Blackstar Coffee, where hippies and hipsters meet over a good cappuccino while watching the world go by. I had been hearing about Blackstar Coffee for years now from family members and had been gifted their coffee to make at home so I knew it was time to pay a visit to the place itself. Visiting Blackstar in person was quite an experience in that it was very different from what I had pictured. I had erroneously assumed it would be a fairly trendy looking joint: jazz music playing in the background, succulents decorating the tables, local hipster art on the walls. Imagine my surprise when I found *no* walls, all outdoors, and super casual with funky chairs. The friendly but distracted young man that took our orders reminded me of the Phish heads I used to hang out with in college. Most of the other workers had a hippie-style to them as well. It took a few back and forths to figure out what coffee was available for which particular brewing method. I ordered a cappuccino and a brownie to share. We grabbed a small table to enjoy the people watching while waiting for our coffees. There were a few dudes throwing a football around across the street and a number of hipsters posing and looking cool while staring at their phones. The music (Radiohead) became louder and it looked like the staff was rocking out in the back. Our order arrived after a few minutes, and I was happy that my cappuccino was hot, smooth, and nicely decorated. Perhaps it was a little too smooth for my liking, but nonetheless was good enough. But that brownie, damn -- delicious! Super fudgy and chocolately and just amazing. I wish I tried one of their cold brews but I stupidly didn't read the Yelp reviews before coming here. Solid coffee, excellent dessert, and fun people watching make Blackstar a fun place to visit while in the neighborhood. read more

Blackstar Coffee Roasters - Good cappuccino accompanied by a delicious brownie. - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - West End, QLD

If you're looking for a hipster hangout with hotties behind the counter, you've just found your spot in the West End. Could BlackSTAR be the Elphaba of STARbucks? All I know is that my freshly ground espresso beans ($22 for 500g) made just for plunging, were warm and filled my car with a chocolatey coffee scent that made me want to bake myself in the car on a hot day. That's right, this roast is so tasty I'd take a coffee sauna in it. What's that? Beer in the fridge too? No, my friends, this is even better- a cold brewed coffee in a bottle that you can sip on a hot day to keep your mojo going all night long ($5). Black, cream, or soy- they've nailed the recipe with natural sweeteners and all the right stuff. Love the way you turn me on. read more

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I really really love the coffee here - if this review was based purely on the quality of coffee it would be 5stars all the way baby! I also like that you can sit here well sheltered from the sun (or rain). Where Blackstar needs to improve is customer service. Yeah yeah, I get it - cool dudes with GenY attitude make the best coffee - but if they could value add by having some personality, and speed - whoa - what a winning combination that would be. I'm going to keep going back to Blackstar occasionally - communicating with a slowly moving cardboard cut out of a hipster is worth it to taste their fine brew. read more

The iced coffee are the best. I especially love the Total Black. It's sweetened with maple syrup and vanilla so it's very drinkable, and not bitter at all. The coffee here is very strong, actually a bit too strong for my liking, but my husband loves it and now thinks other cafes are too weak. read more

Blackstar Coffee Roasters - Total black - iced coffee from Blackstar - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - West End, QLD

Look. I'm not going to review the coffee. I don't drink coffee. I can't even stand the smell, let alone the taste. But when I ordered a decaf for my friend along with my hot chocolate, he assured me that their decaf is amazing. My hot chocolate was pretty damn good too. Choice between milk and dark chocolate, I went the dark. It wasn't overly sweet, but I also didn't need to add any sweetener, so just right, with that slight bitter chocolate bite to it. It almost looks like someone has turned their garage into a cafe, keeping that grungy West End vibe. The staff I met on my visit were friendly enough too, and despite a good few of us being there, he brought out our drinks quite quickly. So I didn't eat, don't drink coffee... why was I there? A ukulele jam! Much fun to be had. read more

