Long before founding The Wood Roaster, Kim Loupis was inspired by watching his father run a successful wholesale fruit and vegetable business. Seeing firsthand the value of hard work, traditional service, and strong relationships shaped Kim’s own approach to business.
The Wood Roaster began as a small café in Sydney, originally called il espresso. Kim quickly recognised that customers were looking for something different not the same coffee in different packaging, but a product with real character and purpose. In 2009, he began roasting with wood for his own stores, driven by a vision to create something truly unique.
After years of research, experimentation, and refining the process, along with the development of a custom-built roaster, Kim expanded into wholesale and contract roasting in 2011. In 2012, the business was rebranded as The Wood Roaster, bringing his concept to a broader market and helping people understand the craft and science behind wood roasting.