Veneziano Coffee Adelaide Review | World’s Top 100 Coffee Shop #19 in Australia Specialty Coffee Guide

 As I’ve always believed, the best way to understand a city is to start at its city hall — and in Adelaide, that’s exactly where my journey began.

When you mention Adelaide, you inevitably think of its namesake. The city was named after Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV of the United Kingdom. Inside Adelaide Town Hall stands a marble statue of Queen Adelaide, sculpted by British artist Francis William Woodington. Originally installed in 1864 beside the main staircase, the statue commemorates the woman for whom the city was named.

After joining a guided tour and learning more about Adelaide’s history, I found myself reflecting on how remarkably forward-thinking its urban planning was. The city center follows a precise grid layout, with east–west and north–south streets intersecting at perfect right angles. It feels logical, intuitive, and incredibly easy to navigate.

With a metro card in hand, setting off on a spontaneous city walk feels effortlessly enjoyable.

Today’s café destination carries a reputation of its own. With eight locations across Australia, it’s something of a “white moonlight” in the hearts of many Australian coffee lovers — a brand that inspires both loyalty and admiration. The location I visited sits at 111 Melbourne Street in North Adelaide: Veneziano Coffee.

Founded in 2002, Veneziano Coffee is widely recognized as one of Australia’s pioneers in specialty coffee. Over the years, they’ve built a reputation for consistent, high-quality roasting. In the 2025 World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops ranking, their flagship store at Melbourne International Airport (Terminal 1) earned an impressive No. 19 spot.

The ranking describes the airport location as one of their newest and finest stores, offering specialty coffee, excellent food, and the full Veneziano experience. Whether you’re grabbing a quick takeaway or relaxing before your flight, it’s considered an ideal stop.

Although I didn’t have the chance to visit the award-winning airport store this time, discovering Veneziano in Adelaide was more than enough reason to experience their roasting philosophy and café offerings firsthand.

The Adelaide location embodies the classic Australian neighborhood café atmosphere. Nearly every seat was occupied, filled with locals gathered in small groups, chatting and catching up. Like many Australian cafés, it offers both indoor and outdoor seating, allowing you to choose whatever suits your mood.

Veneziano is clearly focused on specialty coffee, with a relatively simple food menu. Beyond coffee, they offer light pastries and sandwiches. As is typical in many Australian cafés, there’s no table service — you place your order at the counter.

I especially appreciated the interior design. It blends Victorian-era neoclassical elements with subtle modern touches. Upon entering, you’re greeted by a semi-open central island bar beneath classic chandeliers, while ornate plaster detailing decorates the ceiling above.

Two adjoining rooms serve as additional seating areas, accommodating both intimate two- or three-person meetups and larger communal gatherings. It’s easy to see why it’s a favorite neighborhood meeting spot.

When I visited, many elderly locals were engaged in lively conversations. There was a warm, unfiltered sense of Australian community charm — what I’d describe as an everyday authenticity. The atmosphere felt like someone’s cozy living room: welcoming, relaxed, and genuinely approachable.

Whenever I order coffee, I always ask about the beans first. At Veneziano, I had the pleasure of standing in front of their bean display while the barista explained their core espresso blends like a museum curator presenting treasured exhibits.

One thing I noticed during my café visits in Australia: a 250g bag of beans typically costs around AUD 18–20. Compared to reseller prices back home, it feels like an incredible value. I was honestly tempted to stock up for the entire year.

I chose their signature espresso blend, “Elevate,” one of their staples and particularly well-suited for milk-based drinks. It’s composed of 50% Brazil and 50% Colombia.

The Brazilian component comes from the Serra Negra region, representing classic Brazilian flavor characteristics. The Colombian beans are sourced from smallholder farmers within the Coocentral cooperative in Huila. Veneziano has maintained a direct-trade relationship with Coocentral for four years.

I care deeply about bean origins because once you travel beyond your home country, you begin to see how cafés often highlight lesser-known growing regions. Different terroirs create entirely different flavor expressions — and that’s where the true joy of tasting lies.

