The story
Industry Beans first broke into the Australian coffee consciousness in 2013 with its impressive all-in-one roastery and brew bar in Melbourne’s Fitzroy. Inspired by the latest trends and tastes emerging from the Third Wave coffee scene, Steven and Trevor Simmons decided to kickstart a coffee outfit of their own – one that favoured transparency, accessibility and a holistic approach to the entire coffee experience. Housed within a converted warehouse space, Industry Beans’ eye-catching flagship location and its forward-thinking identity resonated, becoming a successful launching point for steady expansion. From these humble beginnings, Industry Beans has quickly grown to boast venues on Little Collins Street in Melbourne, York Street in Sydney and now Brisbane. The idea to expand into Queensland was first floated three years ago, at a time when the local coffee scene was percolating. After numerous site inspections, a suitable home was found 18 months ago on Proe Street in Newstead – a light-industrial space that harkened back to Industry Beans’ original Fitzroy flagship. Soon, plans were put in place for an all-in-one venue that brought together all of the brand’s various elements, creating its most comprehensive experience to date by uniting roasting, education, wholesale and cafe components together under one roof.
The space
A 12-month design, development and build period has yielded what might be one of Brisbane’s most breathtaking venues. The 700sqm warehouse location was hollowed out into a shell, before it was refitted to contain a multi-faceted array of amenities across two levels. Melbourne-based architectural and interior design practice DesignOffice was recruited to implement Industry Beans’ visual identity, which is predicated on a palette of clean, crisp and minimalist aesthetics. From the street, guests enter via an enclosed courtyard dining space, which flows through to the central tiered dining room at the heart of the building. The main cafe-meets-restaurant space is bracketed on one side by an impressive brew bar boasting specialty Modbar equipment (the venue’s roastery is visible beyond, behind glass windows), while a tree flourishes near the open kitchen window at the rear of the space. Upstairs on the mezzanine level sits coffee-training and cupping facilities as well as a coffee greenhouse, all of which will be utilised to showcase Industry Beans’ signature ‘crop to cup’ experience – dissecting the sourcing, roasting and brewing stages involved in every cup. All internal dining spaces are temperature-controlled, with air-conditioning vents seamlessly incorporated into the venue’s design.
The food and drink
As one would expect from a specialty coffee-focused operation, caffeine is a key component to the food and drink menu at Industry Beans Newstead. The coffee offering is divided into two streams – espresso-based and filter coffee. Espresso drinkers can select either the venue’s signature Newstead blend, a seasonal blend or rotating two single-origin espresso varieties. Filter sips are available in four brew methods including cold brew, pourover, dripper and batch brew. The coffee menu lists the region of origin, flavour profiles and notable pieces of information across all choices, highlighting the educational element underpinning the entire coffee service. Coffee is also incorporated across some unique beverages, including the Coffee Bubble Cup (cold brew with con-soy and coffee-soaked tapioca pearls) and the Yuzu cascara spritz (dried coffee cherry fruit mixed with yuzu syrup and sparkling water). The daytime drinks list is rounded out by chocolate, chai, juices, kombucha and house-made soda. Much like the building’s design and the coffee offering, the food has been crafted with a similar attention to detail, especially as it pertains to presentation and enticing flavour combinations. The morning brunch selection is balanced between familiar classics and adventurous gems, with savvy seasonal tweaks maintaining a narrative throughout the menu. Highlights of the launch menu include porcini egg in a kohlrabi nest, fruit sashimi, coffee-rubbed wagyu burgers, ginger-beer pork belly and espresso-glazed beef ribs. In a first for Industry Beans, the Newstead location is open for night trading, showcasing an evening menu of snacks (truffled porcini croquettes), small plates (coffee-rubbed fried quail, black-rice prawns) and larger dishes (sous-vide salmon garden). Ryan Curtis (formerly of Gerard’s Bar) is overseeing the bar range, which includes a comprehensive wine list, craft beer from Green Beacon Brewing, Ballistic Beer Co and Fortitude Brewing, and signature cocktails such as a cold-brew negroni, sour coffee fizz, and the Newstead espresso martini.
Industry Beans is now open to the public. For opening hours and contact details, head to the Stumble Guide.
