Meanjin/Brisbane’s brews are no longer just “pretty good for Queensland”—they’re world-class. With local cafés cracking global top 10 lists and championing everything from self-serve taps to experimental single origins, the city’s coffee game is officially strong enough to rival its southern sisters.
Brisbane’s caffeine scene has range, too, from cosy cafés serving pour-over coffee to high-energy coffee raves for the early risers. If you're as addicted to espresso as we are here at Urban List, here’s where to find the best coffee shops in Brisbane.
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Fortitude Valley And Newstead
Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters
1/33 Longland St, Newstead
Sydney’s Toby’s Estate has just been named the best coffee shop in the world. So it’s no surprise their Brisbane flagship is a beauty, featuring a circular bar where you can chat beans with the baristas as they brew. Pick your pour from a rotating menu of single-origin selections and signature blends, including fun seasonal drop. There are also free monthly tastings—just follow their socials for the details.
Sunroom
22 Wickham Grove, Newstead
Image credit: Sunroom | Instagram
Hidden within Newstead Studios, this light-filled café and concept store serves top-tier coffee (featuring a Tim Adams Specialty Coffee blend in the grinder), flaky croissants, gourmet sandwiches and sweet treats. Browse Sunroom’s beautifully curated shelves of homewares, books and gifts, then settle in at the communal table down the laneway for a slow moment in the sun. Bliss.
Speed Dial
142 Breakfast Creek Road, Newstead
Just outside Bunnings Newstead, Speed Dial is a sleek coffee bar set in a converted shipping container. Expect a smooth Coffee Supreme blend in your cup, Sprout Artisan Bakery pastries and epic toasties with marinara dipping sauce—perfect for a quick pit stop done right.
Single O
16 Austin Street, Newstead
Mention Single O to a Newstead local and they’re likely to wax lyrical about the Sydney-founded roaster’s signature oat iced latte. Smooth and creamy, with ripe berry and chocolate notes, it’s ready to pour straight from the self-serve taps (which also dispense batch brew). Set in a funky warehouse, Single O also serves coffee flights, rotating single origins, and all the classic brews to perk you up.
Death Before Decaf
3/760-766 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Open 24/7 (yes, really), Death Before Decaf is the caffeine fix that never quits. The grungy, skate-inspired espresso bar slings up energy-filled drinks round the clock—making it a staple for shift workers or a nightcap after a big night in the Valley (sans hangover). Don’t be intimidated by the skull and ‘portafilter’ bones decal;inside is a crew as obsessed with the bean juice as you are.
Bear Bones Coffee
2/66 McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley
Image credit: Bear Bones Coffee | Instagram
Known for its crisp white-and-navy aesthetic, Bear Bones Coffee has cemented itself as a river city staple. And their Fortitude Valley “Brew Bar” offers a front-row seat to the action. Here, you can sip your way through their house blends in an open warehouse space filled with local art and the rich scent of the on-site roastery.
The Woolshed
15 Helen Street, Teneriffe
When Passport beans are in the grinder, you know you’re in for an elite cup of joe—and The Woolshed delivers. Located in an all-black shed with an industrial-chic fitout, this homely shop has become a post-workout staple for run clubs and cyclists alike to replenish with an ice cold brew. Come for the coffee, stay for the community vibes.
Reverends Fine Coffee
372 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Hallelujah, Reverends Fine Coffee are here to keep providing their praise-worthy cuppas. A mix of plum, cherry, and other dark flavours permeate the taste of their house blend, while they also rotate other guest roasts, like Wide Open Road Coffee.
Salt Coffee Roasters
60A Doggett Street, Newstead
This neighbourhood corner café has earned a cult following thanks to its iconic pink cups and famously chocolate-drenched iced cappuccinos. With deep green walls, marble counters, and lush greenery, Salt is a vibe at any time of day. Don’t miss their signature toastie—you’ll thank us later.
Industry Beans
18 Proe Street, Newstead
Image credit: Industry Beans | Instagram
Melbourne-born Industry Beans has made its mark in Brisbane, with a compact CBD spot and a larger, greenery-filled outpost in Newstead. Known for their signature Fitzroy iced coffee and in-house roasted beans, they’re a go-to for coffee lovers chasing consistency in every cup.