If you have a nose for good coffee I am not preaching to you. Chances are I have already walked past or sat near you on the cracked pavements of Thomas st's illustrious Blackstar coffee. Growing up with a general indifference to coffee (and with a strong fear of instant Nescafe.) I was at first hesitant to try their famous blends but at first sip even a coffee rookie like me could tell this stuff was magic. Strong, robust but velvety smooth their range of coffees are the perfect thing to start the day with. But it's not just the bottled iced coffees that keep me coming, It's the sense of community this place exudes. They offer a unique range of late night activities from monthly ukelele nights to mini Jazz concerts and poetry slams. If you are in the West End vicinity, I strongly encourage you to check this place out. read more

Blackstar Coffee Roasters - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - West End, QLD

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Blackstar is part of my daily routine. I have to have it. It's like a warm hug in the morning. Getting a coffee isn't alway quick, but perfection takes time, and patience is a virtue. I'm so glad I live close by :) read more

Blackstar Coffee Roasters - Brisbane rains - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - West End, QLD

Blackstar Coffee Roasters is one of those typical West End cafes: a little hipster, a lot of yum. Yes, the coffee is good, possibly even brilliant. No burnt beans here. And the locals keep coming back, so they are definitely doing something right. The choices are varied and the iced coffee is amazing. It does take a little while to make, so this is not the place to go if you're in a rush. The food is generally what you would expect from a somewhat upmarket cafe, tasty morsels (think almond croissants, pita breakfast, eggs and bacon with mushrooms) on reasonable sized dishes and not horribly priced either at around $10-$15 a dish. Though the choices for food are limited it makes up for it in deliciousness. The staff are great and friendly which helps the atmosphere stay relaxed. This is good, because you may get caught in the smog of hipster pretentiousness from the clientele if you're not careful. But overall its a nice place to just chill; you could sit here and read a book and sip coffee all day. Which is good because as I wrote before, you will be waiting a while for your coffee. This place is fine, good vibes but I wouldn't say the best of the best. Possibly one of the best in Brisbane though. Just don't come here if you are allergic to hipsters, you may lose it and knock over a pushbike parked out the front. read more

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It's not uncommon to see people walking around west end with beer bottles in hand at anytime of the day. If you do start seeing more and more people downing stubbies mid-morning, however, it might be worth taking a peek at the label. Blackstar Coffee is a cafe situated just off West End's main street whose good word of mouth has seen it's popularity grow exponentially. Stop in on Blackstar and there will no doubt be a colourful mix of characters enjoying themselves in it's unique garage setting. Whilst food and your regular espresso type coffees are available (and delicious), look no further than the fridge of beer bottles filled with iced coffee. Already mixed they are a quick and easy way to get your caffeine fix. Without the cream, ice-cream and syrup that usually accompany an iced coffee these chilled bottles taste of fresh tasting espresso with the slightest hint of sugar. With the choice of both full or soy milk every one is catered for and even if it is not your thing the soy option is well worth a try for the unique nuttiness it brings out in the black star blend. read more

Blackstar Coffee Roasters - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - West End, QLD

Good coffee. Busy, slight confused service. My visit was about 7:30am on a week day and the place was packed with patrons and the staff were off their feet. This made the ordering process seem a bit confused and I ordered a pastry as well. The coffee was served at very different time to the coffee, and I actually had to ask about my pastry, I think they forgot. The coffee was great and the pastry went down a treat despite being mightily overpriced (but west end tho). I am really looking forward to coming back for one of their iced coffees in the glass bottles. They look like a real treat! read more

Blackstar Coffee Roasters - Spills under the lip, too busy to wipe my cup. - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - West End, QLD

