GRADA IS

Always Problem Solving

A Beverage Innovator

A Coffee Roaster

Creating Batched Cocktails

A team of industry experts

We have had skin(s) in the game for a long time. Now we're sharing our passion for high-quality coffee and cocktails with the hospitality world.

How we got here

The right place, right time and the best people for the job.

Michael and Roscoe meet working as cheery dishpigs in the Dandenong Ranges

Michael and Roscoe meet working as cheery dishpigs in the Dandenong Ranges

2003

Tim co-creates the World AeroPress Championship with Tim Wendelboe in Oslo

Tim co-creates the World AeroPress Championship with Tim Wendelboe in Oslo

2008

Rob obtains doctorate in behavioural neuroscience at Monash University

Rob obtains doctorate in behavioural neuroscience at Monash University

2010

Darren lands position at Milk & Honey in London

Darren lands position at Milk & Honey in London

2013

Tim co-founds Australia's first co-roasting space, Bureaux Collective

Tim co-founds Australia's first co-roasting space, Bureaux Collective

2015

Jane launches umbrella brand over London Cocktail Week enabling the creation of London Wine Week, London Beer Week and London Espresso Martini Festival

Jane launches umbrella brand over London Cocktail Week enabling the creation of London Wine Week, London Beer Week and London Espresso Martini Festival

2015

Roscoe and Rob meet at Remote Year

Roscoe and Rob meet at Remote Year

2015

Michael Co-Founds Grow Assembly

Michael Co-Founds Grow Assembly

2016

Michael & Roscoe found Worksmith

Michael & Roscoe found Worksmith

2017

Worksmith opens on Smith Street in Collingwood

Worksmith opens on Smith Street in Collingwood

2018

Founding Worksmith members Archie Rose, Four Pillars, The Fermentary, CAPI, Wine Gallery, Marionette & Vinous started.

Founding Worksmith members Archie Rose, Four Pillars, The Fermentary, CAPI, Wine Gallery, Marionette & Vinous started.

2018

First key Worksmith hires made – Rob Weston joins

First key Worksmith hires made – Rob Weston joins

2018

Michael opens Capitano & Darren heads up the bar program

Michael opens Capitano & Darren heads up the bar program

2018

Tim Varney joins the team after working with some of the best coffee roasters in the world

Tim Varney joins the team after working with some of the best coffee roasters in the world

2018

Michael opens Falco Bakery

Michael opens Falco Bakery

2019

Melbourne Cocktail Festival launches with over 20 events, an Industry Symposium & Splash!

Melbourne Cocktail Festival launches with over 20 events, an Industry Symposium & Splash!

2020

Worksmith launches Tip Jar Fund to assist raising funds for industry during COVID

Worksmith launches Tip Jar Fund to assist raising funds for industry during COVID

2020

Stella Coffee launches

Stella Coffee launches

2020

Janes grows Diffords Guide's Tik Tok audience to 330k

Janes grows Diffords Guide's Tik Tok audience to 330k

2020

Stella Coffee launches

Stella Coffee launches

2020

A period of extensive batched cocktail research & development begins for the Worksmith team

A period of extensive batched cocktail research & development begins for the Worksmith team

2021

Home Grown Drinks is stocked at its first venue in Melbourne

Home Grown Drinks is stocked at its first venue in Melbourne

2021

Jane judges the global finals of World Class

Jane judges the global finals of World Class

2021

Adam Geha & Michael Easson join the Worksmith board as Directors & Strategic Investors

Adam Geha & Michael Easson join the Worksmith board as Directors & Strategic Investors

2021

White Label Cocktails & Stella Espresso Martini Launch

White Label Cocktails & Stella Espresso Martini Launch

2022

Peter Filipovic, Former CEO of Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) joins Worksmith as an Advisor

Peter Filipovic, Former CEO of Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) joins Worksmith as an Advisor

2023

Grada Coffee + Spirit launches with Batch #001 based on Fazenda Progresso, roasted by Stella

Grada Coffee + Spirit launches with Batch #001 based on Fazenda Progresso, roasted by Stella

Grada scores 96 at the IWSC, the highest mark ever for a coffee liqueur.

Grada scores 96 at the IWSC, the highest mark ever for a coffee liqueur.

2024

Grada is adopted as the company name, combining the Home Grown and Stella brands under its portfolio. Worksmith is no more.

Grada is adopted as the company name, combining the Home Grown and Stella brands under its portfolio. Worksmith is no more.

2024

Meet the team

Between us, the Grada crew have a few lifetime’s worth of experience in the hospitality industry – from high-octane fine dining environments, to coffee brewing competitions and being behind some of the best bars in the world. Now, we’re putting our heads together to make our line of work better for everyone in it.
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Michael Bascetta

Co-Founder & Creative Director
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Roscoe Power

Co-Founder & CEO
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Tim Varney

Director of Coffee
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Jane Ryan

Head of Marketing
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Helen Appleyard

WA Sales Manager
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Michael Georgiou

NSW Sales Manager

HOME GROWN COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS

HOME GROWN X ESPOLÒN TEQUILA

In 2023 the team at Campari approached us about creating an on-tap Margarita. Our goals were flavour and style without comprising speed of service. The result is our citrus-first Margarita, made with Espolòn’s blanco tequila, lime, triple sec and a twist of grapefruit. Served over ice for a refreshing take on the classic, it allows for both quality of product and high volume service.

HOME GROWN X CARETAKER'S COTTAGE

In 2021 Home Grown was launched with a range developed by our friends Rob, Matthew and Ryan who own and run Melbourne bar Caretaker's Cottage. The first spritzes where big on flavour and set the tone for how the brand developed.

Let’s get to work.

Enquire now to start pouring great drinks in your venue.

Contact us