This town is quite literally crawling with specialty coffee haunts in all shapes, sizes, and locations. We’ve got some inner-city boltholes, trendy brunch cafes, and even some roastery flagships thrown in, because what better place to sample than at the source? Naturally we are well aware that specialty coffee is available in literally hundreds of Brisbane cafes but for the sake of brevity we’ve tried to whittle it down to a more digestible 22-strong sampler.
Here are our top picks of where to get the best specialty coffee in Brisbane.
The Single Guys Coffee Co.
Kenmore and CBD
Pouring some of the finest filter we’ve ever had, The Single Guys know their way around a fresh roast. They offer a rotating selection of blends weekly, so hit them up to see what’s brewing.
Fonzie Abbott Fox Street Factory
Albion
Fonzie Abbott’s known around the country as purveyors of damn fine cups of coffee, the kind Agent Cooper was always banging on about. Their Fox Street Factory espresso bar operates in Albion so come by for a brew and a bag of beans fresh out of the drum.
Black Sheep Coffee
Woolloongabba
This local roaster trades out of their Woolloongabba warehouse, which really cuts down on transport costs. Get down to Black Sheep for some of the freshest morning java going, made with beans roasted under the same roof as you’re sipping ‘em.
Botero
CBD
If you haven’t yet gotten into the habit of changing your coffee order to reflect the blend, Botero is the place to level up. Brisbane’s flagship of the Maclean roastery brings us each and every one of Botero’s blends to one multileveled lease, so you can find the perfect blend of beans for your morning cuppa. (Cappuccino die-hards will love having theirs on the Marco blend.) You can also get a taste of Botero in West End at Between The Bars café and at Home Café in Ashgrove.
Penny Coffee Co.
Dutton Park
Bent on localising great food and great coffee under their roof, Penny Coffee isn’t here to compromise, nor do they want to be tied down to just one roastery. Their grinder features a house blend from Parallel Roasters and a rotating single origin.
Pablo & Rusty’s Coffee Roasters
CBD
Since setting up on Mary Street, Sydney roasters Pablo & Rusty’s have been flat out providing accessories of specialty go-go juice to the masses by the river. You can even swing by for brewing classes and subscribe to have their premium roasts delivered direct to your door.
Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters
Rainworth
A local hub with their own garden, Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters are all about a premium quality product. Their medal winning Golden Ticket blend is chocolatey and perfect for flat white drinkers, while fruity favourite Cherry Bomb is a failsafe for long blacks.
Day Made Supreme
Woolloongabba
Coffee Supreme is the ubiquitous roastery powering a good half of the Brisbane population. Day Made is their Queensland flagship, and the only place to go for a comprehensive tasting tour of everything currently coming out of the roastery.
Allpress Espresso
East Brisbane
Another roastery-run espresso bar, Allpress in East Brisbane is the ultimate spot to try their famous Carmelo blend and learn how to brew it yourself at their separate training area.
Wolff Rost Haus
Hendra
Now trading out of a warehouse in the middle of Hendra, Wolff Rost Haus is a threefer operation of roasting house, training college, and espresso bar where patrons can come to cultivate their palates and perk up in one stop.
Parallel Roasters
Albion
Flying under the banner of growing global and roasting local, Parallel Roasters are all about providing locals with top notch brew, and doing their bit for Brisbane’s specialty coffee scene. Stop by for some brekky and pick up a bag of beans to take home.
Frankie & George
CBD
Spruiking Single O beans in the grinder and on the shelf, Frankie & George offer some of the best coffee on George Street and everything from V60 filter to batch.
Bunker Coffee
Milton
Part of a three-headed cafe family that includes Bessa and John Mills Himself, Bunker is a converted shelter that functions as both a specialty coffee nook and assembly point in the event of nuclear apocalypse. Hit them up for beans, Keep Cups and pastries out the wazoo.
The Tiller Coffee
Alderley
Not ones to waste time on superfluous frippery, Tiller’s is a pared back operation with laser-focus on slammin coffee. Trading out of a shipping container, their house blend comes courtesy of Parallel Roasters’ Shifting Light blend, while a rotation of other houses provide single origins and guest blends.
Microlot Coffee House
Hawthorne
Hawthorne’s got a good thing going at Microlot. Named for beans harvested from the cream of the crop, this coffee house is that upper crust everyone’s always talking about, with coffee brewed on the freshest and finest Colombian beans.
Oliver James Coffee
Newstead
Annexed to the front of Woodsters Constructions, Oliver James Coffee is a dedicated specialty coffee fuelling station for creative projects. Boasting Single O beans, Jocelyn’s pastries, and a one-retriever welcome committee named George, Oliver James is fast becoming a Newstead favourite.
Vvaldmeer
Highgate Hill
Vvaldmeer has made a name for themselves putting good food on the plate and great coffee in the cup. Their specialty brews involve beans from Almanac, Brisbane’s Parallel Roasters, and Sydney’s Reuben Hills.
Cups And Wells
Salisbury
Stocked with specialty beans from Wolff Coffee Roasters, you can guarantee yourself a cracking brew from the kids at Cups and Wells. The food is pretty bangin' too.
Edward Specialty Coffee
CBD
Selling croissants and specialty coffee for all, Edward is the stylish, monochromatic bolthole bringing premium roasts to Edward Street.
Coffee Anthology
CBD
The hardworking baristas at Coffee Anthology have pledged themselves to brewing the best cups of coffee around. They take their brews seriously employing a variety of brewing methods to bring out the best of each roast, as well as a rotating selection of beans from specialty roasters.
Atticus Finch
Paddington
These guys get their grind from the universally pleasing Coffee Supreme, so you’re guaranteed a quality power-up and even better banter from the team on the tools. As the preferred café of Paddington’s dog owners, Atticus Finch also doubles as a petting zoo.
B+C Lab Café
Kelvin Grove
Blending together both Australian and Japanese cafe culture, B+C Lab are borderline obsessive about two things: coffee and matcha. Their variety of coffee blends are all available as a pourover, cold drip, or filter, while their matchas and hojicha teas cater to the tea fiends. Don’t forget to pair it with a slice of chiffon or crêpe cake.
Image credit: Grace Elizabeth Images; Hayley Williamson for The Urban List