Toby's Estate Coffee

Overview

Toby's Estate began in 1997 when Toby Smith — a Sydney lawyer who had become obsessed with coffee — left law to start roasting in his mother's garage in Woolloomooloo. The Chippendale flagship now combines a glass-walled roastery with an island brew bar redesigned in 2022 by Russell & George (the architects behind Aesop's stores), and was named the World's Best Coffee Shop at the inaugural World's 100 Best Coffee Shops awards. The Asian flagship in Robertson Quay opened in October 2011 and the brand now operates across Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Middle East — the Woolloomooloo blend still nods to the suburb where Smith first started experimenting.

Known for

• Founded by ex-lawyer Toby Smith in 1997
• Flagship cafe and roastery in Chippendale, Sydney
• World's Best Coffee Shop at the inaugural World's 100 Best Coffee Shops awards
• Russell & George 2022 redesign with island brew bar
• International expansion: Singapore (2011), Indonesia, Middle East

Why it matters

Toby's Estate is one of the founding-generation Australian specialty roasters — a Sydney counterpart to Mark Dundon's Melbourne work — and the brand structure outlasted the original US licensee, which spun out as Partners Coffee in New York. Smith's lawyer-to-roaster move in 1997 predates 'third wave' as a category in Australia.

Café

Chippendale, Sydney (Australian flagship); Robertson Quay, Singapore (Asian flagship); Brookfield Place Sydney; multiple AU locations

Recognitions

• World's Best Coffee Shop — World's 100 Best Coffee Shops (inaugural awards)

Sources

• https://www.tobysestate.com.au/about-us/
• https://www.chippendalecollective.org.au/member/tobys-estate-coffee-roasters/
• https://tobysestate.com.sg/tobys-estate/
• https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/chippendale/cafes/tobys-estate-chippendale
• https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/newsroom/its-official-sydney-has-the-world-s-best-coffee