The Story
Danes Coffee Roasters was founded in 1994 by Paul Jackson on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, beginning operations in a converted surfboard factory on Harbord Road . In the mid-1990s, the term specialty coffee barely existed in Australia, and Danes carved its own path as one of the most adventurous roasters the country had known, exploring origins and techniques that were well ahead of their time . The company was effectively pioneering a movement that would take another decade to gain mainstream recognition in the Australian coffee industry .
From those early years in the surfboard factory, Danes grew steadily into one of Sydney’s most respected wholesale coffee suppliers . In 1999, Jackson established the Danes Specialty Coffee Institute with the goal of cultivating a higher caliber of espresso across Australia, further cementing the company’s role as an educator and standard-bearer . Today the roastery operates from Dale Street in Brookvale, still rooted in the Northern Beaches community where it all began more than three decades ago .
Danes has accumulated more accolades than any other coffee wholesaler in Sydney, with over 85 medals at the Australian International Coffee Awards including Champion Australian Roaster titles in 2018 and 2019 . In 2020, they earned a record 20 medals across all brewing categories, winning Gold in milk blends, filter, espresso blends, single origin, and cold brew . This breadth of recognition reflects a company that refuses to specialize in just one style, instead pursuing excellence across every category of coffee .
Sourcing & Relationships
Danes sources beans from the world’s premier growing regions, cupping different origins every week as the starting point for their consistency in quality . This relentless weekly evaluation process means the roasting team is constantly tasting and benchmarking new lots against their established standards, ensuring that nothing makes it into the lineup without rigorous scrutiny . The approach has allowed Danes to maintain remarkably consistent blends over decades while still incorporating the best seasonal offerings available .
The sourcing program spans the full spectrum of specialty coffee origins, from the fruit-forward profiles of East African coffees to the chocolate and nut characteristics of Brazilian and Central American lots . Paul Jackson and his team have built relationships with importers and producers over the company’s thirty-year history, giving Danes access to high-quality green coffee that supports both their award-winning blends and their rotating single-origin program . Sustainability and quality are treated as inseparable priorities, with the team seeking out producers who invest in both environmental stewardship and cup quality .
Roasting Philosophy
Danes describes their approach as a flavor obsession, and three decades of roasting have given the team an unusually deep understanding of how to develop coffees across a wide range of styles . Unlike roasters who specialize in a single profile, Danes produces everything from approachable milk blends designed to pair beautifully with dairy to delicate filter roasts that highlight origin transparency . This versatility is what has allowed them to win Gold medals in every AICA category, from espresso to cold brew .
The roasting operation at the Brookvale facility supports both wholesale and retail production, with the team applying the same level of care to a cafe partner’s house blend as they do to a limited single-origin release . Weekly cupping sessions serve as the quality control backbone, ensuring that every batch meets the standards that have earned Danes its reputation . The company’s willingness to experiment and push boundaries, a trait that traces back to its founding in a surfboard factory, continues to drive innovation in their roast development .
What to Try
Danes’ milk blend collection is the cornerstone of their reputation and the product that hundreds of Sydney cafes have built their coffee programs around . These blends are engineered to perform beautifully with dairy and plant-based milks, producing rich, balanced lattes and flat whites that have won multiple Champion Australian Roaster titles . For espresso lovers who take their coffee black, the espresso blend lineup offers more intensity and complexity .
The seasonal single-origin program showcases Danes’ sourcing expertise in a different light, featuring rotating lots that highlight specific regions and processing methods . Their cold brew is another standout, having earned Gold at the AICA and reflecting the same quality-first approach applied to a ready-to-drink format . Danes ships across Australia through their online shop, and their Brookvale roastery includes a drive-through cafe where customers can taste the full range alongside pastries and food .