I should have finished writing about this Brisbane coffee trip back in 2024. But life, as usual, got me busy and distracted. I visited Brisbane in early autumn 2024 for a short course at Griffith University. At first, I didn’t expect that Brisbane’s coffee culture is quietly thriving.

I stayed in central Brisbane, and whenever I’m in travel mode, I become surprisingly disciplined. Early mornings, a morning walk, and coffee before class, on repeat, everyday. Brisbane turned out to be a perfect city for this routine. Most coffee shop open very early in the morning, which I absolutely loved.

There’s something special about a city that understands people need coffee before anything else starts. I found myself wishing Jakarta would adopt this rhythm too.

However, one small cultural difference: many coffee shops in Brisbane close on weekends. Coming from Jakarta, where coffee shops are busiest on Saturdays and Sundays, this felt almost strange to me. Well, here are the coffee shops in Brisbane that gave me a solid reason to wake up early, fueling my morning walks and slow morning before class

Coffee Anthology
This was the very first coffee shop I visited after arriving in the city. A solid introduction to Brisbane’s coffee culture. Great coffee, cozy, and welcoming. The plus point is they open everyday.

The Maillard Project
Located just across from where I stayed at Charlotte St. Got great selection of beans, convenient, and great coffee. Flat white is smooth and well balanced, but sadly it’s closed on the weekends.

John Mills Himself
Small, efficient, and to the point, this ended up being my favourite. I would recommend this coffee shop for anyone who is visiting Brisbane. Later, when I went to Patricia Coffee Brewers during my Melbourne Coffee Trip, it instantly reminded me of John Mills Himself: compact, focused, just good coffee done awesomely right.

Edward Espresso
What I remember most is the uphill walk to get there from the central. A great morning workout, rewarded with a satisfying cup of coffee at the top. Open early in the morning, crowded with people waiting for their coffee.

Ricochet Espresso
Not far from Edward Espresso. Strong coffee and straightforward. I remember I need to rush back to the apartment because I only got few minutes before my class started.

Well, I only spent a few days in Brisbane, but they were good days. Good coffee, beautiful bridges, and a great city. It’s a well-paced city for morning walks, with (again) good coffee as a reward before class. After finishing my studies in London, I hadn’t experienced this kind of rhythm again. Brisbane quietly brought back that feeling, the balance between moving forward and just enjoy the present.

Brisbane may not shout its coffee culture like Melbourne does, but I think it doesn’t need to.  It just thrives quietly for its people.