ABOUT.
OUR HISTORY.
It all began back in the early 80s when a young man named Marius used to go into a well renowned coffee shop in Lygon Street, Melbourne. You may have heard of it, I know I have: “Grinders Coffee Roasters”. A very passionate and friendly man who made the coffee there had Marius intrigued by the large range of various coffee blends. Marius had never seen or heard of so many different kinds of coffee before. That great man serving his intrigue was Giancarlo Gusti.
Giancarlo would make all sorts of varieties and blends and explained in detail how he’d produce them, why they tasted a certain way, their origins and so on. That’s where the fascination with coffee all began for Marius.
Years later, Marius' passion for coffee continued brewing deep under the surface. It then got to the point where he decided to purchase a tiny coffee roaster for himself, determined to have a go “homebrew style”.
Marius explains: "It was very hit and miss in the beginning. I thought it wouldn't be as difficult as it actually was. But when life throws you coffee beans, what do you do - grind them (laughs)." Puns aside, Marius was initially feeling frustrated, but this just ignited his determination to get it right. Delving even further was the only option. Reading endless books, eager to learn and fully understand every little detail in terms of what works best, the importance of quality beans, ratios, protocols and keeping a detailed record of every single batch - good and bad - for his palette and the people around him, Marius got stuck right in.
The coffee began to get a following through word of mouth to retailers and cafes, and thus a new coffee roastery was created in Main Ridge Coffee Roasters in 2010.
Fast-forward to 2017, and Marius and his young family decided to make a sea change - literally - moving from Victoria to the Mid-North Coast to settle the idyllic location of Coffs Harbour, where Main Ridge Coffee Roasters is now situated.
TRANSPARENCY.
This is integral to Main Ridge Coffee Roasters. They believe in fair price, fair trade and sustainable practices in the coffee industry, that includes everyone along the coffee chain, such as their suppliers and those they supply. Transparency, commitment and sustainability are paramount to the way they do business.
MEET THE MAKER
Meet Marius,
The Owner + Head Roaster
The main man behind MRCR.
A self professed nerd, but a super cool nerd at that, who has a wealth of knowledge and life experience. He relishes in learning not just the basics, but the how, why and every intricate detail in between. Marius puts his nerdiness down as a very integral part of his life, but it was a rather gruelling part in his life when he was an aeroplane apprentice propeller maker (umm how cool is that!).
The gentleman that trained him was an exceptionally good trainer - very firm and a really tough boss. His attention to detail and perfectionism set the standard for Marius in his formative years. It taught Marius many key values, such as hard work, resilience, patience and a strong work ethic. As a young man Marius found it extremely tough, however, but looking back now he is grateful for not only the opportunity he had, but also the entire experience as it has made him the man he is today.
Marius may be a propeller head (pardon the pun) but he has an excellent, dry yet witty sense of humour. Not only is he fun, a brilliant mind, but he's also very kind, compassionate and humble.
Fast 5 w/Marius.
1. Favourite Brewing Method? Predominantly I like to use a coffee machine so I can evaluate what is happening with the coffee. But I also really enjoy a pour over - it differs.
2. What motivates you? Definitely Passion, “to share something you love with people of all walks of life that they really enjoy… is priceless to me." A cup of coffee should be about taking a moment to stop, reflect and enjoy.
3. What do you enjoy outside of the coffee roastery? Spending time with my family, exploring nature, surfing, cycling and more being in nature (laughs).
4. I’ve noticed your love for street art and art in general. Do you have a favourite artist? That's a tough one, I have a general appreciation for all art, artists, genres, architecture and design. I love the detail of it all.
5. Why did you decide to move to the coast? Why wouldn't you (laughs), the weather and climate here is amazing! It's a great lifestyle and there's so much nature to explore. The way of living and the vibe here is very different, which I enjoy greatly.
In saying that, though, we absolutely adored Main Ridge too, it had just as much charm (except for the inconsistent weather). We, as a family, just wanted to take the leap and live somewhere new.
THE NAME.
Besides the obvious of originally being located in Main Ridge, Victoria, Australia, the name came about when the original Cafe to stock MRCR coffee said “well, come on, what are you going to name your coffee business?" So we started stocking it In-Store at that point.
The area is very community driven and has a great locals supporting locals type of atmosphere. Being on the Mornington Peninsula, it’s a real wine and foodie haven that prides itself on quality produce and good old fashioned service. Doing things really well certainly fitted the attitude and direction of Main Ridge Coffee Roasters.