The Gold Coast’s Best Speciality Coffee Shops And Roasteries
Danielle Read
Contributor | Urban List
One shot or two? Gold Coast coffee culture is coming in hot. Though, truth is, it never left. Over my 17 years living on the Gold Coast, my coffee orders have darted from long black to dirty Chai on oat. Iced caramel latte to my newest obsession, the Pistachio Mont Blanc. Each gulp, a celebration of the finest beans, baristas and beaut coffee spots of the region.
These days, it takes a lot for me to splurge on a coffee out. So if I'm to part with my pennies and make the trip in, a consistently good cuppa is the only option. Which begs the question, what makes a Gold Coast coffee shop one of the best?
Unlike the best cafes on the Gold Coast, here we're looking specifically at the coffee. How it's brewed, by who and honestly the taste must deliver. I'm not looking at flashy fitouts, though they're a nice addition. And food's not the focus here, though what a lovely extra. Golden gulps and mugs to hug early morning, or mid-afternoon are the core focus here.
The Gold Coast/Kombumerri Country doesn't have a coffee region, per se. Instead our best specialty coffee shops are hidden down alleyways, tucked into unsuspecting shopping centres and dotted right across our map. I've scouted out, thrown back, and consulted devout coffee enthusiasts across our fair city and here's the verdict. Order up, the very best specialty coffee shops, houses and roasteries on the Gold Coast.
How we choose: Coffee quality, consistent service, cultural relevance, flavour, sustainability where possible, and real-world buzz from our team and community.
Gold Coast Coffee Shops At A Glance
Coffee Shops
Vector Coffee
18A Young St, Southport QLD 4215
Image Credit: Vector Coffee | Instagram
If I could drink Byron Bay's Therefore Coffee every day, I would. And at Vector Coffee, I've come close. They rotate single origins and have had takeovers from the likes of renowned Netherland great, Manhattan Coffee Roasters. This place gives neighbourhood coffee shop energy, with a robust knowledge of coffee, how to make it well and introduce creative menu features that land.
What I love most about Vector Coffee is that they don't jump on novelties for the sake of it. They genuinely make sure it's worthy of the coffee menu, and I'm not kidding when I say the yuzu cold brew spritz with iced filter coffee and mischief brew tonic number 2 will become your new obsession.
INSIDER INTEL
- There are whispers of an expansion happening here, stay tuned
Bearboy Espresso
Shop 66/502 Hope Island Road Helensvale, 4212 QLD
Image Credit: Bearboy Espresso | Instagram
Northern Gold Coast's elite coffee shop Bearboy Espresso homes a menu consisting of a house blend, feature roasters and a full lineup of single origin, filter and pour over offerings perched above the pastry cabinet. Coffee's serves at a precise 60 degrees celsius, which is code for they know what's good.The Bearboy house blend is roasted in collaboration with Toybox Coffee with flavour notes of red apple, caramel and chocolate. It's seriously smooth and I love that it's in collaboration with a neighbouring Brisbane roaster.
I'm a regular at Bearboy, and have visited with coffee shop owners from out of town who've nerded out about coffee with the pack behind the counter. It's clear their coffee offers aren't for show, it's deeply entrenched in the way BB came to be, and a massive reason for why they continue to thrive.
INSIDER INTEL
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The Pistachio Mont Blanc is my go-to order, but their dirty Chais (made with Melbourne Chai, Prana) are up there with the best
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If you're looking for a mellow batch brew, this is the spot
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Opt for a table indoors mid-morning as the sun belts in the far left corner from about midday
The Milkman's Daughter
2/43 Alfred St, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
Image Credit: The Milkman's Daughter | Instagram
There's nothing quite like scoring a window seat at The Milkman's Daughter and gulping down mouthfuls of a dirty organic chai from a massive mug. This place may be known for it's plant-heavy menu and sundrenched locale, but the coffee slams and it sits pretty with some of the best coffee Gold Coast offers.
Pouring Paradox's Purple Rain organic coffee, you'll find it in the ever-indulgent iced dulce del leche, with house vegan coconut caramel, coconut milk and a double shot. Or maybe you're after the health quest unlocked inside the iced charcoal vanilla latte. That's the storm grey activated charcoal drink with vanilla syrup, espresso and milk. Or for something lighter, the double espresso with tonic and orange hits every time.
