From Barista to Boss: How One Canberra Entrepreneur Built a Specialty Coffee Empire in Kingston

When Sarah Chen opened her first café on Lonsdale Street in Kingston three years ago, the Canberra specialty coffee market was fragmented and underserved. Today, her operation—which now includes a roastery facility in nearby Mitchell and wholesale relationships with over 40 venues across the ACT—stands as a case study in local entrepreneurship and market adaptation.

"I spent five years working in other people's cafés," Chen recalls of her early career in hospitality. "I saw the gap between what consumers wanted and what was actually available locally." That observation became the seed for Northside Roasters, which began with a modest 120-square-metre shopfront serving espresso-based drinks and a small selection of single-origin beans.

The business model proved prescient. According to the Canberra Business Chamber, the specialty coffee sector has grown by an estimated 23 per cent over the past three years, driven partly by younger professionals relocating to the capital's growing tech corridor. Northside Roasters captured early market share by positioning itself as both retailer and educator—hosting regular cupping sessions and barista training workshops at its Kingston location.

By 2024, demand from surrounding hospitality venues forced a strategic pivot. Chen invested in a dedicated roastery facility in Mitchell, purchasing a commercial-grade Loring Smart Roaster and expanding her team to eight full-time staff. The move enabled her to service wholesale accounts across Civic, Barton, and Braddon while maintaining her retail presence.

The financials tell a story of steady growth. Revenue grew from an estimated $380,000 in year one to just over $1.2 million by mid-2026, with wholesale representing 65 per cent of sales. Bean sourcing has become increasingly direct; Chen now partners with five farmer cooperatives across Ethiopia, Colombia, and Indonesia, cutting out traditional middlemen and passing cost savings to customers.

What distinguishes Northside from larger national chains is its rootedness in Canberra's community. The Mitchell roastery has become a destination venue, attracting coffee enthusiasts and curious professionals. Local secondary schools have begun requesting educational sessions on supply chain ethics and sustainability practices.

For Chen, the trajectory reflects broader opportunities in Canberra's maturing business landscape. "Five years ago, people asked if a city this size could support a genuine specialty coffee operation," she says. "The answer turned out to be yes—if you're willing to do the work properly."

Her next move? A second retail location in Belconnen by early 2027, with plans to expand training programmes through a partnership with local hospitality providers.

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