Espresso Garage is a firm favourite in Brisbane’s buzzing coffee scene, so we thought it was about time you got to know the mastermind behind this South Bank institution.
We’re giving you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the magic of Espresso Garage, how they perfect latte art, and a chance to meet the owner, Mia!
First things first, how did you get your start and why did you decide to open Espresso Garage? We (Jayden & Mia) love coffee, food, and people! Making great coffee and food to make people smile sounded awesome to us, and we were confident we could do it well. When we discovered Espresso Garage, we thought it was the perfect little spot to fill with happiness, delicious coffee, and tasty breakfast!
We love the name – can you please tell us the story behind Espresso Garage? We’re a small hole-in-the-wall café, only about 15m²—just like a single garage space! That’s why the name "Garage" fits perfectly. And just like every garage space holds unlimited potential, ours has become a place full of energy every morning.
How did you learn to perfect your latte art? It’s funny, but I actually learned from YouTube. It taught me a lot of techniques! And of course, lots of practice helped improve my latte art over time.
What’s your favourite coffee to make? Making a mug of latte is always exciting because it’s the perfect canvas for creating latte art.
If a friend came to visit Brisbane for the first time, how would you spend a weekend showing them the sights? I’d start the morning at the Collective Markets, grab coffee and breakfast at Espresso Garage (of course!), and then have a picnic at River Quay Green in South Bank with live music at Sunday Social. A 50-cent CityCat ride to explore Brisbane from the river would be a must, as they can hop off anywhere they’d like and catch another ride back. We’d end the day in South Bank, watching the Victoria Bridge light up at night and enjoying the stunning city views from the Parklands.
Check out their how-to on perfecting latte art here.
