Adrian Duquilla started an Instagram page in May 2020 titled @thenakedbarista_ which has grown a cult coffee following for its more than 51,500 followers who enjoy the informative coffee-centric content. With social media support for the Naked Barista well and truly established, and Adrian’s love for coffee only flourishing, he decided to open his own café where he serves specialty coffee from Paradox Coffee Roasters.
TNB Coffee, where Adrian works as Head Barista, opened in April 2022 and is located in the outer-Sydney suburb of Rooty Hill.
“When the space opened up, I knew it would be perfect,” Adrian says. “They even gave me six months of free rent. I was one of only two people that applied.”
Adrian and his baristas serve Penny Lane blend as TNB Coffee’s house blend, roasted locally by Paradox Coffee Roasters. Adrian says “it’s a delicious rich, deep, sweet blend, with hints of dark chocolate, salted caramel, and cinnamon.” He also showcases a single origin filter roast as a batch brew, and a single origin espresso roast for black coffees from Paradox Coffee Roasters’ Single Origin Collective, with new origin coffees introduced every month. These along with a special limited edition filter roast are also available for customers to purchase and brew at home.
TNB Coffee uses a white and black Slayer Steam EP 3 group espresso machine and a Mahlkönig E80S grinder.
When establishing his café, Adrian quickly realised food pairings would add interest.
Popular menu items include the Kimchi Reuben with homemade beef brisket, TNB Big Breakfast and the French Toast, “I think people want food to complement the coffee, which is probably the winning formula in our area,” he says.
The café exhibits a minimalist style, with white furnishings and walls opening the space, and attracting the likes of local train commuters, and university students.
“I was actually really inspired by a lot of minimalist cafés in Japan and Korea. I like looking clean and in order, and I think my customers respect that,” Adrian says. “When they come in, they feel at ease and feel at peace, that’s the feeling I want people to have.”
In addition to serving great coffee, Adrian also places an emphasis on good customer service.
“I think it’s pretty important to keep building those relationships with the local community.”
TNB Coffee
1 Rooty Hill Rd S, Rooty Hill, New South Wales, 2766
Open Monday to Sunday 7:00am – 3:00pm
This article appears in the December 2022 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
