Which part of the café experience comes above all else? Is it the quality of the coffee, the chance to try new and exciting dishes alongside traditional café classics, or simply being welcomed into a vibrant and relaxed community?
At The 1995, it’s a blend of all three. The success of the Darwin café is the culmination of Owner Reed Alanes’ years of experience in the Filipino and Aussie hospitality industries. He’s brought a dash of Filipino flair to one of Australia’s fastest-growing café scenes.
“We try to be different from other cafés, whether that’s around Darwin or anywhere in Australia,” Reed says.
“We try to go against the grain and make our food not so typical. Of course we have the classics, but we’re about to change our menu to add some Filipino dishes with an Australian twist.
An example of these fusion dishes is beef cheek kare-kare.
“It’s a Filipino version of a curry, but we’re mimicking the curry with a peanut sauce because we don’t traditionally have those curry spices in the Philippines. It’s one of my favourites,” he says.
“We’ve sourced the beef cheek from Cape Grim in Tasmania, so we’re trying to be different while keeping it simple with high-quality ingredients.”
Over its three years in operation, The 1995 has become a thriving community hub in the Darwin waterfront precinct.
From its use of Padre specialty beans to support the Good Coffee Doing Good program, through to the team’s strong desire to make everyone feel welcome at the café, the benefits of this small but mighty café are felt throughout inner Darwin.
“I was blessed to have been given permanent residency and citizenship here, so I feel a desire to give back to the community,” Reed says.
“We have a tiny shop, but we’re one of the busiest in Darwin because people know they will be welcomed and they’re going to be comfortable.
“I feel like it is my responsibility to make everyone feel at home and looked after here, and to keep them as caffeinated as I can.”
The 1995
2/35 Cavenagh Street, Darwin City, Northern Territory, 0800
Open Monday to Friday 7am to 2.30pm, Saturday 7.30am to 1.30pm, and Sunday 8am to 12.30pm
This article appears in the June 2025 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
