Some cafes serve coffee. Stevie serves a neighbourhood.
Tucked into Sandringham, Stevie has become one of those venues locals just call "ours", a place where the vibe is as considered as the coffee. We sat down with the team behind it, including co-owner Rocco (who also happens to be one of our wholesale Sales Reps at Roasting Warehouse), to talk about what Stevie stands for, why they've stuck with us since day one, and what 18 months of steady, organic growth actually looks like on the ground.
Who is Stevie?
Ask the team what the story behind Stevie is, and they don't start with the fit-out or the menu. They start with the name.
"The story of Stevie is who is Stevie?" they explain. "Stevie is the community, the feeling of belonging. Stevie is everyone in our local community."
That sense of belonging shows up in the design too. The space leans into modern concrete, a deliberate choice, not just an aesthetic one. "The vibe is modern with a big tone of concrete, which symbolises strength and stability." It's a fitting metaphor for a cafe that's spent the past year and a half building exactly that: a stable, dependable presence its community can lean on.
A Partnership That Started on Day One
Stevie has been open for 18 months, and Roasting Warehouse has been their wholesale coffee partner for every single one of them. "The relationship with Roasting Warehouse has been since our first day," the team told us.
When asked what made them choose Roasting Warehouse over other coffee roasters, the answer came down to two things: reputation and momentum. "The brand awareness, and the constant evolution of the industry with new ideas."
For a wholesale coffee supplier, that's the brief in a nutshell, being a name cafes trust, while never standing still on flavour, equipment or service.
The Blend (and the Drinks) Behind the Counter
Stevie's house blend of choice is our Early Bird, the workhorse behind their day-to-day espresso. But it's a couple of specialty drinks that have really captured the neighbourhood's attention: the Mont Blanc and the Coconut Cloud, both born out of our Pistachio Papi collaboration, have become genuine customer favourites and something of a signature at Stevie.
Consistent, Organic Growth
Eighteen months in, Stevie isn't chasing viral spikes, it's building something durable. "The business remains very consistent and organically grows month on month," the team said. No gimmicks, no forced promotions. Just steady demand from a community that keeps coming back.
That consistency starts behind the machine. As a wholesale coffee roaster, one of the biggest differences we aim to make for our cafe partners isn't just the beans in the hopper, it's what happens once a barista pulls the shot. For Stevie, that's meant real, measurable change in day-to-day operations.
"Staff are fully equipped on coffee standards and equipment via training," they explained. "Extractions are all consistent regardless of the barista on shift. The provided equipment is brand new and cutting edge. We have been set up very well to handle large volumes and peaks."
For a busy Sandringham cafe riding weekend rushes and weekday regulars alike, that kind of reliability isn't a nice-to-have, it's what keeps a queue moving and a customer happy.
"Not Just a Coffee Supplier, A Partner In Growth"
When we asked Stevie to sum up why they'd recommend Roasting Warehouse to another cafe owner, the answer was clear:
"Roasting Warehouse is not just a coffee supplier; they are a growth partner who work with the business every week to foster new sales and revenue opportunities."
It's the kind of endorsement that speaks to what wholesale partnership should actually look like, ongoing, hands-on, and invested in a cafe's success beyond the delivery van.
The Wrap-Up: A Perfect Scorecard
Asked if there was anything else other café owners should know, Stevie didn't hold back:
- Service: 10/10
- Business Managers: 10/10
- Delivery: 10/10
- Flexibility: 10/10
- No lock-in contracts
And a few personal shout-outs to the Roasting Warehouse team who've supported Stevie along the way: James Para, Alexander Para, Jono Para, "George Para the king," Joe Scriba ("best in the business"), and Rocco, who isn't just their sales rep, but a co-owner invested in Stevie's success from the inside out.
The Takeaway for Cafe Owners
Stevie's story is a reminder that great coffee is only part of the equation. The venues that thrive long-term are the ones with consistency behind the counter, flexibility in how they're supplied, and a wholesale coffee partner who shows up every week, not just at delivery time.
If you're a cafe owner looking for a wholesale coffee roaster that treats your business like a partnership rather than a transaction, get in touch with the Roasting Warehouse team to find out how we can help you grow.
