Tom Wilcock wasn’t in any hurry to add another cafe to his portfolio. His Riding Road cafe, Hawthorne Coffee, has been doing a cracking trade since it opened a little under a year ago, with locals quick to claim the light-filled corner caffeinery as their go-to spot for specialty brew, tip-top toasties and sociable atmosphere.

But then the team behind Fifth Avenue Lifestyle, the boutique studio hub in which Hawthorne Coffee resides, came knocking. They brought Tom an offer – a vacant space at Fifth Avenue’s new location in Fairfield that was perfect for another cosy coffee concept. Seeing an avenue to replicate Hawthorne Coffee’s success in an area of town devoid of quality coffee options, Tom agreed to sign on.

Anyone who has been to Hawthorne Coffee will likely be unsurprised at the response – the joint is perpetually abuzz with a regular crowd of caffeine seekers. In a time where cafe operators are ditching the full-service brunch model in favour of more streamlined concepts, Hawthorne Coffee stands out as the ideal archetype of the contemporary Brisbane locale – a small coffee-centric outlet that boasts a concise, yet considered, menu of undeniable winners.

At Fieldy’s Coffee, Tom is replicating the model. But replicating the success requires more than a simple copy-and-paste job – there’s a bit more to it. “It’s all about building a relationship,” says Tom. “It’s like a family in Hawthorne. You come every day for your daily coffee, and they remember your name.”

The coffee bar at Fieldy’s is helmed by a small roster of baristas – regular faces that the regular clientele will get to know over time. They’re pouring ST. ALi’s Wide Awake blend (a syrupy mix boasting dark chocolate, butterscotch and almond praline notes that makes for a phenomenal flat white) alongside filter and cold-brew options.

Fieldy’s food menu is headed by a five-strong selection of gourmet sourdough toasties, including a saucy breakfast toastie, a classic number with ham off the bone, vine-ripe tomato and a house cheese blend, basil-pesto chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, and a mushroom truffle toastie. If you’re seeking something lighter, avocado toast, bacon-and-egg muffins, acai bowls and granola bowls flesh out what is, in totality, a pretty stacked menu. While the offering is the same as Hawthorne’s, Tom is open to tweaking the range based on community demand. “We’re just running same menus and seeing what people want in the area,” says Tom. “It might end up being different to Hawthorne – we’ll get everyone’s feedback.”

Where Hawthorne Coffee is a pastel-hued beauty boasting a fetching pink-and-white colour scheme, Fieldy’s has taken on an earthier palette, with forest green tiles and cushions accenting a black and timber aesthetic, which is spread across the cafe’s poky internals and covered 30-seat dining area. There’s a small amount of parking out the back of the building, meaning it’s easy to swing by and grab your morning pick-me-up. “Stop in for morning coffee, have a chat with us,” encourages Tom. “It’s just all about good vibes and good coffee.”