Meet this year’s winners of Toby’s Estate’s WA Local Legend: Engine Room Espresso
In our increasingly fast-paced world, quite often we forget to take a minute, take stock, and recognise the legends around us doing great things.
And this is the inspiration behind Toby’s Estate Octobysfest Local Legends initiative, inviting the customers who frequent cafes that partner with Toby’s Estate to vote for the biggest legend in each state around Australia.
“We know how hard baristas and café owners work, putting in long hours and constantly smiling while dealing with last minute changes and a whole stack of other things,” says Jody Leslie, Toby’s Estate General Manager. “And too often these awesome legends are not recognised enough which is why we created Octobysfest Local Legends to help shine a light on all those behind the coffee machine putting in that extra effort.”
Well, the 2024 results are in, and this year’s Local Legend for WA is Chris and his team at Engine Room Espresso 6006 in North Perth, and we’re stoked to help you get to know him a little better, below:
Tell us a bit about Engine Room Espresso’s story and the inspiration behind the name.
Engine Room Espresso was originally founded by three coffee-loving firefighters, a nod to the energy, precision, and collaboration of a fire station. My wife Abby and I purchased the cafe a little over seven years ago after it became our local favourite.
Owning a cafe had always been a dream of mine after nearly 20 years in the cinema industry. When the opportunity arose, we knew the business had strong foundations, thanks to its original owners and an exceptional team, including Ellie and Sarah, who have been with us since day one. Their passion and dedication to consistency in service and coffee quality have been vital to our success. Over time, we’ve stayed true to our mission of delivering excellent coffee and consistent, friendly service.
What makes Engine Room Espresso unique?
Our focus on consistency and speed in service truly sets us apart. We pride ourselves on remembering our regulars’ orders and creating a welcoming space where everyone feels at home. Beyond coffee, our menu offers standout items like bagels, toasties, and our famous triple chocolate brownie. At all locations, we aim to deliver fast, friendly, and high-quality service that keeps people coming back. These values extend to our newest cafe in Osborne Park (below) and our sister location, Standby Espresso.
What do you love most about the Perth community and its coffee culture?
Perth’s coffee culture is extraordinary, with an abundance of talented roasters and passionate cafe operators. The quality here rivals some of the best coffee destinations globally, as we often hear from our traveling customers. There’s a sense of pride and shared dedication among Perth’s cafes to create exceptional coffee experiences. We’re fortunate to work with Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters, whose Black Swan blend has been a staple for over seven years, embodying the excellence and consistency that define WA’s coffee scene.
What future plans do you have in store for Engine Room Espresso?
Since purchasing Standby Espresso in Mount Lawley, we’ve continued to grow, most recently expanding to Osborne Park with Engine Room Espresso 6017. This location features a full operational kitchen, enabling us to serve fresh daily specials and expand into catering—a growing focus for us. Over the next 12 months, we aim to refine our offerings, enhance our kitchen’s capabilities, and solidify Osborne Park as one of the area’s best cafes. We’re excited to keep innovating while maintaining the quality and service that our customers love.
What’s important to you when choosing a coffee partner?
For us, a great coffee partner like Toby’s Estate provides not only exceptional beans but also unwavering support. The Black Swan blend has been a cornerstone of our menu, offering the consistency our customers expect. The Toby’s Estate team goes above and beyond with their training and expertise, ensuring our baristas are always at their best. This collaboration has been instrumental in delivering the quality we strive for daily.
Grab your own Toby’s Estate goodness via their website, and find a Toby’s Estate cafe near you here.
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This article is sponsored by Toby’s Estate and endorsed by us. Please see our Editorial Policy for more info.