I missed the the Blackstar love train. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to deny Blackstar credit where credit is due, but I also don't feel inspired to write a hyperbolic love rave about this little coffee shop. As far as the 'credit where credit is due' category goes, Blackstar wins on three counts. 1. Blackstar roast their own beans. This, above all, is a definite win. 2. Their pre-made bottled ice coffees are to die for. Although I'm a bit old fashioned in that I like to watch an ice coffee being made (ice + ice cream + milk + double shot of coffee poured in over the top in a tall glass and then given to me = Yes! Yes! YES!), the caffeine love nectar in these bottles is not something to turn your nose up at. 3. The somewhat gritty urban setting and décor rubs off on you. All of a sudden, you are the gritty, edgy, urban cool type, sipping latte on recycled, minimalist furniture. Now, the mild criticisms, amidst some more decidedly nice things about Blackstar. 1. The coffee, the hot stuff we're talking about now, is sometimes inconsistent in quality. When I see a waitress walking as if on a tight rope, trying to steady a watery, thin, cappucino on it's path to me, I grimace. My inside voice bellows a strong resounding FAIL while my big voice quietly says 'thankyou'. 2. Admittedly, the baristas and wait staff are the detestably cute kind of a moderate to severe hipster persuasion. They generally make you feel cooler just by having them interact with you, albeit via a commercial transaction. The only real downside is that some of the baristas are drastically more skilled than others, and when it's busy, some baristas and wait staff can forget your order. In their defense, they do get ludricrously busy, and you can expect some wait for your eats, and they are, generally quite apologetic if they do happen to lose your order. (It's a rare occurrence). My best advice is to choose your day to visit Blackstar. It's a great cafe, and some of the love rave is deserved, but they can be inconsistent. It just depends on what's important to you when it comes to cafe culture. read more

I've been coming to Blackstar on a fairly regular basis since it first opened. And the reason? Because their coffee is probably the best in Brisbane. Now saying something like that on a forum like this will inevitably be seen by some people as a sort of challenge. I'm sure there are folk who, one time recently, probably on a Saturday morning, decided to pop into Blackstar "to see what all the fuss is about". And they probably found the place to be packed full of hipster-types. The line to be served was probably quite long. And the waiting time for food and coffee longer than at other cafes they frequent. The food, while being perfectly adequate, did not blow their socks off. It wasn't some innovative re-take of a classic breakfast dish, nor an exotic and unusual flavour combination. Just average breakfast fare, prepared and served simply. They may have even found that the coffee was not to their taste. Too strong. Too bitter. I guess the point I'm making (in a long winded sort of way), is that Blackstar is not the sort of place that everyone will like. BUT if you're a regular coffee drinker, who likes a strong brew, then you definitely need to check this place out. It's busy (particularly at the weekends) but it's worth a short wait for a brilliant coffee, right? read more

The 5th Russell Brand lookalike walks in... I immediately wish I had worn my cambodian fisherman's pants or nepalese kurtha. I stick out like a sore thumb in my Lorna Jane yoga pants and tank top amongst the throngs of hipsters with their macbook airs, some sans footwear. It's atmosphere is as cool as their service is slow and disorganised. The coffee is good and their cold pressed stuff is fantastic. If judged purely on the coffee, this would be an altogether different review. However, the food is average and the service is (although very friendly) a little confused. The very cute hipster guy at the counter got our order wrong 3 times, then charged us the wrong amount, the barista then lost our coffee order. Of course this was all with a smile and a laid back attitude that is infectious! read more

Everything about this place screams hipster........that would be if hipsters screamed. Whilst the service takes a very relaxed attitude, the single origin coffee is simply divine. There is plenty of seating which is all under cover and a couple of long bench tables too if you are not flying solo. At first glance the fridge looks to be stocked with craft beer it is in fact coffee. The closer you get to the counter the stronger the aroma of coffee gets but not so much that it is overwhelming Pricey yes. And there is food available too but as I look around most people are here for the coffee. read more

