Brewing more than just coffee, Revolution Coffee Roasters is the embodiment of dreams and dedication. In their Somerville roastery and cafe, coffee is a passion for husband and wife team Paul and Tonette O’Brien. Their business is a tale of two expats – Paul from Sydney and Tonette from Ireland – who were inspired by a life-and-death health battle and took a leap of faith to embark on a mission to redefine their life and coffee experience.
“We started the business at home in 2018, selling coffee to family and friends,” Paul said. “We quickly expanded into our Somerville warehouse six months later. With the café opening in mid-2023, it’s a pleasure to finally share our passion with the local community.”
The heart of Revs, as it's fondly referred to by regulars, is the enormous light-filled café. Walk in and you'll be greeted by an ambience that Paul said was selfishly built around their preferences: the artwork, the fit-out, and the bright orange coffee machine. "We never had a masterplan; it was just literally what we enjoyed, and it turns out a lot of people enjoy it too.” It’s an atmosphere that engages all the senses in a space where conversations flow as effortlessly as the coffee.
But what sets Revs apart goes beyond the ambience. Every element of the business is local, and Paul and Tonette are firm believers in "doing good business with good people”. Local suppliers, many of whom are also customers, provide the ingredients that elevate the café’s food offerings to the same high standard as their coffee.
Coffee beans, the star of the show, are roasted on site, and it's here the Revs team really work their magic. “We’re obsessed with big, bold flavours,” Paul said. “We’ve spent years perfecting our roast profile to balance big and bold without the bitterness. It’s easy to complicate coffee so we aim to keep it beautifully simple. We offer light, medium, dark roast and decaf – in plain English, nothing pretentious.” It's this obsession with the perfect roast that has carved a niche for Revs.
Education is a cornerstone of Paul and Tonette’s philosophy and central to their mission. In addition to their comprehensive barista training for wholesale partners, they recently opened Revs Coffee College to the public. Their Barista 101 course equips novices with the skills to create coffee in just three hours – a pathway to satisfying the Peninsula's growing demand for coffee specialists. “It gives me a lot of pleasure to share over 20 years’ experience in the Coffee College,” Paul said. “Furthermore, we can close the loop by placing students into roles through our café partnerships and business networks, so it’s a real win-win for local business and the economy.”
Paul and Tonette's zeal is driven by a desire to live and work locally. Their love of the Peninsula lifestyle and their commitment to moving here permanently was cemented during a challenging period when Tonette was battling cancer. It was this realisation that prompted them to start Revs, and it's why they've made it their mission to keep things local.
"Life's too short for boring coffee" is their motto, and it's one they've fully embraced. In the end it's about more than just a cup of coffee; it's about a revolution in the way they savour life on the Mornington Peninsula.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 6.30am-2pm
Revolution Coffee Roasters. 5/5 Speedwell St, Somerville P: 1800 844 955
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