Becoming Brisbane

Woolloongabba has played many parts in the history of Brisbane. From transport links, the home of ‘The Gabba’, to being the location of the first Coca Cola bottling plant in Australia back in 1942. Today, Woolloongabba is home to a burgeoning coffee and cafe scene.

Often referred to as the antique and cafe quarter, Woolloongabba’s heritage buildings were built circa the late 1800s. A mix of styles of architecture, Woolloongabba is home to some iconic heritage buildings such as the Princess Theatre, the Norman Hotel and the former Post Office. Over the past years, there have been some significant changes to the food landscape in Brisbane generally, with a number of cafes and restaurants now offering some of the best in food and service in the country. Sometimes these shifts can go unnoticed, but when everything seems to galvanize at one time you can see that there is a significant leap into playing with the best of them.

The Logan Road dining precinct is filled with some of Brisbane’s best eateries and cafes. You could spend a week tucking in and out of the venues and still not manage to cover all of them. It’s not hard to lose an afternoon sipping wine in the number of outdoor dining areas on offer, and on some occasions find yourself going for lunch and staying for dinner. The basics are all there; pizza, bakeries and a variety of cuisines to suit all dining moments and styles.

The longtime favourite of both locals and travellers alike, 1889 Enoteca serves award-winning Italian and features a wine list to indulge any wine lovers’ palette. They are famous for their hand made pasta and if you want to feel like you have just stepped into a Roman cafe, they have got that covered with great service as a side dish. If Italian dining is not your scene, then maybe something local from Locavore, who are dedicated to sourcing all products from nearby farmers and suppliers.

When it comes time for coffee, make a detour to Queensland’s first Grinders Coffee retail store for a quick espresso or to take home one of the many roasted blends expertly made by Grinders Master Roasters. 

Grinders have been a cafe and household name for decades. Roasting of beans started in 1962 from the first iconic Lygon Street (also known as the Italian Quarter) roastery that has been transformed from the original store to a contemporary retail outlet that has formed part of Lygon Street’s recent renaissance of food, wine and coffee houses. Grinders have always remained committed to the ultimate coffee experience and this is evidenced by the quality of their coffee and the innovation that they introduce into serving methods.

With such a strong legacy that started from the streets of Melbourne, selecting and designing a retail site for Brisbane was considered and required a little bit of patience in waiting for the perfect site to become available. The result was a stunning fit out that made the perfect compliment to the popular up-market dining and retail precinct. The cafe exudes warmth and welcoming space that indulges all of the senses.

On arrival, you will be greeted with friendly faces and a wall of coffee beans, grinds and blends to suit every taste. Beans are sourced globally and include fair trade and organic product as part of the offering. The site not only offers a lively space for Brisbane coffee lovers but is also the home to a state of the art training facility and coffee education destination. Training is available to both cafe partners and the general public, teaching barista skills from the basics through to advanced and led by coffee experts. All of Grinders trainers have an infectious passion for good coffee while working with some of the most innovative equipment in the market.

Coffee runs in the veins of everyone at the cafe, as does excellent customer service. So next time you are looking for that caffeine fix and a good convo, you now know where to head.

Grinders Coffee Cafe and Training Centre is located at 11 Logan Road Woolloongabba QLD. Open 7 days a week. View and book training courses online at www.grinderscoffee.com.au/training-academy