The Rock and Roll Coffee Company

THE ROCK & ROLL COFFEE COMPANY
Co-owners
Head Barista Trent Morris & Head Chef Michael Collins

The Rock & Roll Coffee Company was established in Mullumbimby, in September 2009, by Trent Morris and Michael Collins whose vision was to create a café with great coffee, fresh Asian food and a laidback urban vibe.

Trent, who is originally from Sydney, is a fourth-generation restaurant owner with almost 15 years’ experience as a barista, including at Bondi’s iconic Love in a Cup café and The Stokehouse in Melbourne. Trent’s passion for coffee has earned him a reputation as one of Australia’s master baristas and gained him a loyal customer base.

Michael’s earliest memories involve playing in the kitchen of his father’s restaurant in New Zealand. He went on to train and work internationally, including at Sydney’s Blackbird Café and The Saint in Brighton, UK, where he developed his passion for modern fusion cuisine. Traveling recently to Thailand to work at David Thompson's award winning restaurant Nam, Michael is very excited to put that experience to work.


CULINARY ARTICLE

“When we first opened Rock & Roll, the biggest question was: ‘do coffee and Asian food go together?’,” says Trent Morris, co-owner of The Rock and Roll Coffee Company. “The answer has been a resounding ‘yes’. After seven years, we’re no longer Mullum’s best-kept secret.”

Trent and Rock & Roll co-owner Michael Collins came to Mullumbimby from Sydney to raise their young families. “The community has embraced our approach to hospitality,” says Michael. “It’s a tight community with a lot of people who are very conscious about what they put into their bodies and people are keen to support local businesses, including local growers, which we use as much as possible.”
“Where we live there is an abundance of herbs, fruits and vegetables used in traditional Asian cooking. This local produce has inspired our dynamic menu with its Pan-Asian flavours, focusing on South-East Asia and a bit of Japan. Customer favourites include our signature dish, the Japanese-inspired breakfast, Egg Kurasawa, and, on our new spring menu, the Malaysian-style warm Gado-Gado salad, as well as Rock & Roll’s famous Brekky Rolls and local organic pastries, which are made fresh daily.”

“Our customers have high expectations when it comes to service and quality,” says Trent. “They love their food and they love their coffee! We use O-organic beans which are certified organic, fair trade and Rainforest Alliance. But it’s not just about the beans. It’s about the way the cup of coffee is made. The art of grinding and extracting the coffee and texturising the milk, before combining the two, is alchemy and science. Within a single day these elements are in constant flux and careful attention is vital to producing a perfect cup every time.”
Coffee and food aside, the final magic ingredient in the Rock & Roll experience is the vibe. “It’s contemporary, laidback and friendly,” says Trent. “People love that it’s tucked away down the lane – it’s a little taste of Melbourne in the heart of Mullum!”