Imagine sitting back with the Guardian & Tribune in one hand and your perfect blend of coffee in the other. 

From bitter, to smooth, whatever you desire, we’ve ventured around the region to taste test the best for you.

Because you know, you keep us ‘grounded’ and you mean a ‘latte’ to us. 

Ipswich CBD - Rafter and Rose Cafe

Nothing like a bright start to your day and in the heart of Ipswich, you can’t go past Rafter and Rose. 

This family run café surrounded by greenery will have you feeling at home in no time. Boasting a beautiful balance of ripe stone fruit and vibrant acidity in coffee blend, this place is a must. 

The team use Norco milk and also offer many alternative milks such as the popular Oatly, Bonsoy, Milk Lab Almond, Maca Macadamia, Coco Quench and lactose free to name a few. 

From the farm to the cup, each step in the coffee’s journey is tracked and processed with quality as the focus. Pair your coffee of choice with one of Rafter and Roses’ signature house baked treats such as their scones served with Pepe saya butter or perhaps for those celiac’s among us, a vegan gluten free muffin might be up your alley.  

Boonah – Hummingbird Cafe

If the words ‘wholefood eating and a sustainable, low-waste lifestyle’ sings music to your ears then Hummingbird Café is the coffee destination for you. 

The beans used here are called ‘Joy Beans’ and are a blend sourced from remote villages in South America. The coffee has a smooth, creamy taste. The beans are organically grown, fair-trade and are roasted locally in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast by another small family business. 

What further inspired Hummingbird to use ‘Joy Beans’ is that a percentage of their profits are returned to children's charities in coffee growing regions. 

Pair their coffee with either something on the menu or in the cabinet and you’ll be walking away feeling as wholesome and as rejuvenated as they come. What a ‘joy’!

Canungra - Canungra Hub Café and Deli 

Looking for the new ‘hub’ in town? Why not try Canungra Hub Café and Deli. 

The atmosphere here is both welcoming and relaxing and with the smell of fresh homemade goodies in the air, it will be a memorable experience. 

The team here strive to create a laid-back atmosphere. They use beans from Toby Estate specialty coffee roasters an enterprise which works closely with their growers. 

So, sip on a coffee, sit on the veranda and dig into one of their freshly baked goods from the cabinet. You will not be disappointed. 

Moogerah - The Dam Café 

Perfectly positioned across an expanse of parkland from Lake Moogerah is The Dam Café. 

This little gem is a local hotspot and a favourite with tourists. 

The Dam Cafe team use Botero coffee, specifically their Toba blend. This blend springboards a pleasant, chocolatey taste on your tongue with subtle fruity overtones. 

By default, their coffees are served double shot. They use un-homogenised Scenic Rim 4Real Milk, Bonsoy soy milk, as well as Vitasoy almond milk and Norco skim and lactose free. As all their baked goods are made in house, sit back, relax while enjoying the water views across to the mountains and enjoy the delectable tastes of The Dam Café. 

Tamborine Mountain - Tamborine Mountain Plantation

If you’re wanting a coffee experience like no other than head to Tamborine Mountain Plantation. 

As the current winners of Australia’s prestigious coffee award, ‘The Golden Bean’ for the best growers and roasters in the country, then this is about as authentic as coffee gets. 

If you’re comparing it to other growing regions around the world, however, Australian coffee is typically a much milder blend. The main hypothesis behind this is due to the altitude. 

It’s clear we don’t have the massive mountains ranges like they do in Colombia or Brazil and as the Plantation here is about 550m above sea level, which is the bare minimum for coffee to grow successfully, the taste ends up smooth, mild and earthy. 

The Tamborine Mountain Plantation uses a natural process to make their coffee utilising their 650 trees on their property to make something pretty special, with hints of bright fruity flavours like red berry, raspberry and blueberry to name a few. 

They offer a ‘tasting board’ with an espresso, a flat white, a batch brew and a filter coffee, and a sparkling water cascara spritzer which is almost like a tea, but it’s made out of the coffee cherry.

This is one of five places in the world where the entire experience of coffee growing, harvesting, processing and drinking are all undertaken on the one property. We cannot espresso this one enough. An absolute must-do in our eyes.