Elementary Coffee

Elementary Coffee has nothing to hide. Despite being designed as a wholesale coffee business, the open-plan warehouse allows you to wander between the roasting area and cafe area. It’s all one big, light-filled space.

Owner Brad Nixon worked for several of Australia’s major coffee companies (Code Black, Five Senses, Axil Coffee Roasters) and spent several years in Victoria as a result. He always planned to return home with a taste of the Melbourne coffee scene, but soon realised Adelaide had established a remarkable scene of its own.

Expect bright, complex black coffees (espresso and filter – Nixon’s preferred brewing method) and subtle, sweet milk coffees. He’s especially pleased with the Kenyan coffee beans bought directly from growers.

Elementary’s fit-out was designed and constructed by Josh McCallum of Wholegrain Studio. The brief was to accentuate the existing character of the building and work with local materials. McCallum and Nixon were excited to discover an old, timber-framed window during the 2016 renovation. It was revived to form a beautiful centrepiece for the bar.

The tight menu features a few sandwiches; all-day breakfast options; pastries; and smoothies. If you’re not a coffee drinker, Elementary also serves ridiculously tasty peanut-butter and smoked hot chocolates.