Go Loco for 32 Specialty Coffees at Coffee Mentality in East Brisbane

On the hunt for a new nook with good coffee? If you’re a West End Saturday market regular for years, you might have tried Coffee Mentality. They’re now opening a fit-out on Stanley Street, where customers can try 32 kinds of specialty-grade single-origin coffee.



Coffee Mentality‘s Ian Abadiano has been serving coffee lovers from his mobile coffee van at various markets across Brisbane or his shop on Montague Road in South Brisbane since 2012. But this new store, which will have its soft opening on March 2021, has its very own “tasting room” where coffee lovers can savour the flavours of premium quality coffee as they’ve never tried before.

“I believe this will be a first for Brisbane – a place where locals can access up to 32 specialty grade single-origin coffee and brew them the way they like it,” Ian said. 

“One of the 32 varieties will be our own “Panama coffee” – referring to Melbourne’s latest offering of $198 a cup of Panama Geisha, priced for its rarity.

“It may not be a geisha, but this will be as rare as you can get¬– Brisbane’s first single origin coffee.”

Since 2016, Ian has been working hard with community gardens in Brisbane, through the Urban Coffee Project initiative, to cultivate coffee trees and grow the best coffee beans in Brisbane. 

Some of these beans, which were grown from his own backyard at his Sunnybank Hills home, have won awards at the annual Golden Bean Roasting Competition in Australia and New Zealand.



“It has been my goal to dispel the myth that specialty coffee doesn’t have to grow thousands of kilometres away in high altitude – that we do have the potential to grow quality beans in an urban setting,” he said. 

“We need to do our bit in promoting sustainably led coffee. My goal is to grow 100 coffee trees around Brisbane to produce a decent supply of locally grown coffee.”

“I want to help people everywhere gain fresh perspectives on how coffee is grown, processed, distributed and brewed. So that every step of the way, it’s better for people, and better for the world. It’s a different mentality,” Ian said. 

Coffee Mentality in East Brisbane will be fully operational by March-end.

Survey Seeks to Find Traffic Choke Points and Transport Issues in West End, Inner South

The Government has launched a survey that seeks to identify traffic choke points and transport issues in West End and the rest of Inner South.

In the online survey, participants are asked to describe their travel experiences to help the Department of Transport and Main Roads to better understand the area’s current and future transport challenges and opportunities.

Feedback from the community will be used for the South Brisbane Transport and Mobility Study. This study will help map a way forward to ensure a safe and reliable transport system for the inner south.

The CollabMap

Photo credit: www.collaborativemap.com

A CollabMap is now available for locals to give their inputs online. This is an easy-to-use online mapping tool which can be used to pinpoint specific issues.

According to Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey, the study will consider all transport modes as well as seek community input.

“Public comment will be a major component to ensure a complete picture of key connections to the area via river, road and rail,” Mr Bailey said.

“The study will look at access to education hubs, cultural precincts, and essential services such as hospitals – covering the suburbs of South Brisbane, West End, Highgate Hill, Dutton Park, Woolloongabba, Kangaroo Point, East Brisbane and Annerley,” he added.



Photo credit: www.collaborativemap.com

Residents can use the interactive mapping tool to share where they think there is a transport or mobility issue.

In fact, several transport problems have already been raised for Vulture Street and Montague Road. Issues that were mentioned include the need for a dedicated cycle lane, reduced speed limit, a safe pedestrian and bike crossing as well as the implementation of priority for buses.

When having your say and using the pins in the interactive mapping tool, think about your travel experiences in relation to:

  • Available information explaining the network and how to use it;
  • Connections to destination centres and surrounding neighbourhoods;
  • Safety and personal security on the network; and
  • The range of travel options available.

Community Consultation

The study will also investigate ongoing and emerging traffic and transport pressures on key connections via the river. Photo credit: CC-BY/Brisbane City Council/Flickr

Furthermore, the Government rolled out a community engagement program to give the inner city residents an opportunity to contribute their valuable local knowledge.

Apart from using the CollabMap, locals can also provide inputs by completing the community survey online or visiting community engagement booths. The survey will be open until 31 October 2018.

Schedule of Community Engagement Booths

Corner Boundary Street and Russell Street, West End (Lizard sculpture) Tuesday, 25 September 2018
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Goodwill Bridge (South Bank side) Saturday, 29 September 2018
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Buranda Village shopping centre Tuesday, 2 October 2018
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. and
Thursday, 4 October 2018
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
West End markets (Davies Park) Saturday, 6 and 27 October 2018
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park (near Bar Spritz) Tuesday, 9 October 2018
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Gladstone Road shops (corner Gladstone Road and Blakeney Street) Thursday, 11 October 2018
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Ecosciences Precinct (near Cafe Eco) Tuesday, 16 October 2018
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
South Brisbane Station (forecourt) Wednesday, 17 October 2018
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Woolloongabba Fiveways (Logan Road and Stanley Street) Sunday, 21 October 2018
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
South Bank Busway Station Wednesday, 24 October 2018
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Mowbray Park (near Ferry Terminal) Thursday, 25 October 2018
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Aldi Shopping Centre (Montague Road) Tuesday, 30 October 2018
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Learn more about the South Brisbane Transport and Mobility Study by visiting the official website. You may also contact southbrisbanestudy@tmr.qld.gov.au for more information.