I ordered a flat white using Elevate. The dominant notes were milk chocolate and nuts, layered with a gentle honey-like sweetness. The texture was silky and full-bodied, beautifully balanced. It’s a versatile, everyday blend that appeals to a wide range of palates.

The second blend I tried was “Soar,” composed of 45% Colombia, 20% Brazil, and 35% Ethiopia. In my opinion, this one is best enjoyed as black coffee, allowing its bright, clean acidity to shine.

Its origins are equally fascinating. The Colombian portion also comes from Coocentral smallholders. The Brazilian beans are sourced from Mantiqueira, located in Minas Gerais along the Serra da Mantiqueira mountain range — a region with a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality, award-winning coffee.

The lot used here comes from smallholder regional batches, and interestingly, it showcases pronounced red fruit characteristics — quite unusual for a traditional Brazilian profile.

The Ethiopian component is sourced from the Sodu washing station, established in 2018 in Uraga, Guji. More than 800 farmers cultivate coffee on small farms averaging two hectares each. This micro-region benefits from unique growing conditions, producing coffees known for intense florals, layered complexity, and a sweet, lingering finish.

With such a detailed regional composition, my expectations were high. I ordered Soar as a long black — and it exceeded them.

If I hadn’t told you the blend breakdown, you might never guess it contained Brazilian beans. There were no chocolate or nut undertones. Instead, it burst with juicy fruit character — bright, clean acidity with notes of cherry and red berries. It was vibrant yet refined, incredibly smooth, and deeply satisfying.

To finish, I ordered a scone. It was reheated before serving to ensure it arrived warm, accompanied by cream and strawberry jam. I particularly enjoyed the addition of raisins, which added both texture and sweetness.

Adelaide is famous for its wine production and exceptional grapes. A warm scone studded with sweet raisins felt perfectly fitting — comforting, indulgent, and surprisingly filling.

Perhaps just a simple café visit.

But in a city like Adelaide, even a cup of coffee carries a sense of place, history, and quiet sophistication.

Exchange Coffee Adelaide | World’s Top 100 Coffee Shop (#37) You Must Visit

 Beep, beep, beep—after a 2-hour-and-45-minute flight from Brisbane with Qantas, I landed in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. Funny enough, the first time I ever heard the name Adelaide was years ago, back when I was still a student, from a lyric in the song Melbourne, Sunny: “the view from the Adelaide Hills…” Somehow, at that moment, a tiny seed was planted in my mind. Adelaide—nice name. I want to go there.

Time passed. I fell in love with coffee, and with Australia. I often joke that Australia is my “happy homeland.” Now, on my second visit, I’m continuing a deeper exploration—almost like a quiet calling that pulled me from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern.

As Australia’s fifth-largest city, Adelaide is special for one key reason: it was planned before it was built. With a population of about 1.3 million, seeing it from the air honestly felt a bit like The Truman Show. The city has preserved more historic architecture, and the pace of life here feels calmer and more at ease—Australia’s laid-back vibe, fully dialed in.

No matter how many cafés you plan to visit in Adelaide, there’s one place you absolutely shouldn’t miss: the State Library of South Australia. I actually wrote most of my café notes right there—it was incredible. On the second floor, there’s a clock that’s over 140 years old. It still needs to be manually wound every single week, and for 140 years, the librarians have done exactly that. If that isn’t tradition and continuity, I don’t know what is.

I stood next to the clock, read its plaque, and could clearly hear the steady, powerful ticking of the hands. I don’t know why, but that moment genuinely moved me. Oh—and Adelaide is 2.5 hours ahead of China.

We may not have lived through history from a century ago, but the old books here bear witness to it. Every single one is available to be opened and read. My eyes landed on a book first published in 1959, LOVE and the French. Inside, there was a borrowing notice pasted on the page. The moment my fingers touched it, I felt connected to everyone who had ever held this book before me.

Much like the cafés I love, today’s highlight—Exchange Coffee, located at 12/18 Vardon Ave, Adelaide SA 5000—was one of the places I most looked forward to on this trip. And it absolutely delivered. The cafés I want to visit—no matter how far—they’re always worth the journey.

