Williamsburg Gets A Taste Of Australia With The Arrival Of Toby's Estate Coffee

Williamsburg just got a jolt with the opening of Australian based Toby's Estate Coffee. This is the premier U.S. location for the esteemed brand which has been around since 1998.

Toby's Estate Coffee was founded by Toby Smith following an extended vacation working on a coffee plantation in Brazil. Smith established relationships with local farmers importing small lots of beans and roasting them on a five-kilo roaster from his mother's garage to sell to local cafes. Today, Toby's Estate is a market leader in the specialty coffee category in Australia with four roasting facilities and eight wholly owned cafes.

"I'm thrilled we can broaden our vision to the US and introduce many more people to the unique Toby's experience," said Toby Smith. "Brooklyn really represents what coffee roasters are all about, an artisan community that loves all good things - - food, wine, art, theatre, music and of course their coffee."

Deaton Pigot has been appointed as the head roaster for Brooklyn. Deaton set up the roasting facility for Toby's Estate in Singapore, and roasted for three years, at Intelligentsia, prior to this.

Toby's serves only the most distinctive high altitude Arabica coffees from around the globe that are roasted with precision and care on the premises and packaged and delivered fresh. Their coffee menu features an array of single origins including a Kenyan Single Origin AA Kaiguri Wet Mill, and a Cup Of Excellence coffee from El Alto in Costa Rica. There is also a selection of other single origins from Guatemala, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Brazil. Toby's believes in direct farm relationships and promises to provide a sustainably sourced bean from origin relationships that is delivered with uncompromising quality and freshness. Toby and his green bean buyers travel the world purchasing product to ensure traceability from bean to cup.

What sets Toby's apart from its competitors is their customer service model, a friendly and accommodating approach that allows customers to break specialty coffee shop rules and have their coffee the way they enjoy it.

Toby's serves breakfast, lunch and desserts. The menu has been designed by New York food consultant Katy Sparks, and offers Australian style comfort food with small bites, including a selection of pastries, sandwiches and desserts.

The 3,000 square-foot roastery and cafe was designed by Nemaworkshop with the goal to design a space that highlights the experience from roast to cup. Utilizing reclaimed timber floors and huge shelving units, the space features banquette seating and communal tables for coffee drinkers to linger and enjoy their cup of coffee. A marble bar encourages interaction between customers and the baristas they will order directly from, making the experience akin to a cocktail bar.

The roastery features a Probat Burns P25 coffee roaster imported from Germany. The roastery is also home to a training lab and cupping room, allowing wholesale clients to train and cup the coffees they purchase in store. The 'Brew School' will also offer a variety of classes for regular customers, including pour over, espresso (complete with three levels: foundations, applications, and dedication), and latte art classes. 'Brew School' classes will be offered beginning a few weeks after the opening.

Toby's also stocks a variety of specialty coffee equipment including home espresso and brew kits that range from $35 for one cup brewing to $6,500 for the latest in home espresso.

Toby's Estate Coffee is located at 125 North 6th Street, between Bedford and Berry. Hours of operation are as follows: Sunday - Wednesday, 7AM - 7PM, and Thursday - Saturday, 7AM - 9PM.