Building a Coffee Empire
Let me start off by rewinding the clock. It’s a Friday evening in 2010, and Nick and I are having a couple of beers at the Brown Cow. Our chat revolves around the usual stuff — girls (or lack of), sport, Melbourne’s nightlife and potential holiday destinations. However, it’s not long before the conversation takes a turn for the worse. It was my fault. In my naive state (we were 19 at the time) I question Nick’s passion towards coffee. Something like “People just drink it to wake themselves up mate!” comes to mind. Nick didn’t want a bar of it. So much so, that when I had to excuse myself to the lavatory, he took it upon himself to leave. No goodbye. Nothing. The perfect smoke bomb!
It was this moment I realised that Nick Pearce was going to do something pretty special with coffee and his life…
Fast forward six years and I’m on a 6:10am flight up to Gold Coast to visit Nick’s cafes and (newly purchased) coffee roasting warehouse. It also happens to tie in perfectly with the news of his engagement to the beautiful Sophie Sturrock. I’m stoked.
Quick background.
I’ll be frank with you guys…Nick always had a passion for (good) food and (even better) coffee. Granted that passion bloomed a little later than most, but nonetheless, it bloomed hard and fast — like a boys first sexual encounter.
Accepted into Swinburne University to study Business, Nick decided to ditch that nonsense and work as a barista. Now, there are two types of baristas. The first is someone who learns how to pour coffees and is able to distribute them efficiently to the public. The second is someone who learns the art of coffee— from the farm to the cup. Nick was the latter. He was simply mesmerised by it all, and soon turned that inquisitive desire into a uncanny skill.
There’s no denying Nick was (still is) a great barista, but he knew he couldn’t work for the ‘man’ his whole life. A change was needed — fast. Melbourne’s cafe scene was developing rapidly, but Nick wanted that Business degree — for shits and gigs — before cementing himself in the hospitality scene. As a Melbourne Grammar boy, Nick was all too aware of the (corporate) path that was often set for him and his private school mates — as far as he was concerned, that could ship right off. So with that refreshing realisation, Nick packed his bags and moved to the Gold Coast to attend Bond University. A decision that would (eventually) put his dreams in motion…
Living just off campus in Varsity Lakes, Nick saw a gap in the hospitality market. In what he described as a “ghost town” for specialty coffee, there was only one real solution…start his own cafe. So that’s what he did, and Blackboard Specialty Coffee was born.
It was hard yakka at the start. Cracking into the cafe world is tough, especially when, at the time, Queenslander’s didn’t have the same coffee appreciation as the good folk down in Melbourne had. That first year at the helm made Nick question his sanity. The usual roller-coaster aspect of the industry was taking it’s toll. One day Blackboard would be packed, the next empty. “It’s just the nature of the game.” Not one to give up, Nick persisted through the dark days, was lucky enough to meet the gorgeous Soph, and now? Well I guess the rest is history…
So here I am sitting out the front of Coolangatta Airport in what is supposedly their winter. It’s 22 degrees. Pfft. Some winter. It’s a freezing 6 degrees back home — that’s a winter for ya. Anyway, it’s not unusual for me to be waiting on Nick. For a man whose up at 5am everyday, he still manages to lose track of time, and don’t even get me started on his phone-picking-up capabilities. It’s not entirely his fault though, as my Jetstar flight was surprisingly early (love to know how many people can say they’ve arrived before schedule on a Jetstar flight). Fifteen minutes tops, passing the time whilst catching up on the news, I finally see Nick roll around in his black four-door Land Rover Defender. His love for that truck rivals the love for a son he hasn’t had yet. Now normally I’m greeted by a big old bear hug, however as he’s stopped in a 30 second park, we settle for a manly handshake. “How are ya maaattteee!?” Nick has clearly been living on the Goldy for a few years too long…Not only does he love dragging out a ‘mate’ but every sentence that comes from his mouth always ends with an ‘ey’ — “The weather isn’t too bad up here, ey!?” Every time. If our year 12 English teacher heard him now, he’d be mortified. Then again, Nick’s probably making more bones than our old English teacher, so what does he care…ey?
First point of call is Blackboard. The birthplace of Nick’s success. The layout of the cafe has changed over time and rightfully so. Nick being the innovative entrepreneur that he is, knows that he can’t rest on his laurels. Therefore always looking at room for improvement. Never a full structural change, but rather a pivot in a different direction. For example, Blackboard used to be half the size, and when Nick saw the opportunity to purchase the shop next door and turn it into a fully functional kitchen, he jumped at it with both hands. There was also a time when Nick created a grocers, but quickly realised the space would be better utilised as a pit-stop for take-away coffees and pastries. A move which gave light to Blackboard Take Away Table, and one that he hasn’t looked back on. A true entrepreneur is a risk taker, and understands that if something doesn’t work, it’s best to swallow some pride and give something else a crack. Nick appreciates this principle wholeheartedly and his success is the evidence.
As it stands currently, Blackboard is a spacious, clean-cut and freshly designed space where simplicity is key. There is a celebrated focus on seasonal produce, whereas in the beginning it was purely coffee orientated. Again, it’s little tweaks like that (over time) that shows how Nick understands the industry. The coffee is still exceptional just quietly — it may have something to do with roasting his own beans.