In my opinion the best businesses are the ones that find something they're good at - and then excel in it. Blackstar Coffee definitely has that down pat. Sure, there are some baked goods and toasties on the menu, but they only have a sandwich grill so you're not going there for big breakfasts. You go for the coffee. More particularly, for me, I go for the iced coffee. I find it really hard sometimes with iced coffee. It's hot dammit, I want delicious coffee but I want it cool and icy. No, I don't want whipped cream, in fact I might not even want ice cream and don't mention chocolate sprinkles to me if you want this conversation to stay civil. When I first visited Blackstar I was surprised to be directed to the fridge for a bottle when I ordered my iced coffee - and possibly a little bit miffed at being asked to pay $5 for it. However my first sip changed everything. My whole world. Seriously. It was like only tasting Cadbury's all your life and then eating the finest Swiss chocolate, like only eating MacDonalds and then hitting a wagyu steak. Incredibly rich, so smooth, so ridiculously satisfying. What sets it apart is that it's cold pressed, so no heat ever gets near the beans. The result is amazingly velvety, with no hint of acidity. They add maple syrup, vanilla and milk (or not, or soy, depending on your preference) and the result is spectacular. I can't tell you how many excuses I find to drive from Alderley to West End now... read more

Just recently I said to someone Blackstar had competition gnawing at its feet and it is true. While this West End staple kicked off a coffee revolution for Brisbane, it is now competing with a handful of new roasters and cafes that are shining a pretty bright spotlight. Still, they're a great coffee house (just don't, as others have said, expect a feast as the menu is limited to simple muesli, avocado on toast and cakes). I maintain that they still have the best cold press coffee in Brisbane. read more

I was indulging my inner hipster last Sunday and stopped by here for a single origin flat white and a bag of fresh roasted and ground coffee from Aceh, Indonesia. Very tasty coffee, strong and full of flavour. read more

Blackstar is easily the best coffee I've had in West End. I've tried it dine in, take away, and as their bottled cold press and have been happy each time. If you're after coffee in the area, definitely come here. That is, unless you're in a rush. They certainly embrace the laid back West End vibe, and don't hurry to get your coffee to you. Not too bad if you're dining in, but a bit awkward when you're taking away because there's not really a good waiting area without feeling like you're in the way. I'm yet to eat here. I'll be honest, the first time I came I didn't even realise they had food. I didn't see anyone eating, there were no visible menus, no boards on the wall. I felt disappointed. The next time - everyone was eating, menus everywhere, very obvious board on the back wall! I still have no idea what happened. read more

Great little coffee shop in the West End. It took a bit of searching to find Blackstar but it was worth the find. Since it was warm that day, we took the barista's recommendation and tried one of their cold pressed coffee. It was delicious. Great coffee flavor with a good balance cream and sweetness. I also purchased some of their house roasted coffee. Both blends were extremely fresh and had a nice flavor to them. The store is a bit on the small side and all of the seating is outside. So if the elements are extreme, it might be better to take your coffee to go or brew some of their fresh roasted beans. I will definitely be back. read more

Funky west end joint - consistently Great coffee with equally great eco | social ethics These hipsters have created a great vibe & are big supporters of local community, culture & music! read more

Simply the best coffee in Brisbane. I'm glad I don't live close-by or I'd be there every day. Yes, the place is populated by hipsters, but it's in West End, ya know? read more

Blackstar deserve all their accolades for all they've done to advance cafe culture in Brisbane. Apart from being one of the few places (other than the odd restaurant) that will do you a takeaway until (at least) 9pm every night, they also roast their own coffee beans including a single origin variety grown just a stone's throw away in the Byron Bay hinterland. They also export their signature single origins and blends to a number of cafes throughout Brisbane, though their exacting standards have proven too much for a few establishments. Blackstar is a great place to have a relaxing meet up with an old friend over some great coffee. On a hot summer day their bottled ice coffee varieties are a welcome refresher, offering the coffee pick me up without the unwelcome heat. My only minor criticism is that sometimes there can be a bit of a wait to get your takeaway made, though that's par for the course in a cafe as popular as Blackstar. read more

When I ordered an iced coffee on my first visit to Blackstar last summer and it came out served in an old beer tallie, I knew this place and I were going to be friends. When I tasted the pure espresso and cold, icy milk in the iced coffee, I knew that I'd have to start ordering skim or I'd be on cholesterol medication before winter came around. The coffee here is seriously good. Just around a corner off Vulture street, Blackstar is a little secret. Well, it used to be, but even now that it's hugely popular it maintains a secret feel. Maybe it's the impromptu, shed-like set-up, or the cool staff, or just the smugness that comes from knowing that you're enjoying one of Brisbane's best coffees while other people out there are still ordering mugaccinos at the Coffee Club. Either way, Blackstar will attend to all you beverage and brunch related needs, as well as provide you with somewhere to sit. Just add friends or a good book and your Saturday morning is perfect. read more

