4:30pm Wednesday: My husband and I are racing towards Campos in the Valley hoping to buy our usual supply of roasted coffee before they shut.
4:31pm: I trip on the uneven strip of pavement and smack the kerbside with a stinging kiss. My husband hesitates but I wave him on willing to take one for the team if only we can grab our weekly dose of coffee. We are coffee fiends. Without our weekly supply, all work will cease and our relationship will break down.
4:32pm: It is too late. My husband returns empty handed. He suspects Campos shut early over the Christmas period.
As coffee withdrawal set in, we suddenly see a small crowd gathered outside a warehouse, in the otherwise deserted street. Shakily, we stumble towards this apparition, this warehouse which smells of coffee, this shop waving numerous coloured ribbons declaring it 'Gold Medal Winner Hobart Fine Food Shot, Sydeney Fine Food Show, Most Awarded Coffee in Australia 2010, Top 20 cafes in Brisbane Courier mail' etc etc.
This is how we first found Bellissimo Coffee.
We end up buying two new types of roasted beans - Indonesian Single Origin and Ethiopia Single Origin. Each 250g bag costs around $10. The helpful barista gives us a complimentary cup of coffee each - perhaps she saw us banging our fists outside Campos and was trying to woo us away from the competition.
We're also given loyalty cards - after 5 bags of coffee, get one bag free. This is a pretty good deal considering most coffee shops just give you a free coffee.
Although we didn't eat anything in their cafe, I would definitely try their cakes or sandwiches in the future. They don't have a huge range but the mini canolies, melting moments and lemon cakes are cheap and looks tasty. They also do two raisin toasts for $3.00
Their warehouse setting with the exposed brick wall and roller door has a rough polish which gives the shop a unique character. There are some tables set up outside and upstairs but it feels like they have dispensed with the niceties in order to focus on their coffees. This is evident by their range of coffee paraphernalia on display - there are coffee machines, grinders and stove top coffee makers for sale. There's a large roaster in one corner.
I'll have to taste my two bags of coffees before I give a final verdict but I suspect Bellissimo may have usurped Campos as my favourite coffee supplier. read more