People

hey brew : brown sugar espresso

Our chat to Lucy from Brown Sugar Espresso about what makes the perfect cup

 

  

interview:
Lucy from Brown Sugar Espresso in Mangerton

How was Brown Sugar Espresso born?
I was a social worker, and in 2014 I quit my job, sold my house and travelled the world. When I returned to Australia, I realised the corporate life wasn’t for me, and decided to buy an existing coffee business in Wollongong. Fate stepped in due to a diagnosis of breast cancer (what a way to say goodbye to my 30s), and with 12 months of treatment, put those plans to an end pretty quickly. While undergoing treatment, the concept of creating a cafe that was uniquely me kept building. Then we discovered the corner store and Brown Sugar Espresso was born. It’s evolved since opening nine months ago, but I’ve stayed true to the initial concept – quality coffee, quality customer service, and creating a personal connection with everyone who visits. Being an espresso bar, our set-up differs to the classic cafe. My aim was to create a community space – hence the communal table – where people can connect. What I’m discovering more and more is that the world is missing a sense of community, and it is these connections that people are craving. I’m proud that my BSE family and I are creating our own little community on a daily basis. We have a commitment to living the notion of ‘good creates good’, so we donate our tips to groups, including BeyondBlue, Wollongong Animal Rescue, Legacy Australia as well as a school I volunteered at in Honduras.

What brand of coffee do you serve?
We proudly serve the Black Betty blend from Peaberrys Coffee Roasters in Newcastle. I was attracted to Peaberrys’ philosophy, plus the flavour kept pulling me back. Something about it just gives me a contented sigh of happiness when drinking it. Our house blend is a mix of Colombian, Guatemalan and Ethiopian beans, which lends itself to more caramel undertones. There is no bitter aftertaste, which means people are using less sugar – a definite positive!  

What’s the secret to a perfect brew?
For me, it’s about quality products, a well roasted bean, combined with South Coast Dairy milk, served by a barista that pours love into the coffee. One of my biggest passions is customer service and staff being authentic in their engagement with customers – a trend that is missing in a lot of places (yes, I’m a little old-school in my way of thinking about the coffee experience!)

Tell us about the home-baked treats you serve?
I wanted to create a different concept with our food. While going through treatment, I had plenty of time on social media and kept coming across amazing bakers in the Illawarra, which made me consider the idea of showcasing home-bakers on different days. As a result, our offerings are ever-changing. I’m super proud of the connections we have made with our bakers. We also offer savoury options, but I don’t work to a menu. We create food based on fresh, seasonal produce and what the customer feels like eating! Think of it like you’ve just stepped into my kitchen.

If you buy coffee from another spot in the Illawarra, where do you go?
Oh, that’s a tough one. I love discovering new places on my day off. Shout outs for food, coffee and customer service go to Lower East, Two Sisters Garage and The Happy Barista. Oh, and the boys at Son of a Gun are always fun.

 

>
What I’m discovering more and more is that the world is missing a sense of community, and it is these connections that people are craving

Upcoming Events

Advertise with us

More People related articles:

Born and raised in Wombarra, Christian de Clouett, President of Scarborough Boardriders Club, celebrates a lifetime of surfing, community, and love for the ocean and escarpment that define Illawarra’s unique charm.
Meet Coledale author Rachael Mogan McIntosh
How do you find time as a couple when you have young children? We asked two families how they stay connected – with both little and bigger kids.
For Amy Cuneo and Bronwyn Pessey, meeting over coffee at Amy’s Woonona cafe All & Sundry was fortuitous for the mums to be. Over ten years later, with kids in tow, they still catch up for Monday night dinners.
Shantelle Thompson, Barkindji Warrior, Indigenous youth empowerment
Shantelle Thompson, the Barkindji Warrior, works to create opportunities for herself, her family and her community.
For David and Henry, age is just a number. But for these two centenarians, discovering a new friendship has been the key to enjoying a new chapter of life.
This unique business idea has recognised that the coming-of-age story for many people with a disability needs to be re-written, which is leading to stellar experiences for so many here in the Illawarra and beyond.
A woman with short dark hair wearing an orange coat smiles at the camera, standing against a rustic dark background with her hands in her pockets.
An award-winning author, writing mentor and teacher, Helena uses kindness as the compass for her work and life and believes in the power of storytelling to process hard things and find the volume of your voice.
Meet Ruby D’Rozario from Thirroul, childhood cancer survivor and ambassador for Shine Like Charli
As lettering artist The Marker, Wollongong born and raised Gill Dinh has brought her creative vision to outdoor spaces for close to a decade. But now Gill is fulfilling a lifelong dream, stepping into the arena as a MasterChef contestant this season.

Jessica Clark of Earth Worthy Bags has founded a visionary enterprise and is on a mission to redefine the way we approach consumption, championing ethical practices and sustainability.

The first all-women's surf comp on the south coast is riding the huge wave of young women now joining the sport, marking the Sunday 5 May event at Woonona Beach as a milestone, decades in the making.

World-renowned stencil artist Luke Cornish, a.k.a. ELK, has found his home – and his peace – in the Illawarra. And now he’s bringing global acclaim to a local canvas.

To celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day, we meet six inspiring women of the Illawarra, who all bring something special to our region

Professional basketball coach and former player, Justin Tatum

Taking the helm mid-season may have been a leap for some, but Illawarra Hawks coach, Justin Tatum – and father of USA NBA superstar, Jayson Tatum – is taking it all in his stride.

Paul Smith’s lifelong passion for rugby league led him to create the annual Shellharbour Stingrays Masters Carnival bringing together ‘old blokes’ - aged over 35 - for a game of modified footy, fostering a sense of comradery and nostalgia

Now more than ever, local businesses need our support! Check out some great local traders to get behind

Former high school woodwork teacher and master craftsman Brett Davis has held a lifelong passion for all things timber. But it is his connection to community and faith through woodwork that tells an even greater story.

Let’s Be Friends

We’d love to send you occassional news and updates of happenings along the Coal Coast to your inbox!

Let’s be friends

We’d love to send updates of happenings along our Coal Coast to your inbox!

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Privacy(Required)