Images: Kelsey Zafiridis Photography
Exchange Coffee on Vardon Avenue in Adelaide’s east end has been ranked #37 in the world’s top 100 coffee shops. Sitting proudly between top cafes from the Netherlands and Korea, the achievement is the result of the hardworking team, led by cafe owner, PJ Tebyanian. For PJ, the secret to their global success lies in a relentless focus on quality and consistency, from the coffee to the food and the overall customer experience.
At first, PJ could hardly believe the news, thinking it was some kind of scam. It wasn’t until a month later, when he was invited to Madrid in Spain to accept the award, that the reality of the recognition set in. “Then it seemed pretty legitimate,” PJ says.
Since the award is anonymously judged, PJ and his team have no idea who specifically visited the cafe, but one thing is clear; whoever it was had an experience to remember. “It’s credit to all of our staff here,” PJ says. “They put a lot of effort into creating the atmosphere here.”
The award is based on a range of factors that contribute to the overall cafe experience, from consistency and customer service to the quality of food and coffee. Judges assess seven or eight different criteria, so they can decide if the experience provided by the cafe is consistently excellent across the board.
For Exchange Coffee, this recognition is not just about one great cup of coffee, or one amazing dish, it’s about delivering the same great taste and service time and time again. PJ attributes the win to a combination of factors, but consistency is at the heart of it all.
“It’s not one thing, it’s a combination of various things,” PJ says. “The team really focuses on consistency and getting the same tasting coffee, and the same tasting food every time.”
A huge part of what makes Exchange Coffee stand out is the care and precision they put into their coffee brewing process. PJ believes that the team’s dedication to dialling in the coffee, so each cup tastes exactly the same, is crucial.
“It’s a lot of measuring, a lot of dosing, both in the coffee beans and the coffee,” PJ says. “Everything is noted down in terms of measurement and weight, so that it doesn’t matter who is on, it is the same product that is going out.”
The attention to detail extends to the kitchen as well. By using quality, fresh ingredients, the kitchen team sees that each dish is consistent in both appearance and taste. “It’s about making sure that the food that comes out of the kitchen looks the same and tastes the same every time,” PJ says. “It’s not random; it’s the same product.”
Though PJ’s background in hospitality is not extensive, his experience in management and running a business has been key to creating a successful cafe. Looking ahead, Exchange Coffee plans to maintain its focus on quality, consistency, and customer experience.
“Hopefully we can get closer to number one!” PJ says.
With its dedication to consistency and quality, Exchange Coffee has set a new benchmark for what a fantastic cafe should look like, not just here in South Australia, but around the world.
Exchange Coffee
12/18 Vardon Ave, Adelaide
Instagram: @exchange.coffee
For more info, click here.
To read the list of the world’s top 100 best coffee shops, click here.
