Two Worlds of a Man.
An artist first, Australian coffee pioneer second.
Wells was my Dad, his influence reaches around the globe.
Before he passed, Dad took me through his artwork. Stories of another life before me, before coffee.
While you may know him as a driving force behind the rise of Melbourne's coffee scene in the 90s till his passing in 2024, you may not realise he lived another life of obsession before coffee.
Wells was an artist, a prolific celebrated one at that. Nothing done in half measures.
No cups left half empty.
A life of impact well lived.
This bag you are holding is a blend of these worlds of Wells.
Art, humanity and Coffee.
Working on something special.
Tirelessly over years of hard work, Wells found his main focus on lithography and print making. Creating countless large scale works that leave you in awe at a sheer energy expressed through landscape and linework.
For 15 years he created pieces in the Gertrude Street Print Workshop, sharing his vision of the Australia's windswept landscapes.
A Force of Nature
Each piece is filled with the force of nature, the landscapes he depicted are rich in character and unyielding in their energy.
Time with each piece moves you through a
vast infinite unending cycle that puts life on this earth in perspective.
We are a part of it all. People, the land and our thoughts are one.
Channeling creativity into coffee.
Wells and Merilyn created Jasper Coffee in 1989, I was just two years old.
Print making for Wells was finished. Never would he make another lithograph. Instead, thrusting himself into coffee, a new brush, a new chisel, a new palette.
A new way to explore and connect with people.
This was the early 90s, well before the “third wave” of hip baristas and tattooed sleeves—though Wells’ beard would fit right in. At the time, most coffee was dark roasted bitter espresso. Robusta and certainly an "acquired" taste.
Pictured: Wells with Jasper on his back.
A Blend of Two Worlds
Using Wells' artwork, my aim in designing this bag was to blend his two worlds of coffee, and art into one single piece.
A compound of elements drawn together through Wells' creativity, energy and personal human connection.
This work used on the bag, was one of the last pieces he showed me before he passed in 2024. Fussing his way through countless drawings, clearly frustrated he could not find what he was looking for, until he finally flicked through with relief.
A lost set of works that together make one whole picture.
The artwork on this bag is taken from an un-named piece that stretches out over more than five meters long, depicting a landscape I will keep secret.
Wells was proud to have a 1kg bag that is compostable and we have kept up his wishes to keep this going.
The materials used are important. A fully home compostable bag made to allow people ease of use while maintaining the integrity of the coffee, many of which are grown by people that Wells' personally visited in communities that he helped.
We really hope you enjoy exploring this bag and the coffee inside.