What began as a hobby with a $29 popcorn machine has turned into a thriving local business for Penrith’s Joshua Vincent.
Six years ago, Josh roasted his first batch of coffee beans in his kitchen, driven purely by curiosity and a love for quality coffee.
“I had heard about roasting coffee in a popcorn machine, but I was a bit sceptical about how good it would be,” Josh recalls.
“But I had a $20 voucher from The Good Guys, so I figured that I didn’t have much to lose, so I gave it a go and I was shocked at how well it actually worked! I reckon I must have roasted over 20kg of coffee beans in that little machine over two years!”
That humble beginning would soon ignite a passion – and ultimately a business – that has found its place in the heart of the local community.
After two years of home-based roasting and sharing his creations with family and friends, he built a small roasting room at the front of his garage, upgrading to a 1kg coffee roaster. It was in that space that he immersed himself in the craft, learning through hands-on experimentation that coffee roasting is as much an art as it is a science.
“I find coffee really interesting,” he said.
“It’s amazing how many different flavours you can produce by using coffee beans from different parts of the world and roasting them in a particular way to optimise their unique flavour profiles. You get some beans that have notes of caramel and chocolate in them, which is what most people are more familiar with. But then there are other beans that actually have flavour notes like peach, dried fruits, maybe even a little bit of citrus, floral or nutty. And it’s my job as a roaster to work out how to combine these various flavours to produce a blend that works well as a milky coffee, or as a filtered long black coffee for example.”
During the next four years roasting in the garage, Josh’s passion had evolved into a clear vision. Convinced that he had developed something truly special, he explored the idea of turning his hobby into a business. A conversation with a local café owner about supplying roasted coffee proved to be a turning point. Realising the potential, Josh knew it was time to take the next big step.
That opportunity came sooner than expected.
Paul and Bunty Grech, owners of Little House Coffee Co located on Abel Street, Jamisontown, were preparing to retire after five years of running their well-regarded local coffee brand. The timing was perfect. Josh and his wife Judith took over the business, stepping into the Penrith coffee scene with an established brand and a loyal customer base.
Today, Josh and Judith are continuing to grow Little House Coffee Co, supplying freshly roasted coffee to a growing number of home brewers and local businesses. Beyond roasting, they’re also investing in the community – offering barista training courses to help develop the next generation of coffee professionals.
With big dreams for the future, Josh envisions Little House Coffee Co becoming a household name across Penrith and beyond. While the business continues to grow, one thing remains unchanged: his dedication to roasting coffee with care, passion and purpose. Each batch tells a story – one that started with a popcorn machine, a curious mind, and a deep love for coffee.
Visit http://www.littlehousecoffeeco.com.au.
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