Meet Arlo, our handy technician out of Brisbane HQ. We recently caught him on a break from the daily grind to chat about work, and also not work.
Arlo is our resident tech wiz for QLD and Northern NSW, and the co-founder of Brisbane’s very own Coffee Supreme Sandwich Club*. Whether he’s keeping things running smoothly in the field, crafting the perfect sanga with the team or ensuring the tunes are flowing at the roastery, there's never a dull moment up North.
Q: Hey Arlo, can you walk us through a typical day in your role at Coffee Supreme?
A: Being the sole tech for all of QLD and Northern NSW definitely keeps me on my toes, but it’s never boring. I usually start my day by checking my phone to see if anything urgent has popped up — if it’s quiet before 7:30am, that’s already a win.
From there, I head to the warehouse, where I tackle some admin and catch up on emails before diving into a rebuild. It’s often for one (or sometimes several) upcoming installs we’ve got lined up. Around midday, I grab a bite to eat and hopefully, the day we’re talking about is a CSBSC day (Coffee Supreme Brisbane Sandwich Club). I will then hit the road for as many routine maintenance jobs as I can fit in. I aim to wrap up by 4pm and get home on time, though that doesn’t always happen. Still, I make a point to maintain some work-life boundaries.
That’s a typical day if there aren’t any callouts. But in this role, flexibility is key, and I’m always ready to adapt as tasks come in.
Q: What are you drinking at the moment?
A: Big Joe (Daniher). I love an everyday drinker, something simple & clean — personally, I don’t reach for anything natural, anaerobic or "funky", as the trendy kids say.
Q: Describe your ideal coffee ritual — how do you like to enjoy your cup of coffee?
A: Early morning sun when it's cold out, hoodie on, coffee in hand.
Q:Where is your favourite spot to have a coffee in Brisbane?
A: I'm lucky enough to live about 100m from Brick, which happens to be owned by two of our own Rick & Brian. I love those guys.
Q: If you could switch roles with anyone at Coffee Supreme for a day, who would it be and why?
A: Our CEO, Andrew Low. I'm sure it would be incredibly humbling, but how much damage could I really do in only one day?
Q: And lastly, what's the best gig you've ever been to?
A: Impossible to say, but let me give you some honourable mentions off the dome.
- Slipknot, Riverstage 2008
- Childish Gambino, Qudos Arena 2019
- James Blake, Ally Pally 2023
- Smino & Monte Booker, Wooly Mammoth 2018
- Tame Impala, Show Grounds 2017, Entertainment Centre 2023
- Parkway Drive, Maitland 2014
- Paris Texas, Night Cat 2024
- Idles, FMH 2023
- Kendrick Lamar & Baby Keem, Entertainment Centre 2023
- Safety Club, Black Bear Lodge 2023
*A brief history of CSBSC:
A young and hungry couple of boys with no packed lunch were sick of the monotonous choices of a lacklustre banh mi or sushi rolls near the roastery. What else did we have nearby? A quality bakery and a European-import grocer with a fine selection of cured meats and cheeses. We go halves in a garlic ciabatta, fresh tomato, basil, buffalo mozzarella, mortadella and pistachio pesto.
Eyes of envy dart across the room from the other team members, and we realise we're onto something here. It quickly becomes an all-in, once-per-week tradition that we pick a recipe, opt-in on the whiteboard (vege and vegan options sections, too), and take an hour out of the week to be a team and enjoy a simple sanga.
Guest chef appearances have blown us out of the water (thanks, BK & Curtis), but if in doubt, we always revert back to the OG caprese with optional Mort.
It's become something to look forward to each week.
Thanks for the chat, Arlo. We raise our mug to you for keeping all those machines running smoothly in the sunshine state.
