Beale Stainton is an author and barista whose work explores the intersection of everyday urban life and the ancient, unseen forces that ripple beneath it. After five years in Sydney and a lifetime of past lives in both Australia and New Zealand, Beale’s writing is deeply informed by his Māori heritage, the rugged landscapes of his two home countries, and the high-pressure precision of the specialty coffee world. His debut novel, The Magic Café, is a semi-autobiographical journey through the grit of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and the magic found in a perfect extraction.