Page 10 - foodservice magazine June 2019

10
Q&A
INSIDE THE GROUNDS’ COLOSSAL COFFEE OPERATION
THE GROUNDS OF ALEXANDRIA CONJURES IMAGES OF LEAFY ARCHWAYS, BEAUTIFIED BRUNCHES AND, OF COURSE, QUEUES. BUT OWNER RAMZEY CHOKER AND HEAD ROASTER NICK FERGUSON ALSO WANT GREAT COFFEE TO COME TO MIND. SINCE IT OPENED IN 2012, COFFEE, BOTH IN HOUSE AND FOR WHOLESALE, HAS BEEN A MAJOR PART OF THE BUSINESS. THIS IS ONLY GOING TO GROW WHEN THE GROUNDS ROASTERY, THE TEAM’S THIRD VENUE, OPENS IN EVERLEIGH LATER THIS YEAR. ALEKSANDRA BLISZCZYK SPOKE TO FERGUSON ABOUT HIS COFFEE OPERATION, WHAT CUSTOMERS ARE DRINKING, AND HOW THE PRESSURE TO KEEP THE COST OF A CUP OF COFFEE LOW IN SYDNEY AFFECTS FARMERS AND ROASTERS ALIKE.