Relaxed vibe, reasonable coffee, but didn't love the long service time. If you've got time to kill to read a chapter of your book while you wait for your coffee to arrive, then this place is for you. read more

I give Blackstar props for being ahead of the Brisbane coffee trend, particularly when it comes to their bottled iced coffees and their presence at the Davies Park markets. But as far as dining in goes, their service is slow and their food is disappointing. Blackstar may have started the trend for good coffee but they've been far surpassed by a number of younger cafés - some of those cafés even use Blackstar beans. read more

After reading my fellow Yelpers reviews I was excited to try a coffee from Blackstar. Unfortunately, I was immediately put off by the hipster crowd. Almost everyone was sitting with a laptop or ipad. The Velvet Underground were playing over the speakers, so I felt safe enough to come in. My family waited almost ten minutes just to put in an order. There were a lot of unhappy people in line ahead of us. We then waited a further ten minutes for our two takeaway coffees. The barista was very apologetic and gave us a rundown on the superiority of Blackstar coffee. She was quite full-on and insisted my partner not have any sugar as it would ruin the coffee. I thought this was pretty rude, but my partner was excited by the barista's confidence. Unfortunately her confidence was ill founded. Our coffees were average at best. I think I caught Blackstar on a bad day. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and try them again soon. read more

Blackstar Coffee Roasters - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - West End, QLD

Blackstar is widely revered in West End and I agree that they brew excellent coffee. However, I think they could brush up on their customer service skills - I find their service to be a little slow and indifferent. On one occasion I stood at the counter and waited for what seemed like an eternity for the young man behind the counter to even look up and acknowledge me! There were no other customers around at the time mind you. Perhaps too they are guilty of believing their own hype because their coffee prices are bordering on the pretentious at $3.80 for an 8oz (227ml) Reg and $4.50 for a 12oz (341ml) large. Pity because it's still a cool joint just to hang out at, particularly when there's some music on offer as there often is in the late afternoon or early evening. read more

Amazing little place tucked away in West End. Delicious breakfast menu, PERFECT coffee and a charming atmosphere. Every time I've been there, the service has been on point - only the friendliest of friendly staff. One of my favourite coffee places! read more

The waiting time can vary, which is a potential concern if you're in a hurry for takeaway, but the coffee is emphatically worth the wait. And if you're in the mood to sit down over bircher muesli and watch the world go by: welcome home. read more

8 out of 10 coffees are great. And that's a pretty good average. And their chai is really nice. Lookout for hipster duffusses? But remember it is West End read more

good coffee. never ate there but i hear good things. friendly staff. i really enjoy how accessibly this place is from the street. it's so flat. you just walk straight in. read more

I went there with my wife and 6 month old after a walk in west end as I like coffee and wanted to see whether they had a bonbon coffee (with condensed milk). They did not have it but we sat for a coffee anyway. At some point, after we had a coffee and as we were about to leave I noticed that I needed to change the baby and asked where I can do this, I was told that there is no space on the bathroom and then I asked whether I can do it on the table ( we have mats and sanitiser obviously) as we have done many times in other restaurants. They told me that they would have to ask others so I decided that I would just be easier to do it in the pram. Just before doing that a guy came up to me a told me that there is a law that does not allow that and I would have to go to the toilet (where there was no space). When I asked him which law is that he told me that I have to either go to the toilet or leave! I have never heard of anyone being asked to leave a coffee shop so I would have thought that was hilarious if the baby was not that uncomfortable. I would have understood if the guy was concerned about other patrons but they looked more worried with that guy's attitude than a nappy change. At the end I decided to leave as that fine man that was telling me as he looked determined enough to even waste police time over something like that, but I found the attitude appalling. read more