THE RIVAL BROTHERS STORY
Rival Brothers Coffee Roasters is a small family-owned business based in the western suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 2018 by Jeno and Toby, two brothers from the Riverland who share a love of coffee, footy, and the outdoors. The business was born from a simple idea: great coffee should feel personal, honest and connected to community.
The journey began with Jeno, whose years of working in cafes taught him the craft from the ground up; from making coffee to learning the art of roasting on the job. He discovered how unique each bean can be, how roast profiles shape flavour, and how individual tastes vary widely. When Toby returned to Adelaide after living interstate, his entrepreneurial drive and hands-on approach created the perfect partnership. Together, they invested in organic and fair trade beans, a small roaster and countless hours of experimentation to create coffee that was full of flavour and true to their values.
From day one, Rival Brothers has been committed to economic sustainability and ethical sourcing. We partner with coffee suppliers with more than 100 years in the coffee industry, ensuring every bean we roast is sourced transparently and responsible, with fair-trade principles that support coffee farmers and their families.
In January 2020, we launched our retro vintage van at John Miller Reserve in Somerton Park, a community favourite that still operates Wednesday - Sunday (weather and events permitting). The van is also available for hire, bringing quality coffee and good vibes to events and celebrations across Adelaide.
As the business grew, so did our footprint. In 2021, we transformed an older sign warehouse at 953 Port Road, Cheltenham into the Rival Brothers Cafe and Roasters, a bespoke place dedicated to specialty coffee, brunch and community connection.
And in 2023, we expanded once again, opening our Mt Barker cafe to bring the Rival Brothers experience to the Adelaide Hills. This new location reflects our ongoing commitment to community, quality and creating welcoming spaces where people can enjoy great coffee, good food and genuine hospitality.