Start your day on the right note with a visit to Brisbane City’s best coffee spots
Coffee. It’s the lifeblood of Brisbane City, where thousands upon thousands of workers descend daily – almost all of whom need some sort of caffeine-infused hit before they start their day. Thankfully for the bleary-eyed hoards, The City is home to many sensational caffeine dispensaries, including specialty focused stalwarts and express espresso outlets. No matter if you’re a latte lover or a filter fanatic, you’re sure to find the jolt of your preference amongst this list of Brisbane’s best coffee spots.
Coffee Anthology, Charlotte Street: One of the original players on the inner-city scene remains one of the best. Coffee Anthology helped introduced Brisbane City wanderers to the specialty wave with its multi-roaster showcase – an influential approach that continues to help introduce coffee drinkers to some amazing Australian roasters. Those visiting for a cup will be able to select from a tight menu of blends and single origins showcasing one crowd-pleaser sip, one chocolate and nutty variety, and one with a more fruit-heavy profile. Coffee Anthology boasts a two-machine set-up (including a La Marzocco Strada EP and a Slayer Espresso machine), which allows for speedy, consistent service.
Anytime Coffee, Mary Street: Tucked away down an alleyway off Mary Street is Anytime Coffee, one of Brisbane City’s best (and perhaps best hidden) coffee spots. Here, a talented team of caffeine slingers pour cups of Coffee Supreme and serve pastries from Danny’s Bread – the essentials for an early morning kickstart. If you’re still in weekend mode, a visit to Anytime (look for the arrow sign near 160 Mary Street) will help get you into the Monday mindset.
Edward, Edward Street: It’s not uncommon for commuters disembarking at Central Station to immediately make tracks downhill to Edward. This cosy caffeinery (formerly known as Edward Specialty Coffee) is one of the best in town, so its placement right near one of The City’s transport hubs is an absolute stroke of genius. The Edward crew uses White Horse Coffee, showcasing rotating single origins sourced from some of the best coffee-growing regions in the world. Swing by for a grab-and-go flat white, drop in for a demitasse and a chat, or linger over a batch of pour-over.
No Standing, Eagle Lane: No Standing – a grungy laneway coffee slinger from the Public Cafe, Weekday and Gather Bistro team. Though small, this compact caffeinery (look for an industrial-style kiosk next to some colourful posters) is a great casual option for coffee cravers. A La Marzocco Strada AV and twin Anfim grinders are tasked with the bulk of the coffee dispensing, with Single O’s Killer Bee on deck for milk-based coffee and Reservoir for black brews.
Felix for Goodness, Burnett Lane: If you work near Burnett Lane, Felix For Goodness is likely already a regular haunt for you. If you haven’t tried, you owe it to yourself to seek out this secluded brunch spot – not just for its nosh, which is exceptional, but for its coffee, too. Felix For Goodness pours its own blend (crafted by the team at Parallel Roasters) and also showcases different roasters for its feature sips.
You might like
John Mills Himself, Elizabeth Street: This hidden coffee spot is owned and operated by the same crew as superstar Milton coffee joint Bunker. Judging by pedigree alone, one can assume the caffeine here is exemplary. We can confirm that John Mills Himself does indeed live up to expectations, with its house coffee – the Dark Horse Blend from Five Senses – is delicious every time. John Mills Himself also features a guest roaster, showcasing labels that not only produce great tasting coffee, but are driving the industry forward thanks to innovative practices. It’s not unusual to spy Sydney’s Sample Coffee Roasters and Rueben Hills or Melbourne’s Small Batch and Market Lane on offer.
Coffee Iconic, George Street: Part buzzing brunch spot and part greenery laden oasis, Coffee Iconic continues to be one of the most popular cafes for inner-city denizens. Coffee Iconic’s own blend (roasted by Cavalier Coffee Roasters) is a fixture of its espresso bar, but the team isn’t shy about giving love to other terrific Australian roasters. The cafe also runs limited-edition guest single origins for those that want to try something different each time they nab a cup of coffee.
The Maillard Project, Charlotte Street: A sibling of sorts to Coffee Anthology, The Maillard Project is infused with much of the same DNA when it comes to on-point coffee service. A central coffee hub that dominates the interior is where you’ll find two of the cafe’s three coffee machines, as well as a specialty filter bar. Here, dual machines supply the venue’s to-go and dine-in customers respectively, with the menu including four espresso and three filter options (all roasted on site), offering a broad cross-section of flavours to sample.
