How coffee connects humanity
Although he doesn’t drink coffee due to his religion, Manuel Toa is the go-to caffeine expert in Slacks Creek.
Starting off as a barista at Dreamworld, Manny is now the Wholesale Manager at Extraction Coffee Roasters, where the highest quality green beans are roasted on-site and extracted into the perfect cup by award-winning baristas.
“When I first heard about Extraction a few years ago, I didn’t believe my friend because I didn’t think specialty coffee existed in Logan.”
— Manuel Toa
He says his career success is because he puts people first.
‘Great coffee is just the cherry on top, but it’s all about relationships and really getting to know their story so you know what they need,’ Manny says.
‘We were so good at Dreamworld that customers were buying annual passes just because they wanted to come for coffee and a chat.’
His natural charisma and ability to read others also helped him during his training at Campos Coffee, which launched his career in specialty coffee.
‘The trainer didn’t believe that I could learn how to make good coffee if I didn’t drink it myself,’ Manny says.
‘I made a deal with them – if they weren’t happy with how I performed after 3 hours, I’d quit being a barista.’
The trainer is now one of Manny’s mentors.
To this day, Manny still has regulars traveling specifically to Slacks Creek for the cherished coffee experience he provides.
And most are shocked that such a hidden gem exists in the City of Logan.
‘When I first heard about Extraction a few years ago, I didn’t believe my friend because I didn’t think specialty coffee existed in Logan,’ Manny says.
‘Good coffee used to be concentrated northside, but Logan’s got a big name now – we’ve won awards for latte art, and we have Sarah Jin, a Queensland Brewers Cup Champion.
‘Logan’s very community based, and we all help each other grow into what it can become.’
Extraction Coffee Roasters is located on 7/3375 Pacific Hwy, Slacks Creek QLD 4127. For the latest news and updates, check out their Facebook.
By June Ho
