Chapter Two Espresso

 A relatively upmarket coffee house for coffee authority, Alen's Espresso, Arabica, Mocopan Coffee blend accompanied by many delectable desserts.  The space is large and central for those working the Roma street end of the city. 

The food is pre-prepared yet having sampled a toasted cheese, egg, bacon and rocket panini, I have to say it was pretty good. While the place felt fairly comfortable, the atmosphere was a bit stark and cold, attempting to suit a corporate world of clean lines and straight edges? The coffee was good though and having perused the cabinets, the food healthy; offering gluten free options, quinoa, fruit and some amazing flavours like rosewater, lavender and lemon myrtle in the sweets. 

Chapter two Espresso seems a pretty wholesome place and is very popular with the city working folk, on their way past in the morning or for that 10am fix.

Alen's

Foyer

In all honesty, if I was meeting someone for a coffee or bite to eat I wouldn't go there but would choose a place with character and some life to it, in saying that, while grabbing something healthy for breakfast or lunch or a coffee to go...it's ideal.

420 George Street, Brisbane City

Tel. 07 3236 2080

chaptertwoespresso.com.au

Ugees

Ugees is a coffee place that captures the essence of West End, and its village scene. It’s a bit bohemian with wafts of patchouli and caramelised rose and is certainly situated amongst cosmopolitan neighbours with a plethora of varied Thai, Korean, Indian, Greek and Swiss places to dine. West End is a fabulous place for coffee connoisseurs and Ugees on Boundary Street (the beating heart of The End) is certainly one of the best. They offer coffee to take away or you can sit outdoors on the deck or inside upon rustic chairs at tables. My favourite spot is on one of the stools at the window so I can watch the West End world go by. The walls are continually updated with varying works of art and newspapers and magazines scattered around gives it a homely and relaxed feel. Ugees has just seen a recent makeover; allowing for additional space to accommodate its popularity and prices are certainly the best in town at $3.50 for a regular coffee.

There’s a comfortable community feel to Ugees with many locals and regulars greeting well-known staff. 

You’ll find Ugees at 80 Boundary Street, West End Qld.  Open everyday from 7.00am til 5pm.


Parking: Streets West End

Pod Espresso

I had heard that Pod Espresso at Stafford has consistently good strong coffee that never lets you down. I’d heard right. Using a clean skin coffee from Cleanskin Coffee Co at Brendale, this hole in the wall is a hidden gem. The thing I love about this place is the fact that it isn’t in a usual cafe scene setting but is as popular as any that is. Certainly the coffee or the breakfast flavours haven’t paled simply because it’s a little further out of the city.

While Pod Espresso is compact and still fits into the hole in the wall category, owner Sally Hoffmann has expanded recently by including an organic store stocked by Northey Street market stall operator and Tamborine Mountain grower, Beth Larkin.

If you have the luxury of time, Pod Espresso has a great menu offering some fantastic breakfast and lunch items at reasonable prices and includes a kids menu. The cafe is also dog friendly if you happen to be walking the pooch and feel the need for a coffee or sour dough bruschetta. The cafe itself has a bit of a rustic feel with wooden furniture and vintage plates. 

We ordered the bruschetta and pesto bagel with melted cheese and scrambled egg. Both meals were fresh and delicious, drizzled in a lemon fused olive oil and topped with a specialty goat’s cheese.

Pod organics is open from 8.00am and Pod Espresso is open from 6.30am on Mon-Fri and from 7.30am on Saturdays serving coffee, light breakfasts, organic juices and sweet things. 

Located:
275 Stafford Rd, Stafford

Parking: There is ample parking on the street.