INSIDER INTEL
- It's a short wander from the beach if your mood's more grab and go
Foster & Black
Various locations
Image Credit: Foster & Black | Instagram
Pouring specialty coffee within three Gold Coast shopping centres, Foster & Black has built a local reputation for exceptional coffee in a convenient location. The glow of their neon pause icon is the perfect permission to stop and savour your coffee of choice in a vibey little nook at Coomera Westfield or Robina Town Centre. Or straight up while catching rays at Pacific Fair.
These guys are all about third-wave specialty coffee. Which is all about traceability, single origin and artisinal flavour notes, positioning coffee as more than liquid energy and more as a process and experience to appreciate in full. Their signature espresso blend combines the flavours of Ethiopia, Brazil and Columbia for a chocolate-hazlenut-caramel induldgence that has to be sipped to be believed.
INSIDER INTEL
- This place was founded by Andrew Foster and Harrison Black in 2015
- It's Australia's fastest growing independent specialty coffee brand
- It's right out the front of Billabong at Pacific Fair. For the closest car parking, look for Kmart signs
The Holliday. Coffee
2251 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
Image Credit: The Holliday. Coffee | Instagram
Serving St. Ali from Melbourne, it's hard to fault this Nobby Beach joint that's always humming. Some argue that the best coffee shops on the Gold Coast stick with the classics–cappuccino this, flat white that.
At The Holliday. you'll find the classics, yes. But then there's also salted caramel macadamia milk on tap, strawberry cold foam and choc-infused sips. And it's honestly delightfully refreshing to see someone shaking things up to this degree. They argue that the sun is hot but you are hotter and if it's a trendy spot that looks good and delivers on the hype, head directly to this slice of paradise with some of the best coffee in the whole of Gold Coast, Australia.
INSIDER INTEL
- The jaffle menu hits
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Sun Devil Coffee Bar
30 Bay St, Tweed Heads, NSW 2485
Image Credit: Sun Devil | Instagram
After building a loyal fanbase at the Currumbin Markets, Sun Devil Coffee Bar opened up shop inside Coolangatta's cowboy-core vintage store, Strange Days in early 2025. The buzz has never left. Run by Arizona-bred Alex Boyce, it's got an all-consuming mid-Western vibe. Their iconic cold brew creations serve up serious flavour and I argue that the hype is well-earnt.
It's the Sundevil Special that's become a weekly addiction for many. Cold brew topped with a dreamy foam that feels like art. If there's a trend that I'm about, it's this one. And it's Sundevil that put it on Gold Coast's map as the OG founding father.
INSIDER INTEL
- They've recently changed opening days to (wait for it) every day, 7am-1pm
- This coffee shop only does cold drinks, they're all incredible
Coffee Shops With Roastery
Ground Control
Shop 5, 29 Industry Dr, Tweed Heads South, NSW 2486
Image Credit: Ground Control | Instagram
It's the coffee shop with its roaster just steps from the espresso bar, and the crew are almost always on the tools too. Ground Control is one of my favourite spots to wander into and leave with a heap more coffee knowledge. I love that the team are genuinely interested in telling customers about their bags o' beans, giving tours of their facility and inviting us all to taste their good with warm insisting. There's no fee, no fuss and no rush to move on.
Big on specialty coffee passion, big on sustainability and always up for a laugh, their love for coffee comes unfiltered and unpretentious. Ground Control's coffee beans are ethically farmed, sustainably grown and ideally organic.
INSIDER INTEL
- Their barista courses are fantastic, I highly recommend
- For me, their Midnight Cowboy is the nutty-malt dark roast dreams are made of
Paradox Coffee Roasters
4 Charles Ave, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Image Credit: Paradox Coffee Roasters | Instagram
Named in response to the co-existence of the coffee boom in coffee consuming countries and the coffee crisis in coffee producing countries, Paradox Coffee Roasters are deeply commitetd to using quality beans from farms where workers receive fair wages. Sadly, in many ways, this means Paradox has some incredibly rare beans and blends.
This family-owned specialty coffee roaster has recently opened a new flagship coffee shop in Broadbeach's Oracle precinct. And with it, their renowned coffee follows. Their Gold Medal-winning Purple Rain Organic is big on apricot flavours and brown sugar that shakes its stuff brightest with a long black, in my opinion. But to be honest, their most modest mix is brimming with winners.
