Few families have had quite as big an impact on Queensland coffee and hospitality as the Merlos. Dean Merlo founded Merlo Coffee in 1992, and started roasting his own coffee in 1996, helping spearhead a new wave of quality coffee in the state. But it was actually his father, Gino Merlo, who brought espresso coffee to Queensland.
“He started a restaurant called Café Milano in 1958 and brought the first espresso machine into Queensland. It was a big commitment and when it came time to service it, he had to fly someone up from Sydney, which wasn’t cheap in those days,” Dean says.
“I remember drinking coffee from an early age and had always been interested in it. Coffee was only one part of what Café Milano offered though. My dad was more into wine, and the restaurant was well known for having Australia’s best wine cellar at the time.”
It was an