Brisbane CBD
John Mills Himself
40 Charlotte Street, Brisbane CBD
Set in a heritage-listed building with an unassuming entrance (don’t be fooled by the printing business brass signage), John Mills Himself is the CBD’s answer to a trendy all-hours cafe come bar. Choose from beans by The Single Guys, Uncle Joe’s, and Coffee Supreme to kickstart your day or carry you through the mid-afternoon slump.
The Maillard Project
119 Charlotte Street, Brisbane CBD
At The Maillard Project, every gram of ground coffee counts. With a glossy, lab-like fit-out and a sharp focus on precision roasting, this café-roastery is all about bringing out the best in every bean. Named after the chemical reaction between sugars and amino acids, their blends are pure science—and pure genius. Bonus: the detailed latte art is almost too good to sip.
The Hideout Specialty Coffee
100 Edward Street, Brisbane CBD & 340 Adelaide Street, Brisbane CBD
Image credit: The Hideout | Instagram
With two CBD spots, The Hideout is the corporate crowd’s go-to for brews that go well beyond the basics. Expect a rotating lineup from top roasters like Zest Coffee and Diggy Doos, plus wildcards like tiramisu iced coffee, yuzu tonic cold brew, and the indulgent purple cream brewmaster. There’s even caffeinated merch for your wardrobe. Pro tip: pair a gooey cookie with the Corcovado affogato for the ultimate afternoon pick-me-up.
Strauss
189 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane CBD
Swap the bustling city streets for a quiet seat in the laneway at Strauss. This family-owned and operated café whips up coffee using their very own blend—a combo of Guatemala La Soledad and Honduras Liquidambar—while long blacks and espressos come from a range of single-origin beans, rotated weekly.
Edward Espresso
25/275 Edward Street, Brisbane CBD
Located within the heritage‑listed arcade just downhill from Central Station, Edward Espresso (formerly Edward Specialty Coffee) takes pride in their shots. Made by highly trained baristas, each cup of espresso is concocted in state-of-the-art machines. Give us precision or give us death.
Coffee Anthology
155 Charlotte Street, Brisbane CBD
Image credit: Coffee Anthology | Instagram
Ranked number eight in the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops, Coffee Anthology is a certified heavyweight in Brisbane’s caffeine scene. The permanent Guest Coffee Bar features a new roaster each month, while next-door Fika—a nod to the Swedish coffee break—dishes up hearty plates of eggs, avocado and more to pair with your pour.
North
Passport Specialty Coffee
49 Toombul Road, Northgate
On the north side, roastery-café Passport is your ticket to elevated espresso. Pick between premium single origins or their two signature blends: Departure, a light-bodied Ethiopian and Colombian mix with notes of strawberry, mango and Belgian chocolate, or Arrival, a fuller Brazilian-Colombian combo with choc chip cookie flavours and a sweet, strawberry finish. It’s all very on-theme, and yes, it gets better: you can top any coffee with Passport’s famed cold brew soft serve.
Fonzie Abbott
40 Fox Street, Albion
Image credit: Fonzie Abbott | Instagram
Fonzie Abbott’s HQ—better known as the Fox Street Factory—isn’t your average café. Set in a sprawling warehouse in Albion, it’s the world’s only venue that houses a roastery, distillery and brewery all under one roof. Here, you can sip freshly roasted coffee in the morning, then return later for small-batch gin, beer, or espresso martinis straight from the source.
Fox Coffee
3 Ellison Road, Geebung
Fox Coffee keeps it simple, letting quality beans and creative brews do the talking. This small roastery-café is known for seasonal specials like honey-infused cold brew and a biscoff latte dusted with cinnamon sugar—served with a biscoff biscuit for dunking, of course. Don’t miss the coffee swiss roll: buttery sponge layered with espresso buttercream. In a rush? Grab a bottled cold brew to go and keep the caffeine coming.
