A unique coffee venture has taken root in Port Kembla, offering locals a distinctly sweet and innovative take on the classic cold brew. What began as a passionate home experiment has now blossomed into Sleep Talker Coffee, a business captivating the Illawarra with its dessert-inspired creations.
From Kitchen to Community: The Birth of a Local Brand
The story of Sleep Talker Coffee starts not in a commercial kitchen, but in a home where founder Stephen Wright began tinkering with flavours. "I started experimenting at home with different kinds of flavours and flavour combinations," Mr Wright explained. His initial taste-testers were his closest circle: family and friends. Their enthusiastic feedback was the catalyst, with many telling him, "These are really, really good, you need to get these out to the public." This encouragement propelled a hobby into a public testing phase.
Before securing a permanent spot, Mr Wright initiated a soft launch, selling his distinctive cold brews from Black Metal Motor Co in Port Kembla for a few days each week. This period served as a crucial real-world test, allowing him to gauge customer reaction and refine his offerings. The response from the Port Kembla community was overwhelmingly positive. "Anybody who has come down, most of the time will return," he noted, adding, "I've been getting a lot of support from the Port Kembla community. I find that a lot of people are getting around it."
The Sleep Talker Experience: Coffee Reimagined as Dessert
So, what exactly sets Sleep Talker Coffee apart? The foundation is a meticulous cold brew process. Unlike traditional hot brewing, cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for a minimum of 12 hours. This extended, gentle extraction results in a naturally smoother and sweeter coffee base, with lower acidity.
Sleep Talker then elevates this base into a dessert-worthy treat. Each serving is crowned with a specially crafted sweet foam, transforming the drink into something you might expect to see on a dessert menu rather than a standard coffee cart. The current flavour lineup is designed to delight the sweet tooth, featuring inventive combinations like salted caramel, Dubai chocolate, and blueberry crumble.
Brewing Bigger Dreams for the Future
With a successful launch under his belt, Stephen Wright has ambitious plans to grow the Sleep Talker brand. His vision extends beyond the current pop-up model. "I'd like to have my own brick-and-mortar shop, start with my own little cafe," he shared, envisioning a dedicated home for his creations in the Illawarra.
Looking further ahead, Mr Wright is also considering avenues for wider distribution. "I'd also like to maybe go into mass production, start going into some local markets, local shops and other cafes," he said. A key part of his mission is maintaining quality while expanding access. "I use really good coffee beans," he emphasised, "so making those beans accessible as well" is a driving goal.
The journey of Sleep Talker Coffee, from a home-brewed experiment to a beloved local fixture on Wentworth Street, is a testament to community support and culinary innovation. It marks an exciting new chapter in Port Kembla's evolving food and drink scene, proving that sometimes the best ideas are brewed up right at home.
