Inner-city hotspots

Strauss, Brisbane City 

Tucked down a laneway off busy Elizabeth St, this gem of a cafe has a warm vibe thanks to its heritage styling, raw brick walls and “Spirit”, the Kees van der Westen machine buzzing on the front counter. Strauss serves its own house blend, a rotating single origin and bottled cold brew.

Edward Specialty Coffee, Brisbane City 

Edward Specialty Coffee believes in thoughtfully sourced and meticulously brewed specialty coffee. Tart, smooth, blackberry notes – it might sound like we’re talking wine but Edward Specialty Coffee is brewing complex and unique espresso. Find White Horse Coffee and four origin varietals on rotation in a sophisticated, minimalist space.

Coffee Anthology, Brisbane City

Anthology: a collection of literary works. Coffee Anthology: a collection of tastebud-tingling coffee. Choose from three roasts when you order your espresso coffee or try something new with cold drip and cold bottled coffee. Public Service Announcement: this Charlotte St café does a mean banoffee waffle too.

John Mills Himself, Brisbane City 

Nothing good ever comes easy and the same could be said for finding this tiny laneway coffee spot by day and bar by night tucked within a historic former printing office. It’s well worth the hunt. Not settling on one roaster, John Mills Himself sources beans from The Single Guys, Coffee Supreme, Marvell St Coffee and Blackboard Coffee. It also serves V60 pour-over and cold bottled coffee.

Bellissimo, Fortitude Valley, Bulimba and Coorparoo 

One of Australia’s highest-awarded coffee roasters, Bellissimo Coffee has Brisbane covered. Grab a coffee, bag of beans and bite to eat from its Bulimba roastery and café on Oxford St, pop into its two-storey cafe in Fortitude Valley near James St to drop by for coffee and cake pre or post-shop in Coorparoo.

Salt Coffee Roasters, Newstead 

Serving specialty coffee and delectable east from its cosy space on Doggett St, Salt has fast become a favourite haunt for locals. Whether you’re looking for aesthetically pleasing latte art or a quick caffeine fix, Salt is brewing coffee seven days a week.

Ricochet Espresso, Brisbane City 

Using Blackstar beans from the West End roaster, Ricochet’s hole-in-the-wall cafe provides coffee connoisseurs with the perfect combination of quick service, great staff, a good vibe and outstanding coffee.

Bear Bones, Fortitude Valley 

Drop into Bear Bones HQ and enjoy a cup of life from the warehouse-styled cafe space out the front of its roastery. There’s a short cafe menu to pair with your preferred brew.

Contessa by Blackstar Coffee, Brisbane City 

Opposite Roma Street Station, Contessa is West End coffee roaster Blackstar’s city cafe. The galley space serves espresso alongside its well-known cold-pressed coffee in a bottle made using local Maleny Dairies milk.

Marchetti, Brisbane City 

Come for the Italian espresso and stay for the old crooners, the mosaic tiled floors, the cannoli in the window and the art deco ads on the walls. Marchetti transports you from downtown Brisbane to old-world Italy and the espresso is just as smooth and sexy.

Need more suggestions? Check out our guide to where you'll find the best coffee in Brisbane City.

Northern Suburbs 

Collingwood Black, Albion  

Collingwood Black oozes vintage barn-style vibes and serves good food alongside its own brand of specialty coffee. Enjoy a cuppa in its outdoor courtyard or on one of the long share tables inside. You can even bring your pooch for a pup-uccino. 

Seven Miles, Albion 

Sydney fave Seven Miles has fired up its coffee machine north of the border, serving its signature brews from a new space in Albion’s Craft’d Grounds. The micro-roastery also roasts and blends specialty coffees for local Queensland cafes and the space includes a full training room and espresso bar. 

Wolff Coffee, Hendra 

Drop into the giant roasting warehouse on Gerler Rd to enjoy three choices of bean, espresso, filter coffee, nitro cold brew or a coffee pop (that’s a kick on a stick – an icy pole with real caffeine). Book in for a free weekend cupping session, pick up specialty coffee equipment for home or take a short course in latte art here too.  

The Tiller Coffee, Alderley 

Tiller Coffee is an alfresco specialty coffee joint run out of a shipping container in Alderley. The crew serves coffee from a variety of Australian small roasters with local Wolff Coffee producing the Tiller house blend. In addition to espresso, brew methods include Chemex, AeroPress and cold drip.

Industry Beans, Newstead 

This southern favourite is slinging top-notch coffee from its restaurant-style cafe to Brisbane sippers and is brewing coffee seven days a week in the backstreets of Newstead. But it's not just making your morning brew... it's also roasting on-site and even growing the beans in its coffee greenhouse. Combine this with epic brunch options and a light-filled interior and we've found your new favourite local.  

Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters, Albion 

These guys know their coffee and they take it pretty seriously with their roastery quietly tucked away at the back of Albion Fine Trades. The owners are passionate about sustainable business, using a ZeroWaste composting system and recyclable takeaway cups.  

Death Before Decaf, New Farm 

This New Farm institution is open 24/7. Yep, you read that correctly. This coffee shop never closes, making that 3am post-party or pre-shift work coffee hit a possibility. Drop in for metal, hardcore and hip-hop tunes and a cup of the good stuff.  

Fonzie Abbott, Albion  

Sweet F.A. is the name of this Brisbane roaster’s signature blend. This caffeine supplier and brewer has its roast house at Albion on Fox St. You’ll find Fonzie Abbott served in plenty of other cafes around Brisbane too.  

Elixir, Stafford 

For Stafford’s finest drop, head straight to the source on Hayward St. The multi-award-winning coffee roaster produces multiple blends plus single-origin and Swiss water decaf. The on-site cafe has a full breakfast and lunch menu too.  

Cleanskin Coffee Co, Brendale 

Cleanskin distributes its premium beans to cafes all over the city but there’s nothing like visiting the brew at its source. Drop into the espresso bar and roastery at Brendale to pick up specialty coffee gear, complete a barista course or simply grab a latte to go.  

Told You So, North Lakes 

North Lakes darling Told You So is a hip local joint that serves espresso, cold drip and nitro coffee using Single O beans. Drop in for a slice of cake with coffee because, well, we told you so.  

Fort Coffee, North Lakes 

Fort Specialty Coffee dishes out the goods plus a short but sweet menu of breakfast and lunch items. Drop in for house blend or single origin espresso plus batch filter, AeroPress, pour over and cold press in bottles.  

Southern Suburbs 

Blackstar, West End 

Roasted in West End, Blackstar also bottles cold brew coffee and sells it through a wide network of Brisbane cafes. Just off Vulture St, the sidewalk cafe has the ultimate West End vibe.  

Black Sheep Coffee, Woolloongabba 

Order a coffee to go or sign up for a coffee subscription at this Woolloongabba roastery and café. The specialty roaster serves a variety of single-origin filter and espresso beans as well as specialty house blends and supplies cafes across Brisbane 

Coffee Head Co., South Brisbane 

This South Brisbane café specialises in organic and fair trade specialty coffee (and tea if you’re looking to cut back on the caffeine). The leafy café also works with local dairy suppliers and bakeries to offer the freshest and tastiest accompaniments to your morning flat white. 

Eastern Suburbs

Coffee Mentality, various locations 

Coffee Mentality is committed to making a difference, one cup at a time. The passionate founders grow, roast and blend premium specialty coffee, sourced from across the planet with care and consideration for fair trade and farming conditions. Grab a cup of goodness from one of its cafes or its coffee van at the weekly West End Markets. 

Coffee On Point, Wellington Point 

Wellington Point’s Coffee on Point is the go-to for caffeine in the bay area. Alongside Fonzie Abbott coffees, the team also produce indulgent hot chocolates, mermaid lattes and a range of gourmet sandwiches, baked treats, breakfasts and lunches.

Dovetail on Overend, Norman Park 

A husband-and-wife team operates this galley cafe in suburban Norman Park. Serious about coffee, they select the best beans, tested every almond milk available to find the best and never charge extra for gluten-free.  

Little Genovese, Coorparoo 

Unsurprisingly, this industrial-look café opposite Coorparoo train station serves Genovese beans from the renowned Melbourne roaster. Pair your perfect pick-me-up with a mouth-watering menu championing fresh local produce and sweet treats made by local bakers. 

Western Suburbs

Bunker Coffee, Milton 

As the name suggests, this Milton coffee shop is tucked into a concrete vine-covered bunker-like space. Owned by the same people behind John Mills Himself, expect the same great coffee and excellent service.  

The Java Lounge, Paddington 

Stopping in at The Java Lounge is like stopping by a friend's place. Take a book or that magazine you've been meaning to read and sink into one of the couches with a coffee and croissant – you'll feel right at home. The cafe also has a small menu and grab-and-go options.  

Piggyback Café, Jindalee 

Piggyback’s serves coffee in a way that’s just made to keep creative hearts happy. The barista’s have mastered the art of rainbow lattes or rainbow coffee, pouring the milk with a mix of multiple food dye colours to produce vibrant patterns.  

The Single Guys, Kenmore 

The Single Guys focus on sourcing the best single-origin coffee to serve customers in the western suburbs. Located in the leafy suburb of Kenmore, the café serves a full menu alongside its large selection of coffee offerings that rotate weekly.