When you put four mates together anything is bound to happen, usually involving lots of alcohol and mass destruction. However if they all join forces in the name of good instead of evil and drink coffee instead, imagine what amazing things can be created. This is the story of Four Rascals, also known as Richard, Goran, Simon and Mei. The little blurb on their website says it so well that I had no other option but to duplicate it word for word – “They figured they could break the whole coffee roasting thing down to three easy-to-follow steps: 1. Don’t blow up the roaster 2. Don’t strangle each other 3. Make awesome coffee.” And that’s exactly what they did.
The most popular of their blends is called Rapscallion, a predominantly Arabica blend of seven origins including India, Brazil, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras and Ethiopia, producing a strong brew that’s a little sweet, a little feisty, with loads of character, just as a cheeky rascal should be. Easy to tune and working really well with both black and milk based coffees were the reasons Michael Pelosi decided to use it at his new cafe The Faculty in Hawthorn. With a passion for customer service and prior hospitality experience, he has wanted to have his own cafe since the age of 16 with the aim of looking after patrons with quality food and coffee. In a well established suburb and an area dominated by private schools, when people move here they usually stay and want to go somewhere they are treated well and their faces are remembered. A bit of a rogue himself, Michael’s choice of Four Rascals was the perfect choice and the result is a consistent brew that pleases the locals who keep coming back.
To have your own cheeky Rapscallion experience, here are four rascally cafes serving it up with a smile:
The Faculty – 302 Barkers Rd, Hawthorn
The Ambrosiary – 70 Portman St Oakleigh
Happymaree – 229 Somerville Rd, Yarraville
Fugazza – 5 Equitable Pl, CBD