INSIDER INTEL
- Since relocating from their OG Surfers Paradise venue, Paradox has just opened its doors in a new Broadbeach location
- Muralist Vans The Omega has created incredible new wall art for their new space
- Their Broadbeach site is mixing it up with playful, dessert-inspired drinks like strawberry brownie lattes and lychee pavlova lattes
Quest Coffee
Shop 3/20 James St Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Image Credit: Quest | Instagram
It's natural to think that tourist traps shine in bustling areas of the Gold Coast. Though despite it's front-and-centre location on the main street of Burleigh, Quest offers consistently tasty, beautifully poured coffees delivered with a grin, any time of day. Their roastery is nearby in Burleigh and it makes for a truly local coffee experience.
Social and environmental responsibility guide their every move, and despite receiving ample applause from locals and visitors alike, this crew remains on a constant quest for the perfect cup of coffee and bean roast. It's the endless pursuit of excellence that makes Quest one of the best.
INSIDER INTEL
- No less than 30 steps go into each espresso—it's a core reason why their coffees are delicious, even when you can't put a finger on exactly why
- While their Burleigh store's been open since 2009, they more recently opened Banksy in Broadbeach, which is well worth a visit
Willy's Coffee
1/4 Ramly Drive, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Image Credit: Willy's Beans | Instagram
Tucked away in Burleigh’s industrial precinct, Willy’s Beans is redefining what a premium local coffee experience can look like. Every cup here traces back to a single Colombian estate, meaning what you’re drinking is not just considered, but deeply connected to its origin. It is a rare level of transparency, and you can taste the difference.
Roasted on site in small batches, the coffee tastes complex, clean and full of character, best enjoyed while watching the process unfold inside the warehouse-style roastery. There is a strong sense of intention behind everything here, from the beans themselves to the space, which feels like cafe, lab and community hub all in one. You can absolutely enjoy a coffee in-hosue at Willy's Warehouse or perch at Good Day Specialty Coffee, the flagship cafe of Willy's Beans in Tugun—it's one of our favourite coffee shops.
INSIDER INTEL
- Willy’s Beans sources exclusively from one 170-acre Colombian farm, Manantiales del Frontino, giving them full control from origin to cup, plus they've got exclusive Australian representation for this estate
- Upstairs, Willy’s Lab hosts tastings and cupping sessions, offering a cellar door-style experience for coffee lovers
First Fruits Coffee
129-133 Olsen Avenue, Labrador QLD 4215
Image Credit: First Fruits | Instagram
My vote for the most consistent brews, if First Fruits isn't on your radar for coffee, it should be. This team research deeply to make sure their beans are ethically sourced and in the best interest of their farmers. Plus, their roastery specialises in lightly roasted coffee with full body flavour and it's honestly really unique to anything else I've tasted on the Gold Coast. First Fruits Coffee owner Dan is a multi-award winning roaster, barista and owner of the local spot. Ask for him and you're in for a mighty chat.
INSIDER INTEL
- Ask for Dan and he'll come geek out with you over coffee
Blackboard Varsity
7/240 Varsity Pde, Varsity Lakes QLD 4227
Image Credit: Blackboard Varsity | Instagram
A heavy-hitter on the coffee front, Blackboard Varsity was hyped up to me for so long before my first visit. So I did worry that all this amping had set my bar too high. It hadn't. Blackboard slams. There's heaps of indoor seating at this industrial chic spot, and it's an idyllic speciality coffee sipping setting on the Gold Coast. With a roastery in Burleigh, you'll find these beans scattered around the Coast at a select few venues, including Commune and more recently, Cafe By Blackboard at Skyridge.
INSIDER INTEL
- If you don't score a park out front, pull in on the left to the big gravel carpark
- It's right by the Varsity lake, perfect for a coffee and walk
Silipo
9/54 Bailey Cres, Southport QLD 4215
Image Credit: Silipo | Instagram
Silipo is one of the Gold Coast specialty coffee scene's founding instituitions, having been around since 2006. They're the multi-award winning team who source from ethical, sustainable farms across the globe, then roast the goods and pour them into your very cup. There's a clear commitment to doing well on a smaller scale, think four specialty coffee blends after 20 years in the game.
Silipo matriarch Michelle runs a tight ship, and it shows. Along with founder Richard Silipo's caffeine-fuelled knowledeg bank and artistry, cafe ownership history and award-winning barista skills, there's a full behind the scenes team making the magic happen. They've won over 50 roasting awards, and the best part is, you can come experience their goods in the coffee shop right here on the Gold Coast.
INSIDER INTEL
- They offer a swag of coffee training options
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Main image credit: Blackboard Coffee | Instagram
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