Collingwood Black
35 Collingwood Street, Albion
Image credit: Collingwood Black | Instagram
When you swing by Collingwood Black for your daily pick-me-up, you’re bound to see a pooch or two in the dog-friendly, homely warehouse venue. If this isn’t a drawcard enough, add in Craft’d Grounds community vibes, the new Sprout Artisan Bakery next door, and great coffee, and you’ve got one of the north side’s best weekend hangouts.
The Coffee Commune
82 Abbotsford Road, Bowen Hills
As the name suggests, The Coffee Commune is more than just a café. This leafy venue (part roastery, part coffee hub) is a mecca for baristas and espresso enthusiasts who are keen to join a monthly event, finetune their own blends, or just taste a range of unique reserve coffees—think flavours such as bubble gum, shortbread and peanut butter.
Elixir HQ Cafe
10/12 Hayward Street, Stafford
Image credit: Elixir | Instagram
If you’re after the experts on coffee, you’ll find them at Elixir HQ Cafe. The headquarters of the fan-favourite roastery, these baristas know what they’re doing. Don’t forget to try their cold drip coffee—it’s the elixir of the gods.
Big Bad Wolff
140A Gerler Road, Hendra
As the café outpost of Wolff Coffee Roasters, Big Bad Wolff know their beans—and how to have fun with them. Think coconut iced lattes with sweet cream, whipped espresso cold brews, and tiramisu iced lattes. Hot tip: grab their boxed cold brew and mix with vodka for an easy at-home espresso martini.
Told You So
1/14 Discovery Drive, North Lakes
Image credit: Told You So | Instagram
Feel like trying something different? Try an iced coffee soda at Told You So. Yep, that’s right, you can get your espresso with a side of bubbles at this small Northside cafe. If a flat white’s more your style, you can rest assured that all their coffees are made using Single O beans.
The Tiller Coffee
81 Mina Parade, Alderley
Set inside a bright orange shipping container, Alderley’s The Tiller Coffee is hard to miss. Brewing Semi-Pro’s ethically sourced Sunday League beans on their trusty La Marzocco (affectionately named Old Greg), the crew serves up velvety flat whites and bold espressos that prove size doesn’t matter. Add moreish toasties, a leafy courtyard, and a focus on sustainable, local produce—and you’ve got a tiny café with a big heart.
Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters
97 Sandgate Road, Albion
Image credit: Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters | Instagram
Roastery, café, and pantry Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters does it all. The ivy-covered, whitewashed venue is an oasis for coffee connoisseurs keen to get their caffeine fix or level-up their at-home drops. Pick up a tasting box to sample their standout blends, including Cherry Bomb, Golden Ticket and—one that’s surely Carlos Sainz-approved—Smooth Operator.
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South
Blackstar Coffee Roasters
44 Thomas Street, West End
Caffeinating Brisbane since ’07, Blackstar Coffee Roasters is the gift that keeps on pouring. Their West End café is known for cold-pressed coffee served straight from the fridge—no wait, no fuss—while their signature blends are roasted and bottled just across the river at their East Brisbane roastery.
Extraction Artisan Coffee
7/3375 Pacific Highway, Slacks Creek
Using high quality green coffee beans from all around the world, Extraction Artisan Coffee extracts the goods for that sweet, sweet, bean juice. Their “Gratitude” house blend has us all kinds of thankful, with notes of chocolate hidden in the drink.
Cups On Melbourne
3/187 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane
Image credit: Cups On Melbourne | Instagram
Cups on Melbourne is a south side favourite, serving up Industry Beans’ beloved Newstead and Fitzroy blends alongside a rotating single origin. Located on Melbourne Street, the kiosk-style minimalist café includes shady outdoor seating and leafy interiors—making it an ideal spot to take a break or pop in on your commute.
Coffee Head Co.
62 Manning Street, South Brisbane
If you like your coffee spiced up with a dash of saving the world, check out Coffee Head Co. They serve organic and fair trade specialty coffee, so you don’t have to worry about the ethical implications of your morning cuppa.
