial and domestic equipment and training for baristas and people who just want the best possible morning coffee at home. Most importantly to me, the Espresso Bar is open to the public Monday to Thursday from 8.00am until 5.00pm, Friday from 7.00am to 5.00pm and Saturday from 8.00am until 12 noon. Closed on Sunday.
This sounded too good to be true. I needed to find out for myself so I downloaded the directions and set out to test the claims.
After turning into Compton Road I started looking out for the address. On my first approach I rode straight past – missed it completely. I didn't see anything that resembled a coffee shop, just a street full of warehouses, industrial sheds and homecare products. I also didn't see a reference to No 10. Once I knew I had missed it I pulled over and used my 'smart' phone to find my way back.
Second time lucky. I found the entry to Southpark Complex is straight after the 7-11 service station and right before the huge 'Southpark' sign. That's right, the big clue for finding Southpark – that I missed completely – is to turn in where you see the large Southpark sign.
Simply Beans is right at the back of the Southpark Complex in among the car repairers, warehouses, boat hire, golf shop and automatic gate suppliers. It's exactly where you wouldn't expect to find a coffee joint – that's my excuse anyway.
Entry by the bright orange umbrella leads you into the air-conditioned Espresso Bar just off to the left.
Here the most important decision you have to make is which blend of coffee you would like for your flat white (or latte, long/short black or whatever) to be brewed from. I had a selection of five blends when I was there:
Supremo
Davero
Karramella
Mexican Finca Kassandra
Yirgacheffe (Ethiopian Speciality).
Going on my barista's advice I selected the Karramella – and a fine choice that turned out to be. To add to your drinking pleasure there is a display case of various sweets and savouries to be had with the coffee. Naturally I selected the sticky date slice with caramel sauce. I was asked if I wanted cream but, of course, I said, 'No' – after all, I am on a diet.
The coffee was simply magnificent. I can enjoy most coffee served up to me but this one was exceptional. It had all that I love about a coffee. It was the right temperature, it gave me a buzz and the taste was sublime.
Simply Beans has absolutely no street appeal because you can't see it from the street. It's situated in what is best described as an 'Industrial Park' where you wouldn't expect to find a great coffee lounge. So you're not going to find it, unless you're looking for it and, as I found out, even then it can be tricky. However, if you are a lover of great coffee and able to follow directions then give yourself a treat and follow my directions to the land of coffee El Dorado.
The foolproof approach is to turn westwards into Compton Road from Kingston Road, pass the 7-11 service station on your left and then turn into the very next driveway
BEFORE the big, unmissable Southpark sign that I missed. And there it will be, straight ahead at the end of the drive.
The
Simply Beans roastery was started up six years ago to supply customers with roasted coffee bean blends by the bag full for home and for wholesaling to café owners. Its distinctive coffees are created with selected Arabica green beans of the highest quality, producing coffee which is certainly best described as 'Coffee of Distinction'.
Owners, Joe and Deborah Anapo, know all there is to know about coffee. With his many years of experience to guide him, Joe lovingly coaxes the subtle flavours from the Arabica green beans he sources from all over the world. He takes pride in blending and roasting coffee with passion and precision. All blends are available for purchase on site in 250 gram, 500 gram or 1 kilogram bags either as a whole bean or ground for your specific requirements.
Joe and his staff will help you with all your coffee needs from machine purchases, barista training, contract roasting and of course enjoying great coffee in comfortable surroundings.
To make sure you have all the know-how you'll ever need, Joe and his staff provide demonstrations on the last Saturday of every month for turning the espresso machine you have at home into a provider of a shot of morning bliss you can have at any time of the day.
There's an old saying that goes something like this, "If it's not hard, it's not worth it." Well, it's hard to find
Simply Beans and it sure is worth it. The coffee is fantastic, the range of coffee paraphernalia is all-encompassing for coffee lovers and, most of all, the service is friendly and efficient.
For more information check out the
Simply Beans Facebook page
here , email to
[email protected] or call on 3208 2900. The web site is currently under reconstruction but can be looked at
here when it's up again.
This really is a nirvana for coffee lovers. Whatever you do, don't miss it; but if you do, go around the block and try again!
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140563 - 2023-06-13 16:51:42