Coffee on the Gold Coast

Coffee on the Gold Coast...

I say Coffee you say Gold coast, right? No? Well the times, my friend, are a-changing and there are some quality venues along the coast to be found.

My recent 4 day trip uncovered the following cafes - one near the beach one near the stunning new Bond University and one up in the Hinterland. This should cover most bases. Several places looked interesting on the main highway between the airport and Surfers Paradise too - but I'll only comment on paces I actually visited...

Mount Tambourine Coffee Plantation

It is always good to get a recommendation when venturing out on a day trip. Here is mine to you if planning a day 'on the mountain': Mount Tambourine Coffee Plantation.

The cafe is set in a traditional Queenslander with verandas overlooking the garden. From the car park you can spot the actual coffee plantation out back plus some specimens surround the car park as ornamental foliage.

The interiors are more homely than remarkable but I came here for the coffee not the interior design. I was a little dubious upon entering as back in Melbourne one is spoilt by the bombardment of funky interiors, hipster staff, groovy tunes and reputable coffee brands. 

We decided to give the plantation a go and ordered our coffees as out kids leafed through the pile of kids books in the corner.

The woman who served us (who owns the plantation with her husband) asked where we are from and when I said Melbourne she offered to 'make the coffee stronger as Melburnians like it strong"

I pondered this, thinking that really we are fussy about proper extraction, more than 'strength' but all the same I appreciated the thought!

The coffee indeed came out strong - a double shot I guess - and the own-brand single-origin coffee was really very good with richness and a heavy mouthfeel. (That is about the limit of my coffee tasting skills I'm afraid!)

Normally when the man of the house is around a tour of the coffee plantation can be arranged but no such luck on our visit. 

A great refreshment stop all the same.

Mount Tamborine Coffee Plantation

64 Alpine Terrace, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272

No Name Lane

We based ourselves for our stay a few streets south of the madness that is Surfers Paradise. Interesting...  (that is me being polite...) but I would consider Broadbeach next time for the family friendly vibe and less of a 'Schoolies let loose in the clubs' kind of atmosphere. Broadbeach boasts an amazing beachfront playground that we could hardly drag the kids away from as well as finding in the pedestrianised mall a carousel that cost a mere $2 donation per head to ride.

The kids were happy and we were too upon trying No Lane Cafe. (Located off Elizabeth Street in a laneway leading to a classy eating and shopping development). 

This small 'Melbourne Style' cafe spills out into the laneway and offers a simple menu of cooked meals and cakes as well as deliciously smooth coffee.

We came here twice - it's a great place to stop and enjoy a coffee whilst people watching and it's the most centrally located decent coffee shop on my list.

This is a cafe that would fit in well within the Melbourne scene in all regards from interiors to quality of coffee. Not that I like to imply that Melbourne = Good... but it is a good benchmark!
The regular coffee is served in quite a small coffee cup, which I don't mind at all but does perhaps make the coffee all the more 'more-ish' and on both our pit stops we ordered a second round. 

No Name Lane Cafe,

Elizabeth Ave, Broadbeach Queensland 4218

Blackboard Coffee

I could see from Google Maps that this place was out of the way but analysis of BeanHunter assured me it was worth tracking down. (As much as these user review sites can assure one, anyway)

It is in a most unlikely spot in a 'village' that has sprouted near the new Bond University. One of those soulless, unlikely strips usually harbouring a travel agent, a hair dressers and a chemist... or similar.

I'm pleased we did track it down - we visited as a group of four adults and two kids and nicely fitted into one of the many large booths.

We opted for coffee all around as we had planned on lunch elsewhere.

Service was attentive and we were offered the choice of house blend or a single origin bean. The coffee was well extracted and full flavoured.

In all definitely worth the drive.

Blackboard Coffee,

7/240 Varsity Parade, Varsity Lakes QLD 4227

So there are my findings from our spring-time mini-break to the Gold Coast. If you can add to this list then please do leave a comment - and perhaps this list will grow if we return next year.

THE LITTLE MULE

THE LITTLE MULE 
cafe and bike shop, melbourne CBD
- meet Hugh McIntyre

A few years back Hugh, a lifetime rider, noticed a trend towards affordable, imported bikes and this lit a spark. This idea evolved and with business parter Matt Bates, a keen motor-biker, they set about building The Little Mule Company.

