Simona speaks with university graduate and entrepreneur Alessandro of Revival Specialty Coffee and Vinyl on Hyndland Street about the perfect coffee and record combinations for students.
In March, 22-year-old entrepreneur Alessandro Alonzi opened the doors of his dream project, Revival. More than a coffee shop, Revival is a fusion of his passions: the menu in fact pairs coffees with records. When you enter the shop, you are hit by the smell of freshly ground coffee beans and a carefully selected vinyl collection (which are also available to purchase!).
As a recent Business graduate, student days are not a far memory for Alessandro. Reminiscing on his time as a student, he tells me: “At University, I was the guy people dreaded getting connected to the speaker. I honestly have no idea why!”. And I don’t either, since Alessandro has immaculate music tastes and exceptional music knowledge. I then challenged him to pair moments of student life, with coffees and vinyls. Here’s Alessandro’s picks!
Say I wake up after a night out. I’ve maybe had a drink (or two) too much the night before, but I need to pull myself together to go to my 9am. What album and coffee do I drink to give myself an energy boost?
Alessandro – Album: Tame Impala– Currents. It takes the edge off the hangover but will not overwhelm you and have a negative effect. Currents by Tame Impala is not too intense but will definitely get you in the groove.
Coffee: iced drink of your choice! A hangover essential, and add whatever sweetener you like to it. You need everything to get you through the morning so treat yourself!
I’m done with my 9am in the JMS. Now I need to go to my 2nd class of the day, in the St Andrews Building, on the other side of campus. What album and coffee do I grab along the way to help me power-walk to my next class?
Alessandro – Album: Turnstiles– Never Enough. It will be sure to get you moving, loud guitar riffs, driving drums, full steam ahead. I would have picked one straight from my running playlist but it’s probably too early in the day for cheesy 80s.
Coffee: now’s the time for a double espresso, Italian style, in a oner and move. There is no time to waste.
It’s now the afternoon, and I am in a cozy café in the West End (potentially Revival!). I’m catching up with the readings for my next and last class of the day. What album and coffee do I sip while I’m doing some coursework?
Alessandro – Album: John Martyn– Solid Air. This album is made for a coffee shop. I’d argue it should be the dealer’s choice when it comes to sticking on an album in Revival but if my weekly rotating vinyl records aren’t gold enough for you I suggest this album!
Coffee: I’d suggest checking out my rotating pour over options. Sourced from around the world, these coffees are a chance to slow down and appreciate the cup that sits before you.
Class is over, and my classmate reminded me that there is a deadline coming up in a couple of days. I go to the library, I open my laptop, and now I am stressfully trying to read and take notes… I realise that I might have to pull an all-nighter. What album do I listen to keep me going? What coffee do I choose?
Alessandro – Album: Chaos in the CBD– A deeper life. You want something pretty laid back for this, minimal vocals and something that can become motivational background noise amongst the madness. Groovy jazz house beats that will keep you chilled out but also knock you back into gear anytime you feel yourself drifting off.
Coffee: Flat white… and chuck an extra shot in there because you’ll need it! Silky and smooth to the point– exactly what you’ll need to be!
Screw this! I still have a couple of days to study (maybe only one, but who’s counting), and it’s HIVE Abba Thursday. What album and coffee do I drink to get into a party mood?
Alessandro – Album: Tears for Fears – Songs From The Big Chair. Anthem after anthem, it’ll be sure to get you up for it! I mentioned cheesy 80s earlier and now it’s time to get it on!
Coffee-ish: Unfortunately these aren’t available in Revival quite yet, but get an espresso martini on the go. Enjoy your night!
You can find Revival in 43 Hyndland Street, open 8am till 4pm excluding Tuesdays. On Sundays, Alessandro hosts a running club for those who were born to run.
Image credit: Alessandro Alonzi