Industry Beans, Adelaide Street: After conquering Newstead’s coffee scene with its roaster and cafe, Industry Beans has looked to do the same with its satellite coffee bar on Adelaide Street. Equipped with state-of-the-art coffee gear, this attractive outlet (designed by Melbourne-based architects March Studio) serves standard milk-based espresso coffees (made using Industry Beans’ Newstead blend), rotating single origins for batch-brew sips, and the brand’s signature cold-brew drinks range such as the cold-brew coffee with coffee-soaked tapioca pearls, and condensed and oat milk, and the Fitzroy Iced cold brew with wattleseed, organic panela and your milk of choice.
Subscribe for updates
CUBIC, George Street: The part of town near the District Courts has been a dead zone for coffee in recent years, but the arrival of CUBIC has changed all that. A Synesso S300 punches out black and white brews made on using CUBIC’s own custom blend, though the team also cycles through a terrific list of single origins from other local and international roasters. Want to savour a variety of coffee styles? CUBIC’s tasting flights feature cold brew, nitro coffee, batch brew and espresso sips.
Expedition Coffee Co., George Street: The sister to New Farm slinger Death Before Decaf, this bright-eyed brew maker doesn’t quite have the same 24-7 dependability as its scruffy sibling. That said, this bright brew maker is serving the same killer cups of Bellissimo coffee alongside doughnuts and treats. Good to know: Expedition Coffee Co. pours until 7:00 pm.
Pablo & Rusty’s, Mary Street: Sydney-born coffee roaster Pablo & Rusty’s made a splash on the local scene when it opened its Brisbane cafe on Mary Street in 2015. P&R helped bolster The City’s specialty coffee offering and continues to do so – using technology to deliver the most consistent coffee possible in an environmentally conscious manner. P&R boasts three core blends (including the malt and dark-chocolate notes of Porter St and the caramel and spice aroma of Pioneer, to the fruity bouquet of Trailblazer) as well as a host of single origins.
Double Maker Coffee, Margaret Street: When Coffee Anthology moved from its Margaret Street home to Inter/Section, another reputable coffee crew stepped in to ensure the space remained a dependable spot for sourcing specialty brews. Double Maker Coffee is the sibling cafe to Coffee Iconic, which means guests can expect the same high-quality coffee and a similarly exacting approach to its preparation. Double Maker uses its house blend for the bulk of its brews, though you’ll also spy several single-origin blends up for grabs too.
Spencer Coffee Bar, Spencer Lane and Elizabeth Street: This caffeine crew might be double dipping on this list, but we’ll allow it. The coffee is just that good. The crew pulls silky shots of St. Ali brew and also serves an array of delicious cabinet treats. If you’re closer to Spencer Lane, you can also order a slice of Danny’s Bread sourdough toast with Pepe Saya butter, avocado and lemon, or Cuttaway Creek raspberry jam.
Ricochet Espresso, Edward Street: A staple of the Brisbane City coffee scene, Ricochet Espresso has long been the go-to spot for coffee for countless commuters and caffeine seekers. Ricochet’s own Artillery house blend is just the ticket if you’re after a consistently great hit of jolt juice.
Public Cafe, Ann Street: Sitting pretty in the bustling entrance of Heritage Lanes on Ann Street, Public Cafe is a new-age lobby cafe delivering an elevated caffeine-centric offering. Here, a suite of top-of-the-line equipment (including two La Marzocco KB90 espresso machines, MAZZER and Victoria Arduino Mythos coffee grinders, Puqpress tampers and Übermilk milk frothers) turns out consistent coffee in record time. The team has partnered with Melbourne’s ST. ALi as its coffee supplier of choice, running its Orthodox blend for milky pours and Feels Good organic blend for black coffee, available alongside batch, filter and cold-brew coffee.
Honourable mentions: Other coffee spots worth getting your morning cup from include Strauss FD on Elizabeth Street, Georgio’s on George Street, Two Sons Coffee Co. on Edward Street, Campos Coffee on Eagle Street, Marchetti in Tattersall’s Arcade, nodo on Elizabeth Street, Lune Croissanterie on Burnett Lane, Frisky Goat Espresso on George Street, The Hideout Specialty Coffee on Adelaide Street, Gather Bistro on Ann Street and Two Sons Coffee Co. on Edward Street.