Exchange Coffee is a specialty café in Adelaide and incredibly popular with locals. Honestly, no matter when you show up, it’s almost always packed, inside and out. Founded in 2013, it’s already been around for more than a decade. Will it last a hundred years like that library clock? Who knows. But what we do know is that it earned a spot on the 2025 World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops list, ranking #37—and that’s no joke.

True to its name, Exchange feels like a hub for flavor exchange. The team is committed to sustainable, responsible sourcing and thoughtful roasting. Interestingly, the street it’s on used to be a quiet little lane with barely any decent food or drink spots nearby. Their original goal was simple: to give Adelaide an exceptional coffee experience and build a real coffee-centered community. Over time, the area came alive, and in 2023, they even doubled the size of the original space.

After more than ten years of deeply rooted work in a micro-community, Exchange has managed something rare: even as the space expanded and evolved, it never lost its warm, neighborhood feel. In Australia, most cafés offer table service—you sit down first, and a barista comes over to take your order. The menu here is clear and well designed, and this visit, I was fully focused on coffee.

At the bar, there are three espresso options available. One is decaf; the other two are single-origin espressos. Exchange’s core philosophy revolves around “bean sourcing,” so many of their coffees rotate in as guest roasters. Their mainstay beans come from Market Lane Coffee, a well-known Melbourne roaster I’ve visited before—and they even sell Market Lane merch in-store. You’ll also discover several smaller, beautifully curated Australian roasters here.

After chatting with the barista, I went with the most classic option: a Brazil SOE from Market Lane. The beans come from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, and are naturally processed, using Catuai and Topazio varieties. (Topazio was developed in the 1960s by the Agronomic Institute of Campinas and is a hybrid descendant of Mundo Novo and Red Catuai.)

I ordered a flat white with this bean—and wow. Clean, pure, high sweetness, perfectly balanced. The kind of Brazilian coffee that immediately tells you: this green bean was not cheap. How does a single-origin Brazil stand on its own like this, without blending, and still hit so hard? Unreal. Brazil probably can’t even keep beans like this for itself.

Flavor notes? Maple syrup, milk chocolate, and creamy cake. I’d heard that coffees from this region often show nutty, creamy characteristics with a full body and long finish—and this cup absolutely nailed it.

The real surprise, though, came from another bean: a washed El Salvador Pacamara. I ordered my go-to Australian pairing—a long black. One sip. Just one. Completely won me over.

The lemon acidity was insanely clean and bright—so bright, yet incredibly comfortable. Lively, vibrant, penetrating, with both clarity and depth. Then the sweetness kicked in, layering beautifully across the palate, followed by hints of chocolate and lightly roasted nuts, finishing with a touch of caramel.

I was genuinely tempted to buy a bag, but sadly, it was already sold out. Still, I walked away discovering a fantastic roaster: Floozy, founded in 2017 and based in Newcastle, New South Wales. If you ever come across them while traveling, do yourself a favor and grab a cup—their roasting style is seriously impressive.

Fonzie Abbott Coffee Review | No. 70 on the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2025

 When people talk about the “Michelin Guide” of the coffee world, The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops always comes up. This annual ranking releases a fresh list every year, and it’s something I personally keep a close eye on. It has also become one of my go-to references whenever I travel to a new country and start mapping out which cafés I have to visit.

Australia, of course, is a paradise for coffee lovers. Beyond Melbourne—the widely recognized “coffee capital of the world”—cities like Brisbane, where I’m currently based, have also become major contenders on the list. So on this trip to Australia, I’ve made it a point to visit several cafés featured in the 2025 World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops ranking. Naturally, that makes the titles a bit simpler this time—haha.

Today’s spotlight is on the café ranked No. 70 in the 2025 list: Fonzie Abbott, located at 40 Fox St, Albion QLD 4010.

Getting around Brisbane is refreshingly easy. Public transportation is well developed—and the best part? A bus ride costs just AUD 0.50, basically the same as taking a bus back home. One thing to keep in mind, though: buses here don’t announce stops and won’t stop at every station automatically. You’ll need to keep an eye on your map and press the bell before your stop to signal the driver. I took Bus 301 directly from the CBD and got off right near the café—super convenient.

