08/09/2026
MEET THE TEAM: Tilly Thorne
Next up on our staff feature is General Manager Tilly! Be sure to read the full post at villino.com.au/blog , or read on for a quick preview ✨
Meet Tilly. Villino Coffee’s very own Swiss-army-knife and General Manager, looking over the internal operations of the business. Somewhat of a quiet achiever, Tilly glides through in the morning with a batchy, starts writing little lists on sticky notes, blitzing emails, taking calls, gives directives to the team, all with an efficiency that looks seemingly effortless. When Tilly enters the room, we all take a sigh of relief. She carries a sense of order and guidance that allows everyone to thrive alongside her.
What could go possibly go wrong with Tilly at the helm? …. Nothing!
Tilly’s fame is most pronounced outside of the roastery with her incredible illustrations on the Villino merch. Many customers in the cafe compliment her artworks on the shirts and retail bags, and she never gets to hear any of it first-hand (someone should tell her). She’s sharper than a blade, quick witted, but also one of the most caring humans. Many a time she has been the one that people will turn to when they need help, straight advice, or someone to just listen. In case of emergency, break glass - and go see Tilly.
Go to coffee drink of choice?
I tend to drink a lot of filter coffee: Batchy at work and V60 at home. I do still love a Piccolo though, and dare I say a Mont Blanc is becoming a fast favourite...
Favourite Roastery/Café tunes?
Too many to list! Most frequently in rotation are probably Bjork, The Contortionist, Thundercat, and Nine Inch Nails.
Do you have a favourite producer, coffee, or producing country?
I’ve been really impressed with the coffees coming out of both Ecuador and El Salvador in the past year, and also find it very hard to go past a Natural Ethiopian lot. Another recent favourite was the Santa Monica Peach Co-Ferment from Jairo Acila in Colombia. It’s very exciting to try some of the more experimental fermentation projects out there, and discover whole new versions of the coffee drinking experience.
