Wolfpack Coffee Roasters

Overview

The unassuming inner west suburb of Mortlake has more than a few tricks up its sleeve, one of which is a specialty coffee roaster. Wolfpack owners Daniel and Irene Plesko started off roasting in Mum's garage and have just moved into upgraded Mortlake warehouse and cafe digs — at which you can expect a damn fine coffee without pretension.

The trade runs in the family — Irene's grandparents were leading figures in the coffee culture of Suva, Fiji, back in 1969, and installed the city's first espresso machine. Wolfpack, similarly, aims to make specialty coffee more accessible to the community.

The cafe, fittingly dubbed The Den, is a minimalist space that continues the warehouse vibes of the roastery. All of the coffee is roasted onsite, so you know you're getting a supremely fresh cuppa. While takeaway is, of course, on offer, we recommend pulling up a seat (indoor or out) and revelling in the whole 'beans-to-cup' experience.

Once you've found the beans for you, grab a bag to go ($15–17) — there's Alpha for milk-based coffees, Beta for black coffees, Delta decaf and Omega single origin. If you prefer your beans pre-ground, Wolfpack has you covered with options customised to your espresso, filter or plunger machine. The beans are sourced from around the globe, including Kenya, Brazil, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea and Colombia.

While the cafe is about the coffee first and foremost, dine-in customers can also enjoy a few snacks alongside, including the roast beef toastie with onion and bourbon relish ($11), smashed avocado on toast with feta and balsamic glaze ($10) and baked goods aplenty.

Those who don't frequent Mortlake can expect to start seeing Wolfpack in Sydney cafes and restaurants soon, so keep an eye out.

Images: Lisa Pires Photography