Single Origin Colombia and Signature Blend coffee beans are the first two products from the Adelaide Coffee Culture brand created by business partners Ben Randall-Smith and James Lang.

The 250g bags will hit the shelves of independent grocers such as Foodland and IGA within the next two weeks, expanding the supermarket offering of locally-roasted coffee beans that is currently served by Rio, Cibo Cucina, Mahalia and 1645.

“James and I became friends just over two-and-a-half years ago,” says Randall-Smith. “We both work in food wholesale and distribution; I work for Simply Fresh and James works for One Foods.

“We came up with the idea of creating our own coffee brand so we went to see Carnevale Coffee Roasters at Clarence Park – they’re good friends of ours and they now contract roast the Adelaide Coffee Culture beans for us.

“We didn’t want to go to a bigger roaster as we wouldn’t get heard and be able to have our own opinion. With Carnevale we are able to throw around ideas for different blends and different tastes.”

Adelaide Coffee Culture Single Origin Colombia beans are said to produce a smooth and full-bodied brew with citrus notes and a deep and rich finish. The Signature Blend is described as having a delicious aroma with delicate stone fruits and a sweet, smooth finish.

“It’s taken six months to establish Adelaide Coffee Culture – once you move into supermarkets you need to be able to keep up with the demand,” says Randall-Smith.

“We’ve been in the industry for 13 years and we know the avenues and the pathways to getting our product on the shelves. We’re in the stores, we’re talking to the managers, we’re selling it ourselves, we can say that we picked it and packed it – that’s what has got us over the line with the supermarkets.”

Adelaide Coffee Culture coffee beans. Photo: Tony Lewis

If you want to try before you buy, you can head down to Carnevale Café at Clarence Park, the café next door to the roaster. It’s also available at selected Adelaide pubs, bars and restaurants.

“Electra House just got voted among Adelaide’s top three espresso martinis using our coffee,” says Randall-Smith. “The Earl of Leicester, the Saracens Head, Pirie and Co and Grace the Establishment also use our coffee – they’re mates of mine.”

Randall-Smith and Lang also have plans to release fair trade and organic coffee beans in the near future, while Adelaide Coffee Culture’s parent company, The Culture Food Group, intends to expand into confectionery and cheese. The business partners are already working with Manna Confectionery (Blackeby’s) at Kent Town and are looking for a local cheese producer with whom to work.

“Adelaide Candy Culture is about 12 weeks away from being released,” says Randall-Smith. “Manna are producing old-fashioned boiled sweets for us – chocolate aniseed rings, peanut brittles, jellies and humbugs using the original Blackeby’s machinery, which is around 120 years old.”

Adelaide Dairy Culture is the name of the cheese brand. “We want to try to create something that we love and enjoy that’s all local and handmade under one name and logo that is available under one roof.”

Randall-Smith says while he and Lang plan to expand The Culture Food Group brands, they want to keep the products exclusive to Adelaide and South Australia.

“We don’t want to go into Coles and Woollies – we just want to make good-quality products that we love that everyone else can enjoy with us,” he says.

“As they say in the food industry: If you want to create a strong brand and presence, don’t put it up too high where the grannies can’t reach it or too low where the dogs can p*** on it.”