I know most of you are from north of the equator and west of the date line,
but if you're passing through northern Australia you should try to find Bruno. he moved to australia and joined the tobacco planters on the tropical highlands of the Atherton Tablelands, but at the end of the 70's he saw the multinationals moving in and the prices dropping, so he tore out his tobacco plants and planted coffee. it's a whole good story, and he'll tell it to you himself (i found the farm completely by accident while i was on holiday one year - driving along, saw the hand painted "coffee tour" sign and hit the anchors).
So now he runs the family business of my dreams - Bruno, his wife Louisa (who only speaks Italian), their daughter Maria, and one employee. Their farm is completely organic, they've watched neighbours lose their farms to poisoned soil. They are completely independent, picking, drying, roasting, and grinding on site with their own equipment. They've turned down offers from multinationals because that's how the tobacco industry was sucked dry. And when your shipment is delivered, it comes with a handwritten note from Maria.
About the coffee then. i can't compete with some of you guys, but it's a very light, sweet shot. not very complex, not a hint of bitterness. i have a macchiato, and i couldn't imagine adding sugar or more milk. blended with a darker bean, i've pulled shots you would swear had cocoa in them.
oh yeah, and it's cheap.
and they also sell sundried tomatoes, mangoes, and bananas, all organically grown, and picked and dried by hand.
http://www.nqgoldcoffee.com.au
