In 2014, after noticing how costly good coffee and fresh cafe food had become in Sydney, we set out to create an alternative. Calypso was born from our belief that great flavour, quality ingredients, and friendly service shouldn’t come with a hefty price tag — making excellent coffee and meals more affordable and accessible for everyone.
Jenny holds an accounting degree, but her career journey began in hospitality. In 2012, after several years as head barista at Swagmans Cafe in The Rocks, she transitioned into the banking sector with Westpac.
By late 2014, inspired by a vision to make everyday food and coffee more accessible, Jenny returned to her true passion — hospitality. Together with her husband Derek, she opened Calypso, combining her business expertise with a deep love for great coffee and community.
Derek earned his pharmacy degree from a leading university, but soon realised his true passion lay elsewhere. While working outside the field, he observed how many cafes operated inefficiently — a factor that often drives up prices for customers.
Determined to change that, Derek channelled his skills into optimising cafe operations, aiming to make quality food and coffee more accessible. His vision for Calypso is simple yet ambitious: to run the most efficient cafe possible, streamlining processes so customers can enjoy excellent coffee and meals at fair, affordable prices.
