The Weekend Edition - Sleep In. Slow Down. Enjoy.

The Weekend Series: boutique coffee roasters from Southeast Queensland you should know

The Weekend Series: boutique coffee roasters from Southeast Queensland you should know

Coffee is a big deal – we drink so much of it that it practically pumps through our veins. The nectar of the gods is crucial to so many aspects of our weekly routine (that early morning wake up, the deadline push, the Sunday brunch) that we only accept the good stuff. Now, don’t get us wrong – Queensland is flush with great coffee roasters, but we’ve decided to break it down to five great boutique operations that treat coffee roasting like an art form. If you take your coffee as seriously as us, we suggest you seek out these five Southeast Queensland-based roasters immediately.


Blackboard Coffee
Our search starts on the Gold Coast, where Burleigh Heads is home to the Hogwarts of coffee ­– otherwise known as the Blackboard Cafe Academy. Providing education across a range of coffee-oriented courses including barista basics and classes for more experienced hands, this location also houses the roasting space, where beans are converted into the sublime roast that drinkers love. Although the roaster isn’t open to the public outside of scheduled classes, Blackboard Coffee sells bags of freshly roasted beans for those that want to enjoy the flavour at home. Beans are sourced from across the globe from countries such as Colombia, Rwanda, Guatemala and Brazil. Blackboard also boasts a cafe of its own in Varsity Lakes, where patrons can sip on freshly brewed cups while also enjoying an all-day menu of food.

Clandestino Roasters
Representing the Sunshine Coast is Noosaville-based Clandestino Roasters, which is the brainchild of brothers Ryan, Jaxon and Adam. After discovering the magical properties of coffee in the early 2000s, the brothers decided to start their own roasting business, which now sees Adam based in the highlands of Los Yungas in Bolivia, where he works with local growers to harvest coffee sustainably. Clandestino Roasters also sources Arabica beans from Papua New Guinea and Australia through direct trade processes, ensuring a mutually beneficial relationship between roaster and grower. You can find Clandestino Roasters coffee at Embargo’s on Chapel in Nundah and Cafe Contra in Brisbane City.

Paradox Coffee Roasters
The Gold Coast is fast becoming a coffee mecca, with several boutique roasters popping up around town. Paradox Coffee Roasters is a Surfers Paradise-based operation, that has earned a legion of followers with their inventive approach to creating new blends, experimenting with brewing methods and top-notch service. With the aim of creating a positive relationship between producers and consumers, Paradox Coffee Roasters only sources beans from growers that receive a fair wage and follow environmentally sustainable practices. Coffee fanatics should know that Paradox Coffee Roasters use a state-of-the-art 15kg Brambati roaster imported from Italy and the Paradox Lab offers cupping classes, latte art courses and barista workshops.

Wolff Coffee Roasters
It takes a lot of work to be given the title of master roaster, but for Peter Wolff it’s merely the result of his unparalleled passion for the good stuff. Operating since 2010, Wolff Coffee Roasters aims to make specialty coffee approachable to everyone as well as providing educational resources for fanatics that are looking to take their obsession further. The Wolff Röst Haus uses Probat coffee roasters to produce stellar batches of coffee, with blends boasting beans from Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea and more. If you are keen to expand your knowledge on the topic of coffee, the Wolff College of Coffee offers courses for roasting, the craft of espresso, brewing the perfect batch and cupping, while coffee drinkers can sip at the Big Bad Wolff Espresso Bar, Dandelion and Driftwood and can find the nitrogen-infused coffee at St Coco Cafe in Daisy Hill.

Parallel Roasters
The aim behind Parallel Roasters is simple – it wants to be the very best, like no one ever was. To brew coffee is its test, to make the tastiest pours. This Sumner Park-based operation sources its beans globally and ethically and roasts it locally, highlighting the natural characteristics of the beans. To give you a sense of Parallel’s popularity across Brisbane, the beans can be found at cafes such as Bunker in Milton, Felix for Goodness in the CBD, King Arthur in Fortitude Valley, The Single Guys in Kenmore and Pitch & Fork in Toowong.
Image: Parallel Roasters

Honourable mentions
If you have a hankering for even more coffee, we suggest you also add the likes of Black Star Coffee, Supreme Roasters and Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters in Brisbane, Sunday’s Coffee on the Sunshine Coast, Urban Finca, Ground ControlBesito Coffee and KoKo Coffee Roasters on the Gold Coast.

The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.



Suggested Food & Drink Reads

Feast on fried-chicken Bennys and blueberry-topped toast at Robina’s new Gathering Co.

Feast on fried-chicken Bennys and blueberry-topped toast at Robina’s new Gathering Co.

… more

MADE barber & barista Kirra
Coffee

MADE barber & barista Kirra

Musgrave and Miles Street, Kirra


back to top