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An Adventure into

Australian Coffee Land

Interview with Andrea Dolegna, Founder of Dolo
& Pesado 58.5

When starting his first job delivering coffee in Italy at the age of 14, Andrea
Dolegna had no idea that he would end up having his own coffee businesses in
Australia, in 2011 Dolegna opened Dolo Coffee Supplies and four years later Pe-
sado 58.5 was born.
Dolegna was always intrigued by Australia and decided to make the move
in 2004. At the age of 24, he began work at a boutique coffee company in
Melbourne this allowed him to build up his connections and experiences. The
establishment of Dolo showed Dolegna how Australians support local and small
businesses, “The biggest challenge for anyone starting off in a new country is
adapting to a new culture, understanding and respecting the lifestyle and
finding your space,” he confessed. “In some respects, I found it much easier
than in Italy. The support of the Melbourne coffee scene has been the best
feeling since the start.” And it is this supportive and welcoming atmosphere
that pushes Dolegna to continue moving forward.
As Dolo grows and thrives, it now represents a range of popular coffee
accessories brands from all over the world as well as a unique selection of
brewers and gadgets. However, Dolegna didn’t stop his adventure there, in
2015 he created Pesado 58.5, a range of premium coffee tools and accessories.
He began by producing his own signature tamper.
In comparison with the traditional Italian coffee market, Dolegna loves
the dynamic coffee scene in Australia and its locals, “People are more open
minded and more willing to embrace new ideas.” After living and working here
for the past 16 years, he also noticed that “it’s getting much harder for larger
companies as Australians are more inclined to support local businesses”. The
trend of supporting local and small businesses also makes consumers more
aware of where products are coming from, how they are produced and who is
producing them. Dolegna explained: “Especially in coffee traceability and
transparency within the supply chain, something that people may not have
taken much notice of before is becoming increasingly important.”

Andrea Dolegna

Founder of Dolo & Pesado 58.5, who
entered the coffee world at 14 and
moved to Australia in 2004 to explore
his own career and businesses.
dolo.com.au

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