At the close of 2016, Kostas Trakas realised his dream of opening a cafe where coffee truly comes first. This might sound commonplace in Adelaide’s increasingly saturated specialty-coffee market, but a few kilometres up the freeway in the Adelaide Hills, it’s still quite a novelty.
Trakas spent several years training and roasting under the guidance of Mark “The Coffee Barun” Barun. The custom blend he perfected at the Sefton Park mainstay is now poured at Caffiend. His relationship with The Coffee Barun is key to the cafe’s ever-changing coffee program. “They pretty much give me run of the roastery,” says Trakas.
Trakas operates the business with fiancé Tamika Glouftsis. The pair modelled Caffiend on the cellar doors dotted about the surrounding wine region, aiming to emulate the exploratory nature of a wine tasting. “I wanted to create a full sensory experience,” Trakas says. One of Caffiend’s signature offerings is a coffee tasting board showcasing the current single origin, served three ways; an espresso, milk coffee and manual brew.
A simple brunch menu features familiar favourites such as granola, French toast and, of course, smashed avocado. Lunch starts at 11.30am with bruschetta, sandwiches, a peach and prosciutto salad and a few more light dishes.
The cafe is chilled and breezy with a sky-blue espresso machine, white tiles and timber detailing, It’s a welcome contemporary vibe in an otherwise proudly old-fashioned town.
Caffiend Coffee Company
1/76 Mount Barker Road, Hahndorf
(08) 7282 1843
Hours:
Mon 8am-4pm
Wed to Fri 8am-4pm
Sat 8.30am-4pm
Sun 9am-4pm
