Specialty Coffee Roasters in Brisbane: Where to Find Your Perfect Brew

Brisbane's specialty coffee scene rivals Melbourne's best. From world-ranked roasters to hidden suburban gems, discover where passionate baristas and expert roasters are crafting exceptional cups across the city.

17 November 2025
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Brisbane's specialty coffee scene has quietly grown into something remarkable. While Melbourne might hog the spotlight, Brisbane's roasters and cafes are producing world-class coffee that's earning international recognition. From warehouse roasteries where you can watch beans transform to intimate hole-in-the-wall cafes where baristas know your order by heart, the city is literally crawling with specialty coffee haunts. Here's your guide to finding the perfect brew.

Coffee Anthology - CBD

In 2025, Coffee Anthology achieved what few Brisbane establishments have - recognition as the eighth best coffee shop in the world. The hardworking baristas have pledged themselves to brewing the best cups around, employing a variety of brewing methods to bring out the best of each roast. Their multi-roaster approach means a rotating selection of beans from specialty roasters, ensuring coffee aficionados find new and exciting drops each visit. Tucked down a laneway off busy Elizabeth Street, this warm heritage-styled space serves their own house blend, rotating single origins, and bottled cold brew. The sophistication extends to their coffee-infused cocktails currently in development.

Industry Beans - Newstead

Spread across an incredible 700 square metres, Australia's fourth Industry Beans was brothers Trevor and Steve Simmons' most ambitious project to date. The completely transformed warehouse reflects their signature minimalist, sleek, and very white aesthetic. The Newstead venue offers a range of brew methods from their signature Fitzroy Iced cold brews with wattleseed and panela to not one, but four filter methods. This is where serious coffee lovers come to explore the full spectrum of what specialty coffee can offer.

Bear Bones Specialty Coffee - Fortitude Valley

Backed by years of experience and always thinking of the customer, Bear Bones operates from their warehouse-styled cafe space in the heart of the Valley. Drop into their headquarters and enjoy a cup of life from their roastery. With two decades of hospitality under their belt, they use only the best beans in their specialty coffee, roasted right where you're sipping them. Their Carmelo blend has become a favourite among locals, and you can even book in for training sessions to improve your home brewing skills.

Salt Coffee Roasters - Newstead

As picture perfect as it is well-stocked with beans, Salt Coffee Roasters has fast become a favourite haunt for locals. The pastel-coloured spot serves regular espresso-based brews or specialty pours, with beans roasted in their on-site roastery available by the bag. Whether you're looking for aesthetically pleasing latte art or a quick caffeine fix, Salt is brewing coffee seven days a week. Their Instagram-worthy interior combined with serious coffee credentials makes them a must-visit for any coffee enthusiast.

Parallel Roasters

Born out of the much-loved The Single Guys cafe in Kenmore, Ben Graham's Parallel Roasters has established itself as one of Brisbane's most well-regarded coffee outfits. They boast longstanding relationships with producers and a dedication to quality that shows in every cup. Their subscription service offers espresso blends alongside roaster's-pick single origins, one designed for espresso and the other for filter. Pouring some of the finest filter coffee around, they know their way around a fresh roast.

Wolff Coffee Roasters

As a purpose-driven coffee roaster based in Brisbane, Wolff crafts coffee with clarity, intention, and unwavering expertise. Premium is their starting point, not an afterthought. Their Big Bad Wolff roastery cafe in a renovated warehouse space offers approachable coffee for everyone, perfect for those who can't tell a cappuccino from a latte but want to learn. Their Zero Coffee Beans decaf option has won devoted fans who previously couldn't find a decaf that didn't make them feel unwell. The beans are roasted to perfection with super-fast delivery that consistently impresses customers.

Bellissimo Coffee - Multiple Locations

One of Australia's highest-awarded coffee roasters, Bellissimo Coffee has Brisbane covered with locations across the city. Grab a coffee, bag of beans, and bite to eat from their Bulimba roastery and cafe on Oxford Street, pop into their two-storey cafe in Fortitude Valley near James Street, or visit their Coorparoo location for coffee and cake. Their consistent quality across multiple venues demonstrates the depth of expertise they bring to every cup.

Passport Specialty Coffee - Northgate

According to their devoted customers, Passport is simply the best roaster in Brisbane with no competition. Their customers often discover how much other roasters are over-roasting their beans only after trying Passport's perfectly roasted coffee. The Departure blend showcases how well-roasted coffee beans should taste, while their single origins come with solid socially responsible backstories. The staff are genuinely friendly and happy to share their in-depth knowledge of coffee roasting. It's worth travelling for, and many customers make the journey specifically for their quality.

Strauss Coffee - CBD

Hiding down a little laneway off Elizabeth Street, this cosy CBD cafe serves some of Brisbane's best coffee. The coffee crowd pours in early, lining up for hot flatties or lattes made with Strauss' very own house blend. They rotate single-origin beans for their long blacks and espressos and offer bottled cold brew for those on the run. Their Spirit Kees van der Westen machine buzzes on the front counter, and they've even created their own range of jarred gourmet goods you can buy alongside your morning cup.

Veneziano Coffee Roasters - West End

A stalwart of the specialty coffee scene in Brisbane, Veneziano operates from their roastery cafe on busy Montague Road in West End. Their bottomless batch brew is legendary, and you can browse their selection of bags available on the retail shelves. West Enders kickstart their days here, trusting in Veneziano's decades of roasting expertise and commitment to quality.

Black Sheep Coffee Roasters - Woolloongabba

This local roaster trades out of their Woolloongabba warehouse, which cuts down on transport costs and ensures freshness. 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 them. The titans of Brisbane's specialty coffee scene, this outer suburbs star offers handpicked, perfectly roasted coffee that rewards those who seek it out.

Bunker Coffee

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 a reliable caffeine stop. A classic hole-in-the-wall, Bunker is known for excellent espresso brews, delicious RTD iced coffees, chocolates, and filters ready to grab in a flash. Hit them up for beans, Keep Cups, and pastries while experiencing some of the best quick-service specialty coffee in the city.

Buying Beans for Home Brewing

Most of Brisbane's specialty coffee operators offer subscriptions that deliver fresh beans directly to your door. The setup is simple: sign up noting your preferences for roast, grind, and delivery frequency, and the roastery handles the rest. It's zero fuss and can even score you discounts on regular online prices. Before you buy, learn proper brewing techniques to get the best from your beans - many roasteries offer training sessions and workshops.

When selecting beans, consider your brewing method. Filter coffee drinkers should look for lighter roasts that highlight origin characteristics, while espresso lovers might prefer medium roasts that balance sweetness and body. Single origins offer unique flavour profiles from specific regions, while blends provide consistent, balanced cups perfect for daily drinking.

The Brisbane Coffee Culture

Brisbane's coffee culture continues to mature, with roasters pushing boundaries while maintaining accessibility. Whether you prefer single-origin or batch-brew, love to savour a long latte or throw back a double ristretto, Brisbane has no shortage of quality coffee spots to quench your thirst. The city is home to an impressive array of coffee hot spots from industrial roasteries and hole-in-the-wall dispensaries to breezy cafes and pop-up coffee carts.

What sets Brisbane's specialty coffee scene apart is the combination of technical excellence and genuine hospitality. Baristas here are passionate about their craft and eager to share knowledge, whether you're a seasoned coffee enthusiast or just beginning to explore beyond instant coffee. The commitment to ethical sourcing, sustainable practices, and supporting local producers adds depth to every cup, making Brisbane's coffee scene not just about taste, but about community and values.

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