🍵 Brisbane CBD Edition: Three Sips, Three Memories – Part 1 (The Familiar Stomping Grounds)
We start where all good stories do — not in some faraway city, but in the everyday.
Brisbane CBD: where the coffee is strong, the parking fines are stronger, and the baristas know you just well enough to silently judge your life choices.
Some people bring back souvenirs from their travels.
I bring back coffee memories, barista trauma, and one too many Instagram drafts.
These are the first three cafés in my Iced Long Black memory log — because life happens in the mundane, and sometimes, the best coffee is the one you didn’t plan for.
🛵 Shop 1: Mulga Bill
A soft-launch meet-cute on moving day.
It was moving day. I had barely slept, but I was buzzing.
You know the kind — running on pure anticipation while your to-do list gives you side-eye.
The plan? Cross the bridge early, grab pastries from the French pâtisserie for the moving crew.
Sugar fuels productivity. I am, if nothing else, a generous host.
But — classic — the pâtisserie was open.
The cafés? Not.
Then I spotted it: Mulga Bill, already open, already vibing.
A quaint takeaway cart perched by the river, flanked by velvet ropes — like it was expecting fame.
And honestly? Respect.
The Ritual
I ordered my decaf Iced Long Black and asked if it was freshly ground.
The barista — queen of efficiency — silently pointed to the grinder. Say less.
The coffee?
Not super strong, but solid
Large cup (but cursed with a hot-drink-style lid — Capri Sun vibes)
Poured from one cup to another before serving… mixologist moment?
I stood by the bridge, admiring it like a main character.
The air was crisp. There was a dog on a scooter.
I was fully delulu — and I loved it.
Matcha Toast Memory
Mood: Sleep-deprived excitement + pastry-fueled chaos
Barista Energy: Chill and professional, with flair
Cup Vibe: Tall, functional, awkward but forgivable
Main Character Moment: Confirmed
Emotional Rating: A soft-launch fling you’re not done thinking about
Matcha Leaves: 4/5 🍵
Shop 2: Industry Beans
A routine brew for chaotic mornings. My constant.
I was running late.
Rain-drenched. Mildly feral.
Staring at my wardrobe like I’d never seen clothes before.
But there’s one thing that grounds me: Industry Beans.
This café doesn’t just serve coffee. It serves structure.
Everything is sleek, white, intentional.
Tokyo minimalism with a whisper of Aussie brunch.
Clean lines, soft greens, beans on proud display.
Even the machines look like they came with a user manual and a five-year plan.
It’s part of my routine now.
Decaf Iced Long Black. No hesitation. No fluff.
No extra charge (bless them).
They know my name.
They know my order.
And when I accidentally press “regular” on the app, they check — because decaf is not a joke. It’s a lifestyle.
This isn’t the place for romantic slow sips.
It’s the place where I grab my cup, head to the office, and mentally reassemble myself before confronting Outlook.
The scent of freshly ground beans hits like a memory —
warm, nutty, almost like someone lit a candle called Functioning Adult.
Matcha Toast Memory
Mood: Stressed, anxious, mildly sleep-deprived
Barista Energy: Loyal, respectful, efficient
Cup Vibe: Functional, familiar, emotionally stabilizing
Main Character Moment: No — I’m the reliable side character
Emotional Rating: Like being hugged by routine
Matcha Leaves: 4.5/5 🍵
Shop 3: Hide Out Specialty Coffee
A coastal escape tucked into Edward Street, serving precision with beige tiles.
It was Monday.
The kind where you regret your outfit by 9:17 AM and start scanning your calendar for your next socially acceptable coffee break.
I was cold. Restless. And I remembered this place from a previous walk —
tucked neatly into Edward Street like it knew it was about to become someone’s new favourite.
The Ritual
I wasn’t alone. Office girlies unite.
We strolled over and found ourselves at Hide Out, where the vibe whispered:
“Minimalist coastal luxury — but caffeinated.”
The interior? Elevated.
Tiled cylindrical columns in soft sandy beige
Matching marble flooring
Calm, textured, intentional — Byron meets Tokyo, but make it espresso
The queue was too long for casual banter, so we ordered via QR code.
The decaf option was buried like an afterthought.
I prayed I selected the right thing.
The Coffee
Strong. Dark. Mysterious.
Acidity? Maybe. The jury (my taste buds) was undecided.
Clean finish. Confident pour. Held its own.
But… the dome lid? Tragic.
We drank it walking back to the office — no drama, just quiet sipping.
But behind the counter? Drama. In the best way.
A barista pulled a pre-portioned coffee pod from a fridge drawer, locked it into a sci-fi-level espresso machine, and began precision choreography.
Flawless. Measured. Hypnotic.
Somewhere, a barista whispered:
“She’s ordering decaf… again?”
To which I say: Yes. And I’ll be documenting it.
Matcha Toast Memory
Mood: Weather regret turned curiosity-fueled wander
Barista Energy: Precision + cool-aunt-who-went-to-Europe vibes
Cup Vibe: Beautiful café, cursed lid
Main Character Moment: No — but I was in someone else’s
Unexpected Delight: Bean capsules in individual tubs
Café Vibe: Like your older sister who travels and knows things
Matcha Leaves: 4/5 🍵
Final Sip
Three cafés.
Three moods.
Three versions of me.
Brisbane CBD is familiar territory — where coffee is a habit, a necessity, and sometimes, a quiet little joy between calendar alerts.
Next stop?
Could be a new scene. A new set of sips.
Or just familiar stomping grounds.
Same order. Same obsession.
One café. One memory. Three sips at a time.
Let’s sip. 🍵🥶
