Get up close + personal with Connor

South Yarra is a better place for this bloke. At the helm of our city store, Connor is a constant beam of sunshine. He is super passionate about coffee, rocks an incredible mullet, is recently engaged, has THE cutest dog and is quite possibly one of the loveliest people on the planet. We sat down with him to ask all the hard hitting questions.

What got you into coffee?

When I was a young blood, starting up in hospitality, I worked at a wine bar and one of the lads I worked with had previously been employed at a small coffee roaster. He would often give me little tips and tricks on how to make a better coffee and with that I got more and more passionate about making sure I poured the best cup I could every time. After I left that job I picked up a few books on coffee and was just blown away by how much there was to learn! That's when I started my career into specialty coffee and have just never looked back and continue to love it every day ❤️☕️

Frozen coffee, why? Is it really that good? 🥶

Watching the world barista comps over the last couple years, I noticed a lot more of the competitors opting to freeze they're coffee with liquid nitrogen to increase the overall sensory experience of the coffee. After watching it again this year I thought, I've got to try this and see what all the hype is about. Sure enough, after doing a few tests at Mornington HQ with the crew, the frozen coffee was coming out tasting better than the regular brew. The numbers we use to measure coffee extraction (TDS - Total Dissolved Solids) were higher on the frozen coffee, and the flavour! The flavour was incredible, just the sheer clarity of what you were drinking, it became so much more obvious which fruits it tasted like.

Favorite movie and why? 🎥

Ratatouille hands down. 🐭👩🏻‍🍳
The story of a being who just loves nothing more than to cook and create. No matter what adversity comes their way, they continue to persevere. Is just really comforting 🥰
The animation is beautiful, the level of detail is just absolutely ridiculous. The cutting marks on the wooden chopping board with some green smears from the herbs that have been prepared on it. Just magnificent 👌

If you were stuck in an elevator with a bunch of strangers what would your topic of conversation be?

I've got a couple of questions that I like to keep up my sleeves for when I'm introduced to new people. It would definitely be based around food though, it is something that connects people from all around the world, sharing and experiencing new and different flavours 😉

Some of my go-to questions are:
- Does tomato belong in a toasted sandwich? There is a correct answer, and it is no. Fight me. 🚫🍅

- Crunchy or soggy chips? Crunchy gang 4 lyf .

- Sparkling or still water? Fizzy water is the best water.

Penne for fingers or rice for eyelashes? Why?

I think I would go for rice for eyelashes, but it would have to be a nice long rice, probably wild rice or black rice. Something that would make my blue eyes pop! 😉👀

Next time you’re city side, drop in to Commonfolk Sth Yarra @ 1C Murphy st, and say hi 👋 to Connor and the crew