44 ■ ROASTER PROFILE
C&CI
Michael Allpress and Tony
March 2010
Papas have known one
Longtime partners
another since they were
children. Their careers
have followed similar are expanding at
paths, first as restaura-
teurs and then in the cof-
fee business. Having built
home and overseas
up Allpress Coffee with
roasteries and coffee
Brown Bean Ltd in 2000. This meant that the
company could be assured of the premium
shops in Australia and quality single origin beans being sourced.
New Zealand, the busi-
Tony Papas began his career as a kitchen
hand, after which he began an apprentice-
ness partners are current-
ship at the Royal Albert Hotel in Auckland.
ly in expansive mood,
He went on to work overseas before moving
with a new roastery
to Australia in 1982. Among his major career
achievements are the creation of two iconic
planned in Dunedin, and Sydney restaurants, the Bayswater Brasserie
a new roastery and
in Sydney 1982, followed by the Boathouse
on Blackwattle Bay in 1997. Both are recog-
espresso bar coming to
nised as breaking new ground in the food
London in the UK
they serve and today the Boathouse is
renowned as a leading seafood restaurant.
Later, Mr Papas also went on to develop a
M
ichael Allpress, after whose sur- specialty bakery, The Brasserie Bread
name the coffee company takes its Allpress places great emphasis Company, which today distributes to over
name, began his career in various
on the design of its coffee stores
250 wholesale customers throughout
and has won awards for their design
positions in restaurant kitchens in Auckland, Sydney.
Sydney, Seattle and Canada. Whilst living in
Seattle, he experienced the revival of
Focus on quality
European style take away specialty coffee
As Mr Papas told C&CI in a
culture, leading him to return to New
and on iconic brands
Zealand and explore business opportunities
recent interview, he began
As Mr Papas told C&CI in a recent interview,
in what was then an undeveloped market. roasting coffee using an old he began roasting coffee using an old roast-
In 1987 Mr Allpress established New
roaster which he personally
er which he personally reconditioned, but as
Zealand’s first mobile espresso cart in the the business has grown Allpress has invest-
Victoria Park Markets in Auckland, quickly
reconditioned, but as the
ed not just in new outlets for its coffees but
followed by a second at Auckland
business has grown Allpress
in new roasting technology too. At all times,
University. In 1992 he wanted to explore the
has invested not just in new
Allpress has focussed on quality and as it
opportunities of a better tasting coffee which grew, the company has allied itself with a
he knew was possible from his travels, and outlets for its coffees but in number of ‘iconic’ brands, among them La
so embarked on gaining more control over
new roasting technology too
Marzocco whose espresso machines the
the roasting process. The decision was company uses.
made to source a roaster and begin roast- Allpress has grown to the point at which
ing himself. He began to supply fresh roast- for excellent espresso in Australia. They each of its existing roasteries in Australia
ed coffee not only to his own carts, but to combined their talents to take the Allpress and New Zealand roast around 6 tonnes of
several cafes and restaurants in Auckland, Espresso brand into the Australian market. green coffee every day, not just for con-
and the Allpress Espresso Roastery was In 2001 Allpress Espresso was introduced sumption at its own outlets, but for a grow-
established. to Sydney and today it is one of the leading ing number of cafés and restaurants in both
specialty roasters in Australia, with opera- countries. Mr Papas and Mr Allpress also
Growing
tions in Sydney and Melbourne. have an ongoing focus on training, in order
Mr Allpress’s desire to continually to ensure that the baristas at their own cof-
demand for espresso
improve the flavour in the cup and take fee shops and those at other outlets using
Toward the end of 1999, his life long friend more control over the green bean coffee their coffee are able to produce top quality
and well known Sydney restaurateur, Tony selection and purchasing process led to the coffee every time.
Papas also recognised the growing demand establishment of a green bean company – As demand has grown and the volume of
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