MAN OF THE MONTH: CARL FRICKER

Meet Carl Fricker, the man behind Brisbane’s cult 24/7 café Death Before Decaf and our Calexico Man of the Month for August. Known for serving strong coffee with no frills, Carl lives by the principles of consistency, simplicity, and trusting his instincts. Whether refining his personal style or dreaming of a conversation with Nike’s Phil Knight, his approach is bold, grounded, and authentic. Just like his coffee — strong, straightforward, and exactly what you need to kickstart your day.

Your cafe has become a cult favourite in Brisbane. What is the secret ingredient beyond the coffee that keeps people coming back?

Consistency and keeping it simple are the secret ingredients at Death Before Decaf. We concentrate on the basics and don’t get caught up in the fluff that consumes so many coffee shops.

The best mornings start with what?

This may sound obvious, but the best mornings start with good coffee.

If your life had a soundtrack, what would be the opening track?

The Middle by Jimmy Eat World

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received, and how does it still guide you today?

Trust your instincts is the advice that has helped me the most in business. From our  24/7 trading hours to our branding, if it has felt right, then we’ve usually gone all in and touch wood, it seems to work.