Charles Fredericks first discovered his love for coffee while working as a Manager at McDonald’s McCafé. He took the passion and barista skills he learned and opened Twelvefold Portland in November 2021 with his partner Sophie Fredericks. The pair were determined to own a café that served a quality brew.
After a successful opening, the café underwent expansion renovations, which will be completed by December 2022. The space now contains retail shelving, polished floors and features earthy tones throughout its décor.
“We wanted to bring the Melbourne atmosphere to Portland by incorporating modern machinery and the city’s love for coffee,” says Sophie.
Sophie says Campos Coffee has supported Twelvefold from day one, providing the café with twin custom La Marzocco Linea Classic coffee machines, and training staff to use them.
“We use the classic Campos Superior blend, which is a universal favourite, one that our customers love. We also have Campos’ Dark City blend in a second grinder, so we have something to suit the whole community. We easily sell over 60 kilograms of coffee each week,” she says.
Twelvefold coffee grounds are recycled at the Portland Community Garden, a local project that provides community access to two acres of land on Henty Street for the purpose of growing affordable chemical-free food.
“When you visit Twelvefold, you’re not only getting great Campos coffee, but also supporting the Portland community,” says Charles.
Twelvefold currently serves staple takeaway foods like toasties, pies, and quiches, but has plans to incorporate some culinary talent soon.
“We’re going off community needs and are looking at hiring a few chefs to expand our menu options. Again, we want to operate like Melbourne and provide high-quality menu items that rotate every few weeks to support local seasonal produce,” says Sophie.
Both owners agree that the most rewarding part of owning a café is providing customers with a great start to their day and an even greater coffee.
“This has been a dream for many years, to create a café to serve amazing coffee and food in our hometown,” Charles says.
Twelvefold Portland
12 Henty Street, Portland, Victoria, 3305
Open Monday to Saturday 6am — 2pm and Sunday 6am — 12pm
This article appears in the December 2022 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
