Hello, everyone! Surprised to see me back in Australia?
This is my second visit since 2020. I’ve always called Australia my “happy place.” Beyond coffee capitals like Melbourne and Sydney, it offers an incredibly livable climate and a strong sense of culture and humanity.
If you haven’t read my previous café explorations in Melbourne and Sydney, feel free to follow my ongoing Australia series for a recap. Most of the classic and iconic cafés are already covered, and they’re genuinely useful references. I hope every stop on this aromatic coffee journey feels immersive—as if you’re exploring alongside me. I’ll also share more of my personal observations and reflections along the way.
This time, I’ll be bringing you café visits from two other well-known Australian cities: Brisbane and Adelaide. Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and Australia’s third-largest city. Located on the east coast along the Brisbane River, it enjoys a pleasant climate, cultural diversity, and a balance between modern urban energy and natural beauty.
Being in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia is honestly perfect for a winter escape for us—no exaggeration. Brisbane is warm year-round with plenty of sunshine. During summer (December to February), average temperatures range from 21°C to 30°C. Nicknamed the “Sunshine City,” it’s an absolute joy for a relaxed city walk.
First Stop in Brisbane: Industry Beans
Today’s first stop in Brisbane is Industry Beans, located at
Shop 6/243 Edward St, Brisbane City QLD 4000.
I first discovered Industry Beans back in Shanghai while visiting Chillcoooool Qiuku Café, where they were using beans roasted by Industry Beans in Australia. I was instantly intrigued and quietly made a promise to myself: I’d come to Brisbane for this café one day. And here I am.
Besides Brisbane, Industry Beans also has locations in Sydney. This Adelaide Street shop is in a great spot—very close to Queen Street Mall. If you’re wandering around Brisbane city, chances are you’ll run into it without even trying.
The café is street-facing and easy to find with navigation, even though the signage is quite understated. Still, the automatic glass doors and clean, minimalist white interior are hard to miss. Inside, white is the dominant tone, complemented by subtle wood and leather elements. The overall vibe is fresh, calm, and very welcoming.
One thing worth mentioning: across Australia, most cafés close surprisingly early—often around 2 to 3 p.m. local time. Australia is also two hours ahead of us, so I’ve learned to treat café hopping like going to a morning market. Sleep in a little, and the café is simply… gone.
Industry Beans operates from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, and 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekends. Coffee here is definitely for early risers.
Coffee Selection & Tasting Notes
As expected, the bean lineup here is impressive. Industry Beans is known for its in-house roasting, and you can freely choose based on your flavor preferences. Personally, I find their roasting style highly versatile—each bean works beautifully for both espresso and filter. Their core focus is on clarity and flavor complexity.
To my delight, I spotted El Salvador Angel Estate on the menu. What a find! Despite being from Central America, this coffee carries a distinctly “African-style” profile. Grown high on the Santa Ana Volcano, Angel Estate is known for its unique terroir and expressive flavors—making it a very special presence in El Salvador.
On the menu, “filter” refers to batch brew, as pour-over is relatively rare in Australia. So, as they say, when in Rome…
I may have been the most talkative customer during ordering—asking plenty of questions, just like I do back home—but the barista was incredibly patient.
I chose the Angel Estate Natural Bourbon as a batch brew. Despite the large-batch method, the flavor expression was outstanding: incredibly juicy, vibrant, and lively. The body was solid and satisfying, with gentle, elegant acidity. On a pleasant 28°C day, it was both refreshing and thirst-quenching—absolutely spot on.
Espresso & A Lovely Surprise
The café offers two default espresso blends. I chose the Summer Espresso for a flat white. And wow—this one truly lives up to its name.
The blend consists of 50% washed El Salvador (Anacafé & Castillo varieties) and 50% washed Ethiopia Limu heirloom. This pairing bridges Central America and Africa beautifully. The result? Citrus notes layered with a wheat-bran, cookie-like sweetness. Clean, high sweetness, with just a hint of acidity—an unusually elegant and refreshing flat white.
Seeing how clearly I was here for the coffee, the staff switched into what I call “feeding mode.” And honestly, this keeps happening to me everywhere I go—how lucky is that?
The barista kindly treated me to their Summer Filter:
50% washed Peru Caturra + 50% washed PNG Typica (with Arusha).
This is a bold and clever combination—and I absolutely loved it. The cup was filled with black tea notes, perfectly balanced body, clean and structured. The caramel sweetness in the finish lingered beautifully. Even after finishing the cup, the bottom carried a rich caramel aroma. One small cup was nowhere near enough.
Becoming Local, Even for a Moment
On the very day I landed in Brisbane, I slipped straight into “local mode,” starting my exploration from City Hall. No matter where you are in Australia, traces of colonial history remain visible, and the Brisbane Museum offers a glimpse into that past.
Coming from a country with such a long and layered history, these museums may sometimes feel thin to us—but this is their history, and it deserves recognition. Here, people of different skin tones and nationalities coexist and thrive together. It feels more inclusive, more multidimensional, and more integrated.
On my way to Industry Beans, I casually looked up and made eye contact with a man inside a nearby mall. He smiled at me; I waved hello through the glass; he waved back almost simultaneously. We didn’t know each other. There was glass between us. But that simple exchange—human to human—felt deeply genuine.
That’s why I love Australia. Or maybe it’s why I feel this way whenever I step outside my home country. In that moment, no nationality was required. I belonged. Even if only for a brief moment—I was local.