When coffee roaster Brad Nixon returned to Adelaide after a stint working in Melbourne, he planned to open a tiny hole-in-the-wall-style espresso bar.
That vision soon evolved into his spacious CBD cafe and roastery Elementary Coffee. But after three years on Young Street, Nixon is realising his original dream with a second site in the redeveloped Adelaide Railway Station.
The standing-room-only outpost is in the former Beigelry space on the ramp leading to North Terrace. From today, it’s pumping out Elementary’s top-quality coffee using Nixon’s house blend and a rotating selection of single-origin beans, alongside grab-and-go salads and sandwiches made with native ingredients and pre-prepared by Elementary chef Caleb Theatre (ex-Orana).
“It’s all traditional stuff but instead of ham it’ll be wild boar; instead of beef, it’ll be wild buffalo from the Northern Territory,” says Nixon. “So we’re putting our little twist on it.”
Other fillings include eucalypt-smoked pumpkin with buffalo curd and Tasmanian mountain pepper. And seared roo loin with black garlic, feta and greens stuffed between ciabatta and sourdough from Belair’s SheOak Baker.
In keeping with Elementary’s “Fryday” tradition, it’s also serving some very good doughnuts (think Davidson plum and maple-bacon varieties) every Friday.
Nixon’s no stranger to the train station site; The Beigelry was one of his wholesale accounts before owner Brendan Petty closed it in June.
“Brendan said he was ready to pack it in and spend time with his family and he asked if we were interested in the site,” says Nixon. “The other tenancies went really quick so it was really good to get a spot in there … and one of the former staff from the Beigelry is going to stay on and manage the [site].”
The 17-square-metre space has undergone a swift re-fit, with added touches of emerald green and brass to honour the history of the station, says Nixon. “We’re building a little alcove so you can get off the ramp and have a quick coffee, read the paper and go on to your day.”
The shop will be joined by Mornings Coffee and 24/7 bar and restaurant The Guardsman in the newly overhauled train station.
Elementary opened this morning and will trade from 7am to 2pm Monday to Friday.
