Where to find the best coffee in Brisbane if you take your beans seriously
List
By Kim Barnard
Coffee. For many, access to a premium cup in the morning is more necessity than luxury. If that’s you, it’s important you know where to go to find the best coffee in Brisbane.
We’ve long been spoilt with an abundance of cafes (check out our pooch and kid-friendly recommendations) where you can get your food and coffee fix, but for those that want their coffee to be world class, you need to go to the pros.
Happily, Brisbane is home to many exceptional specialty coffee roasters, all of whom take their trade very seriously. We all want to drink coffee we can feel good about, so we’re paying homage to the first-class purveyors who’s coffee is ethical and sustainable, as well as tasty.
Here are our top picks for the best coffee in Brisbane.
Bunker, Milton
Photo by @coffeepluswine
Long considered top of the list when it comes to the best coffee in Brisbane, Bunker, in inner-city Milton, is the little roaster that could. Bunker serves coffee out of a tiny, vine-covered converted WWII air-raid hideout, but its stream of loyal customers lining up down the street, means you won’t miss it.
Choose from a range of ever-changing Aussie and international roasters (all thoughtfully and ethically sourced) or enjoy their excellent house blend, Five Senses. After a cold brew, filter or pour over? You’ve got it. And if in doubt, let the friendly, knowledgeable staff guide you – you’re in safe hands.
Blackstar, West End and Brisbane City
The little coffee cart that once served up cold-pressed brews at the Davies Park Markets has grown up and graduated into a chain of grungy brewing houses, roasting some of Brisbane’s best beans. As well as being delicious, Blackstar’s brews are 100% organic and Fairtrade-certified—a practice they’ve led the way on in the Brisbane coffee scene.
Coffee tragics will be in heaven here, with Blackstar sitting right on the cutting edge of global coffee trends. Whether you’re after the latest and greatest or the more traditional blends, you’ll find them here.
Di bella Roasting Warehouse, Bowen Hills
Photo by @dibellacoffees
If you want to dig a bit deeper into the origin of your morning cup, Di Bella is your place. In addition to serving up award-winning coffee blends, they offer “crop-to-cup” tours for those who want to know more about the people and processes behind each perfectly brewed cup.
Di Bella ensures their beans are grown ethically and sustainably, sourcing them directly from growers around the world, which makes the end result taste all the better.
John Mills Himself, Brisbane City
Cafe by day, bar by night, John Mills Himself is somewhat of a secret CBD spot, favoured by passionate coffee and martini-lovers alike. When it comes to coffee, their philosophy is simple. To produce the best-quality product from beans that are environmentally sustainable and ethically produced.
Five Senses’ Dark Horse is the house blend and you’ll also be treated to a range of Australian roasters chosen for their contributions to the coffee community (and for making great coffee!).
And while we know you’re all about the coffee, it’s worth noting that you can enter via a secret door and staircase from the back of Archives Fine Books on Charlotte Street. Worth seeking out if only for the novelty factor.
Fonzie Abbott, Albion and Brisbane Airport
Photo by @FonzieAbbott
What started as a boutique espresso bistro in Hamilton, is now part of the two-fold Fonzie Abbott juggernaut that includes physical locations in Albion and Brisbane Airport, as well as stockists pouring their delicious coffee throughout Queensland.
Fonzie takes their coffee seriously, which you’ll know if you’ve tried any of their three signature blends – Highside, The Boxer and The Drifter – which are beloved by coffee aficionados everywhere. Their ‘Farm to Palm’ initiative provides a way for the business to build and nurture relationships with incredible coffee farmers from all over the world who are producing top-quality coffee the right way.
QRoasters, Stafford
If you’re a coffee lover on the northside of Brisbane, chances are you’ve visited QRoasters. The team source, roast and cup their coffee with a focus on social, economic and environmental sustainability, first and foremost.
Serving up organic and Fairtrade blends from around the globe, they’re passionate about ensuring only the best coffee makes it into your cup, which explains their loyal following.
Street Lab Specialty Coffee, Brisbane City
Photo by @brisbaneontrend
Beans are king at this excellent Brisbane CBD coffee spot. With a philosophy built on the belief that coffee is all about the beans above all else, every cup is filled with only the best going ‘round, or nothing at all.
Take your pick from an ever-changing rotation of roasts, selected responsibly, and let their clever colour-coded system (or experienced team) guide you to your perfect cup.
Coffee Supreme, Woolloongabba
Photo by @CoffeeSupreme
Sure, you can eat at Coffee Supreme, but that’s not really why you’re there. Tucked away in a corner of Woolloongabba, coffee is undoubtedly the hero of this Brisbane cafe, with a food menu that plays a solid, albeit secondary role.
The flagship store of the Wellington-born roasters has amassed a serious following of passionate coffee lovers looking for the best coffee in Brisbane. The staff know their stuff and each coffee comes with some tasting notes, if you’re interested in going a bit deeper.
If you can’t make it to the ‘Gabba, you can also find Coffee Supreme’s excellent, ethically and sustainably sourced beans in a range of Brisbane cafes, so keep your eye out when you’re on the hunt for a quality cup.