Supernumerary
13/655 Toohey Road, Salisbury
Image credit: Supernumerary | Instagram
With an in-house roastery and a rotating lineup of guest beans, Supernumerary is the place to go for super good coffee in Salisbury. Unsure what to order? The coffee type, roaster, process and flavour profile are projected onto the wall behind the counter to help you find your favourite pour—or just ask the friendly baristas what’s popular.
East
Third Space Collective
109 Norman Street, Woolloongabba
This creative third space in Woolloongabba is known for its micro-roastery and killer coffee—but that’s just the start. Housed in a converted industrial warehouse, they host everything from life drawing workshops and book clubs to “Brews & Boards” game nights and filter bar pop-ups. It’s where great coffee meets community, creativity, and seriously good vibes.
Grumpy Monkey’s Coffee Nook
2/46 Hume Street, Norman Park
On any given morning, a steady stream of locals queue for Grumpy Monkey’s top-tier coffee. It’s well worth the wait when a gooey, chocolate fudge brownie is served with every cup. Even Brisbane Lions’ co-captain Lachie Neale gives this neighbourhood coffee shop his seal of approval.
Bellissimo Coffee
35 Oxford Street, Bulimba & 12 Cavendish Road, Coorparoo
Image credit: Bellissimo | Instagram
Bellissimo has been fuelling Brisbane’s coffee scene for over 15 years, earning the title of Australia’s most awarded roaster—and for good reason. What began as a humble roastery in Fortitude Valley has grown into polished café spaces in Bulimba and Coorparoo where the coffee options are truly endless.
Make My Day
3C Gibbon Street, Woolloongabba
Make My Day, AKA Day Made Supreme, AKA Coffee Supreme, may go by a number of names, but they sure know how to do one thing consistently—excellent coffee. Pair that with their toasties, and you’ve got yourself a winner.
ST. ALi
3/471 Lytton Road, Morningside
Melbourne born-and-bred coffee brand ST. ALi set up shop in Morningside to bring their brews to us here in the Sunshine State. Their warehouse-style joint includes a café, a roastery, and a training room for wannabe baristas. Plus a whole lot of tasty treats in the cabinet.
Coffee Mentality
Woolloongabba, Stones Corner & South Brisbane
Coffee Mentality is Brisbane’s specialty roastery playground, with precision roasting and tasting experiences you won’t forget. Head to their Woolloongabba HQ for a brew masterclass featuring up to 32 single origins, including Brisbane’s first urban-grown beans. A side of education with your daily shot? Let’s go.
West
Blackout
173 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington
Image credit: Blackout | Instagram
Blackout is synonymous with good vibes thanks to its always-killer playlist, modern fit-out and friendly staff. The Paddington spot keeps DIBS coffee in their grinders, including the signature El Dorado—a rich, medium roast espresso with toffee aromas and subtle fruit notes. Plus, it’s dog-friendly, so your furry mate is welcome too.
Bessa
23 Little Cribb Street, Milton
Close to Milton station, Bessa is surprisingly well-stocked for its size. Run by Marcus Allison (co-owner of John Mills Himself), it serves Five Senses’ Dark Horse blend alongside rotating local roasters like Sum Coffee. Sip a cappuccino topped with dark chocolate flakes or try V60 pour-over, batch brew or Bunker’s bottled iced coffees. Tempted by the Bessa-branded keep cups? Buy one and nab 55 cents off every coffee at the kiosk.
The Single Guys
4/2051 Moggill Road, Kenmore
Always asking where The Single Guys are? You heard it here first: they’re in Kenmore. Sourcing the best single origin coffee that money can buy, these dudes are worth looking for—but if you're not a westie, you can check out their new digs in the CBD instead.
Bunker
21 Railway Terrace, Milton
We don’t call Bunker a hole-in-the-wall spot for the sake of it—it’s literally a hole in the wall. The converted bomb shelter, covered in ivy, serves up specialty coffees like you wouldn’t believe. They’re the bomb, pun intended—and so are their cult-favourite bottled cold brews, which come in alternative milks for the dairy-averse.
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Main image credit: Toby’s Estate | Instagram
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