brewing since 1996
Thirty years ago, in the backstreets of Southport, Queensland, Zarraffa’s Coffee began as a small roasting house where customers would sit on hessian bags of beans while Founders Kenton and Rachel Campbell roasted and served coffee. It was simple, built on genuine connection and the shared experience of people coming together over great coffee. There was no master plan for national expansion, drive thru convenience or industry recognition. What existed instead was a belief in taking pride in how we roasted, how we served and how we showed up each day.
As the years unfolded and one store became many, that same care carried through every new location, every franchise partnership and every customer interaction. Zarraffa’s Coffee gradually evolved into a thriving network of franchised stores and drive thru locations across Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, yet the heart of the brand remained firmly rooted in those early days.
Over time, Zarraffa’s became part of daily rituals, first jobs, early mornings and late evenings. Families built businesses, baristas built careers and customers built routines around a familiar cup. Our story has never been defined by scale alone, but by the relationships formed across the counter and the communities who welcomed us in.
As we celebrate 30 Years Together, we reflect on the milestones and the people who shaped them. This journey has never been ours alone; it has been brewed, sip by sip, by the communities who have supported us along the way.
opening the archives
Join us as we revisit the key chapters that have shaped the Zarraffa’s Coffee story since 1996.
1996 - 1997
First Store Opens
With a love for coffee, a $9K loan and plenty of hard work, Founders Kenton and Rachel Campbell established Zarraffa’s Coffee in 1996 and opened the very first Zarraffa’s Coffee location at Australia Fair in 1997.
2001
First Franchised Store
In October 2001, we opened our first franchised store in Brisbane’s Myer Centre. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of our franchise journey, laying the foundation for a scalable network built on shared values and local ownership - a defining moment for the brand.
2005
Expanding Beyond Queensland
With a loyal customer base behind us and momentum building, we took our first bold step interstate in 2005, opening our first location outside Queensland in Warringah, New South Wales. This expansion signalled the beginning of Zarraffa’s evolution from a state favourite to a growing national brand.
2009
The First Drive Thru Opens
Leading the way in retail coffee innovation, in 2009 we introduced our first Drive Thru concept in Worongary, redefining Coffee convenience in Australia. This innovation reshaped the customer experience, meeting Australians where they were, on the move, while keeping specialty coffee at the forefront.
2017
Fan Favourites Fusions
Fusions have become a fan favourite over the last 30 years and each year we’ve launched delicious, limited time fusions, which have become ultimate fan favourites! The Banoffee Fusion was released in 2017, quickly becoming a most-loved drink of many. Which has been your all time Fusion?
2020
Launching The First Single Origin
In 2020, we introduced our first Black Label Single Origin - the Kenyan Ntongoro from Meru County. This marked an exciting chapter in our specialty coffee journey, giving customers the opportunity to explore distinct flavour profiles from carefully sourced, geographical locations. Since then, more than 19 Single Origins have been released. That’s 19 different regions our customers have experienced.
2023 - 2024
Australia Zoo and Wildlife Warriors
We formalised our commitment to wildlife conservation through a long term collaboration with Australia Zoo and Wildlife Warriors. This milestone strengthened our long-standing dedication to supporting conservation, education and the protection of wildlife.
2023
Introducing Drive Thru Walk Up
As customer habits evolved, so did we. The launch of our first Drive Thru Walk-Up store in Beaudesert combined speed, accessibility and convenience in a new format designed for customers on the go, continuing our focus on innovation in retail coffee.
2025
Expanding into South Australia and Victoria
2025 marked a landmark year as we expanded into South Australia and Victoria, while proudly opening 11 new stores in some of the country’s most requested locations. This year also reflected our continued commitment to regional and rural communities, including the opening of our Ayr store in far North Queensland. A defining step in our national journey and a nod toward the future ahead.
After 30 years of milestones, store openings, bold decisions and genuine fun, one thing has remained constant - the people behind every cup. Because while our footprint has grown, our story has always been powered by community.
our customers
Behind every cup is a customer who chose to make Zarraffa’s Coffee part of their daily ritual.
For 30 years, our journey has been powered by this loyalty. Our customers have supported new stores, embraced new flavours and made us part of their daily rituals.
More than coffee lovers, they are the community behind the brand. Their support and belief in what we do have allowed the Zarraffa’s Coffee story to grow
our franchisees
Behind every store is a Franchisee who took a leap of faith and chose to build their future with Zarraffa’s Coffee.
For 30 years, our growth has been powered by passionate Franchisees - from single stores to multi-site success stories. They’ve backed new ideas, championed product launches and created welcoming spaces.
More than business partners, they are community-builders and trailblazers of the brand. They’ve built strong teams, thriving stores and lasting local legacies. Their dedication and belief in the brand have helped shape the Zarraffa’s Coffee story.
What’s Next
Thirty years in, and we’re only just getting started.
While much has changed since 1996, our commitment to crafting exceptional specialty coffee and building meaningful community remains the same. As we look ahead, our focus is on thoughtful growth, continued innovation and reaching more communities across Australia, with a goal of 200+ locations by 2032.
The next chapter of Zarraffa’s Coffee will be bold, ambitious and grounded in the values that shaped us from the very beginning. Because every store we open and every milestone we reach, every coffee poured, is made possible by the people who choose to share their daily ritual with us.
Here’s to the next 30 years together, we can’t wait to brew them with you.