I gave my strong latte a 10/10.
So I mentioned Nick roasts his own beans yeah!? Well, he’s just gone and got himself a sexy warehouse so he can roast the shit out of them. You know the story ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ well I’m writing a novel called ‘Nick and the Beantalk’. The man literally knows everything there is to know about coffee beans. It’s eerily spooky. Guess that’s why they call him the ‘Brew Kid on the Block’.
So this warehouse. It isn’t quite finished, but I got the gist of it. Not only will it act as a roasters, but patrons will also have the ability to join the ‘Blackboard Cafe Academy’ where they can learn the art of coffee making, and also try their hand at some cooking classes. Gordon Ramsay will be kicking himself he didn’t venture into the cafe game…
So as it stands Nick has two cafes and a roasters. That’s what I thought anyway. Turns out the cheeky bugger has gone and built a third cafe over the summer break. It’s just around the corner from the (future) Academy as well. It’s name? ‘Larder at Burleigh Waters’. It’s the younger sister to ‘Griffith Street Larder’ where six-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore frequently visits. True story. I was there. She’s a babe.
Quick little side note, and I know this is completely irrelevant to his cafes, but Nick’s also just bought some land in Byron Bay to build a house on. Yep. Thanks for making us all feel wonderful about our current jobs Nick, ya jerk.
Once my morning (hospitality) internship is completed, we’re free to do other cool things. So in true Mad Huey form, we settle on surfing and fishing — keeping in mind that the last time I surfed I ended up having 42 stitches, and the last time I fished, I fell asleep*. But I live life on the edge and am excited about a sea-change. So what better place to start, than out in the ocean where a bodyboarder had just been malled a couple of days prior.
“Ain’t no Great White gonna keep us outta da water. We ride together, we die together, shakas for life bra.”
I will admit I often had a little peep down below just to make sure Jaws wasn’t about to ruin my weekend. However, we survived, and decided to celebrate with a trip down to Brunswick. And no, I’m not talking about the hipster community down in Melbourne, but rather the quiet surf town that’s nestled about 20 clicks from Byron Bay. There’s not an awful lot going on, but that’s the beauty about Brunswick. All it has is a cafe, pub and a few little shops.
That afternoon was spent at Hotel Brunswick, where we enjoyed the little things in life…
A cold beer.
Fast forward a tad and it’s Sunday morning, my last day, and I’m a wee bit cooked. Nick’s old man Dale and I spent the night shipping a few in. Was classic. Anyway, nothing a solid breakfast can’t fix. Nick not only is a weapon behind an espresso machine, but can also whip up an all-time morning spread. Ever seen a man crack 12 eggs with one hand into a saucepan? I have, and it’s glorious.
So today we fish. We’re up at Ephraim Island where Nick has a holiday apartment. When I say he, I mean his parents. We’re fortunate that Dale and Julie are visiting, as it means Pearce Senior can show us some of the hot spots on his Grady White…it’s a boat. We couldn’t have asked for a better day either. Blue skies and a barmy 23 degrees = suck it Melbourne.
Nick loves getting out and about on his days off. It’s what keeps the balance in his life. Too often is the case where he has to work 6 or even 7 days a week. So every opportunity he gets, he makes the most of it. There’s no resting a hangover whilst slumming it on the couch for this guy. Nope. The Coast is his oyster and it attributes to his invigorating personality…and look on life.
Three fish were caught overall — zero were legal size. Whatever. Could have been worse I guess. It didn’t bother me…I just loved being out on the water with down-to-earth people who couldn’t care less about materialistic gobble-de-goop.
Each time I visit, I leave envious. I don’t know whether or not it’s due to the success Nick has worked so hard for and achieved, or whether it’s just the people and lifestyle Nick is fortunate enough to be surrounded by.
Melbourne is home, but for Nick it’s just a place where he grew up. That’s what I love about him. He went out and made something for himself and hasn’t batted an eyelid. We’ll always be here, and he knows that. But when it came to jumping in the deep end, Nick was very much able to swim. His beautiful fiancé Soph definitely helped. There was a time before they’d met, where Nick was ready to throw it all away and return to Melbourne. Thank god Soph walked into Blackboard that day.
I know it’s completely biased to say that Nick’s cafes are up there with the best in Australia. But it’s true. He’s single-handedly changed the coffee culture in Queensland. Just read the reviews, or ask anyone in the GC where the best place to get a coffee is. Guaranteed they’ll say Blackboard, Griffith Street and Burleigh Waters.
At the age of 24, Nick has achieved more than anyone else could in a lifetime. But it hasn’t always been smiles and pats on the bum. He’s had to put in the hard yards. Waking up at 5am for the last five years and punching in 10 hour days, is just a glimpse into the effort and determination Nick had to turn his dream into a reality.
Despite all of his success, Nick has remained extremely humble. Cafe empire or no cafe empire, Nick is and always will be my best mate…
Proud of you bra.
x
- I actually do love surfing, and have never EVER fallen asleep whilst fishing.
