What makes you unique?
To make the finest coffee, you need the highest quality beans.
That’s why, to this day, we traverse the globe to source the perfect beans and connect with our farmers to support them on their sustainability journey. The incredible friendships we’ve formed with our farmers and significant people in the industry over the years has meant that we have access to the finest beans from across the world.
It’s our uncompromising obsession with finding the perfect beans to masterfully roast in-house that defines who we are.
What is your roastery’s story/ where did it all begin?
We’re on a never-ending quest for specialty, ethically sourced beans that we can prepare and roast for the ultimate cup. That’s because Gavin Gam, Black Drum Roasters CEO, is, first and foremost, a coffee snob.
Gavin opened Rose Bay’s Espresso on Dover in the early-’90s, and it instantly became a favourite among locals. However, he soon realised that it was nearly impossible for him to find coffee that met his exceptionally high standard of sustainably sourced specialty beans from his coffee supplier, which set him on a global quest for the perfect beans.
Gavin travelled the world, and along the way, savoured sweet Ethiopian beans, tasted the richness of Kenyan soil, and delighted in the smoothness of Brazilian beans.
This search led him to Aroma Coffee Roastery in 1998, where he built a strong team of coffee elitists who shared in his pursuit.
Off the back of Aroma’s success, Gavin and his team desired to expand their footprint and allow more people to go where they hadn’t gone before – tasting beans from all over the world. This transpired to the acquisition of Black Drum Roasters in 2020.
Who is the head roaster?
Gavin Gam is the Master Roaster.
When did you start/date founded?
We acquired Aroma Coffee in 1998 and Black Drum Roasters in January 2020.
Who started the business/roastery?
We acquired the businesses from various entrepreneurs. Gavin and the team have implemented several changes to make the businesses run more efficiently and become more sustainable.
What is your roastery’s ethos?
We work every day to offer an exceptional product based on our ethos of transparency, growth, respect, and passion.
Where is your roastery heading/ plans for the future?
We’re committed to creating an even greener future, and we are getting there by supporting our farmers and reducing plastic. We invest in the communities we work with and trade directly with them to ensure that they are well-treated and that their coffee is ethically sourced and made with love.
Why are you passionate about the coffee industry?
While our quest is built on sourcing the most exceptional beans, it’s the relationships we’ve made along the way that keeps us tapping along. We’ve fostered strong friendships with everyone on our coffee journey – from the coffee farmer in Ethiopia to the local coffee drinker in Sydney.
To us, it’s the incredible people we’ve connected with around the world that makes the industry so special.
Any coffee competition wins?
We won the Roaster of the Year Award in 2014 and 2015 and have won multiple silver and bronze awards since.
Gavin was also honoured to be an international judge for the Best of Panama Competition in 2019.
How many stores/roasting locations are in Australia?
Black Drum Roasters HQ is in Blacktown. We have approximately 200 stockists around Australia.
Any special roasting technology you are using?
We have a beautiful vintage Probat roasting machine that we have refurbished to include all the modern bells and whistles.
This week on the Beanhunter Coffee Club you will be drinking…
Filter – Nariño
Nariño is our Colombian single origin, from a family-run farm in Buesaco, a town in Nariño. As growers, they are exceptionally innovative and specialise in alternative fermentation processes.
Nariño is a fully washed espresso roast coffee that boasts flavour notes of caramel, hazelnut, and stone fruit.
Flavour Notes: Caramel, hazelnut, and stone fruit.
Origin: Buesaco, Nariño.
Espresso – 6Eight
6Eight is a complex and full-bodied coffee with exotic chocolates, deep stone fruit and smooth nutty flavours. 6Eight boasts a velvety mouthfeel and is an outstanding all-rounder, performing well in a broad range of beverages, everything from your dark, strong black coffee to one that’s sweet and milk-based.
Flavour Notes: Dark chocolate and stewed red plum with roasted walnuts.
Origins: East Africa, Central America and South America.
Any famous last words?
Let’s make the world better with every cup!
We hope you enjoy this week’s cup. The Beanhunter Coffee Club is the best way to discover amazing coffee – join today!