RH - TELL ME ABOUT THE BIKES

Matt's brother designed them and the frames are made up in Taiwan. They would not be affordable if we had them made here, and affordability is important. The frames come in various sizes and colours and everything else is customisable. I don't think we have built two bikes the same.

RH - WHY BIKES AND A CAFE HERE AT SOMMERSET PLACE?

HM -  I just wanted a place to put the bikes together,  and a bit of a showroom. Before this Matt was keen to create a space for bikers to socialise - he is into motorbiking - so the cafe was a sort of compromise for us both! We were keen on this site right away as it was really affordable - but it came at a cost... several months (and skips) later we were still going. We both had full time jobs at the time so worked on this when we could.

RH - WHAT INSPIRED THE LOOK AND DESIGN?

HM - We were on a really tight budget and found things on ebay and in junk shops. We got some good wood from a timber recycling place in Port Melbourne and were lucky to have a great carpenter to put some tables and the counter together for us. It just came together.

RH - YOU WERE BOTH IN ADVERTISING, RIGHT? SO HOW DID YOU HANDLE GETTING THE CAFE OFF THE GROUND?

HM - We've now both moved on from advertising land... Matt met a guy in Sydney, Ed from Little Marionette, and he gave us a lot of great advice and even sourced our machine. We use his coffee and I think we are still the only cafe in Melbourne using it. I taught myself how to pull an espresso at my old job at the advertising agency where there was this old machine. I've improved a great deal!

RH - WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE ALONG THE WAY?

HM - Setting up the cafe. This site needed a lot of work with the clean up and then putting in special plumbing and so on. There was also compliance for council regulations. And managing people - I hadn't managed people before - but luckily we got a great team together and they are still with us. They are all self reliant and don't need me standing over them. I am still working full time but I am constantly working on the business in the background, just not as hands on in the cafe as when we started.

RH - ANY ADVICE TO ANYONE THINKING OF OPENING A CAFE?

HM - Talk to people in the business and get advice. Talk about every facet of the business.

The Little Mule 

18 Somerset Place

Melbourne 3000

Mon - Fri  7am - 3pm

Sat  9.30am - 3pm

words and images (c) www.rhphoto.com.au

BEST OF - Laneway Cafes

BEST OF - Laneway Cafes

Hidden gems. We all love a bit of that, don't we? The enticing smell of ground coffee wafting down some unlikely looking, preferably dank, laneway... and then we spot some smug know-it-all clutching a keep-cup and contentedly re-caffeinating. And our suspicions are confirmed. And so, here I present for you my pick of 'laneway treasure', where you will find not only great coffee but also the satisfaction being 'in the know'.

Yes, the addresses are a bit vaugue. You will appreciate finding a 'hidden gem' more if you have to fossick - surely!

CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY
Somerset Place CBD

Loving it. Here we have shoemaker, barber and a tailor as well as a cafe. This large 1st floor space is deliciously retro/vintageand a fresh breath form the pace outside.

 CHEZ DRE

Off Coventry St, near South Melbourne Market

Spacious, awe inspiring cakes and pastries, great coffee and friendly service. 

CUP OF TRUTH
Campbell Arcade, CBD

Most convenient for commuters arriving into Flinders Street Station. Love the old world art deco charm of the subway itself too.

 ESPRESSO 3121

Balmain St, Richmond.

It's a bit off the track unless you live/work around here - a good few blocks from Swan Street -  but  no point in  a 'hidden gem' being too handy I guess! Big focus on the coffee here.

GRIZZLY ESPRESSO
Laneway near Brunswick St/Johnston St junction. Fitzroy

For DJ tunes and an atmosphere that, if was any more laid back, would probably fall over.

 HOBOKEN

Hosier Lane, CBD

Just a stones throw from Fed Square this is a great CBD pitstop for an injection of north Melbourne grunge, if the corporate and  commercial worlds are pressing down on you.

JUDDY ROLLER
Elliot St, Fitzroy

Good coffee, good simple food and a spacious open courtyard surrounded by top class street art.

 MANCHESTER PRESS

Rankins Lane, CBD

A favourite on a blustery Melbourne day, a haven from weather and bustle.. and usually super-cool latte art atop your coffee to boot.

MONK BODHI DHARMA
Laneway off Carlisle St (beside one of the supermarkets...) Balaclava

Love this cafe in an ex-workshop. Cafe fare made with love and kharma (vege and vegan). Coffee is excellent.








all images copyright www.rhphoto.com.au