Fonzie Abbott’s black, vintage-style storefront is instantly recognizable. The entire building belongs to the café, and I’m a big fan of this bold, industrial aesthetic. Just be sure to check the opening hours—most cafés in Australia close surprisingly early. Sleep in a little too long, and you might miss your coffee altogether. 😄

The moment you push open the door, it feels like stepping into a Western saloon. Inside, the rhythmic beats pulse through the space—thump thump thump—totally my vibe. I couldn’t help but start moving along with the music.

Most of the space is dedicated to seating, divided into indoor and outdoor areas. One thing worth mentioning is that Fonzie Abbott strongly encourages online ordering, both on their website and in-store. Honestly, this feels very familiar to anyone used to scanning QR codes to order. Their online menu even includes photos for every item, which is a thoughtful and well-executed touch.

In the official World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops award description, Fonzie Abbott is introduced like this:

“Fonzie Abbott offers a haven of specialty coffee, delicious food, and a vibrant atmosphere. Tucked away in an edgy, rustic setting, with a welcoming park just across the street, they’ve earned their reputation as the area’s best.”

While the wording may sound a bit understated, I couldn’t agree more. This area is far from the skyscrapers of the city center—it’s deeply rooted in the neighborhood and woven into the everyday lives of Brisbane locals. There’s very little tourist energy here; instead, it’s a go-to brunch spot for nearby residents.

At its core, Fonzie Abbott revolves around two main pillars: coffee and food. There’s a coffee bar (with some craft beer as well), plus a fully equipped kitchen. That said, the ventilation seems… questionable—the entire space was filled with that unmistakable aroma of an American burger kitchen. 😆 I initially thought the second floor was also seating, but when I went upstairs, I discovered it was a barbershop. Somehow, that only amplified the retro vibe.

How could I come to Australia and not order a Piccolo? 😄
As usual, I asked whether I could choose the beans—nope. The Piccolo here is made exclusively with their house blend. The barista pointed me toward the black bag on the shelf.

Curious, I checked the blend myself: a medium roast combining Brazil, Papua New Guinea, and El Salvador, using both natural and washed processes.

A Piccolo is traditionally built on a ristretto base—espresso extracted with less water, resulting in a more concentrated, sweeter shot with lower acidity and bitterness. This is topped with finely textured steamed milk and typically served in a 100 ml glass. The goal is to highlight the espresso while enhancing smoothness and sweetness.

To give you a sense of scale, I even compared the cup to my fist—the opening was just slightly wider than the space between my thumb and index finger. It’s tiny. A true short milk drink, somewhere between pure espresso tasting and a milk-based compromise.

But wow—this one packed a punch.

The aroma was soft and inviting, with notes of caramel cream. The first sip, though? Pure chocolate. A dense, powerful body that hit instantly, yet stayed impressively clean. Drinking it honestly felt like taking a shot of tequila—small, intense, and instantly intoxicating. Coffee buzz, slightly tipsy. Totally exhilarating.

A Journey of Coffee Aromas

Now let’s talk about the food.

I ordered Eggs Benedict, which is always one of my personal café favorites. That said, cafés abroad have a hundred different ways to reinterpret this classic—and this one was no exception. Two perfectly poached eggs served with spinach and sourdough. The key move? Break that runny yolk first. The rich yolk spilling over the spinach and bread—one forkful straight into your mouth—and the texture and flavor are simply incredible.

And don’t waste the hollandaise sauce. I love using the remaining sourdough to “wipe the plate clean.” The chewy bite of the bread paired with the richness of the sauce? Pure bliss.

I also ordered the Turkish eggs, which felt like a refreshing change. If you ever get tired of Eggs Benedict, this is an excellent alternative. It features soft eggs paired with herbed Greek yogurt and chili butter, served alongside toasted bread. The flavor layers are bolder, and the textures shift beautifully between soft and firm, making each bite more playful and satisfying.

Strong recommendation: dip the toast into a mix of runny yolk, yogurt, and chili butter. It’s dangerously good—comforting, rich, and deeply addictive.

If Fonzie Abbott is a reflection of what Brisbane’s coffee scene has to offer, then it absolutely deserves its place on the world stage.