Quists Coffee

Quists Coffee | About Us — Melbourne’s First Coffee Roaster Since 1938

Quists Coffee — Melbourne’s First Coffee Roaster (Since 1938)

Quists Coffee was established in 1938 as Melbourne’s first coffee roaster, and over 80 years later, we’re still obsessed with two things: exceptional beans and making every cup taste extraordinary. From sourcing to roasting to blending, we bring generations of coffee knowledge — and a little bit of Melbourne’s coffee soul — to every bag we sell.

Guided by a rich history of European expertise, Quists carved out its niche roasting single origins from every corner of the globe and blending them into coffees that sing. Over the decades, we’ve built a reputation for quality, consistency, and that unmistakable Quists flavour — the kind that makes you pause mid-sip and think,

We’re proudly Australian-owned, and we believe that great coffee shouldn’t compromise — even when markets fluctuate. Rising bean prices? That’s a story for another page. Our commitment to excellence never wavers. And this is something our Master Roaster – Jim is hugely passionate about.

need to survive a Monday. At Quists, we take flavour development seriously, and our modern, custom-built roastery in outer Melbourne is our playground.

Our state-of-the-art Brambati roaster from Italy allows us to roast each batch with precision and consistency, delivering coffee that’s bursting with flavour, texture, and aroma. All while meeting strict EPA guidelines for emissions — because great coffee shouldn’t come at the expense of the environment.

We’re picky. Really picky. Only the world’s finest coffee beans make it into our roastery, sourced by experts who know what makes a bean extraordinary. And we don’t just care about taste — we care about people and the planet, supporting sustainable social, economic, and environmental practices right at the origin.

Some days, you just want to experience the purity of a single origin — beans that tell the story of the farm, the climate, and the care that went into growing them. That’s why Quists offers a rotating range of single origin coffees from around the world, each one unique and worth savouring.

But let’s be honest: a single varietal rarely has the complexity needed for a killer espresso. Enter our Master Roaster, Jim Baruta. With a blend of artistry and science, Jim roasts each origin individually to maximise its unique character, then combines them into signature blends of depth, balance, and nuanced flavour. The result? Coffee that’s as intricate as your favourite wine — only you get to drink it with breakfast.

All our single origins and blends are available from our original Melbourne city store, and many of our signature blends are ready to ship nationwide from our online store.

Because we care — about beans, flavour, and the experience of a perfect cup. Because we’ve been doing this for over 80 years and still treat each batch with the same love we did in 1938. And because, when it comes to coffee, we’re not afraid to be a little bit obsessive — in the best way possible.