Positioned a short 50-m trot from the Nundah train station, Ollie’s Espresso Bar boasts an enviably convenient location. But even if it was a little bit harder to find, the cafe’s owner and namesake Ollie’s three-week-old coffee spot would be worth seeking out.
The seasoned barista – who may be familiar to some from his time behind the counter at some of Brisbane’s finest caffeine dispensaries, including Blackout in Paddington – naturally had ‘killer location’ high on his list of criteria. That said, when you really get down to it, Ollie really just wanted a spot where he could comfortably show off a range of top-tier coffees.
“It’s a really good area,” says Ollie of Nundah Village – a hub flush apartment buildings that houses a built-in clientele. “Where I see us fitting in, is by adding more specialty coffee options into the area and giving people the chance to try stuff that they potentially haven’t tried before – like filtered coffee, different types of single origins and higher-end coffees.”
The space itself is crisply minimal, with an aesthetic comprised of white tile, timber and matte-black accents (as well as floral mural from artist Bastian Allfrey on the feature wall) giving Ollie’s a warm and welcoming feel. It feels larger than its 40-sqm dimensions, thanks in part to the site’s high ceilings and a bank of windows that open to the street. Seating wise, guests can sit for a spell on cushioned banquettes inside or on a scattering of stools on the footpath.
When it comes to the all-important coffee, Ollie’s sleek Sanremo Cafe Racer is pumping out milk-based coffees using the espresso bar’s own custom house blend. A rotating roster of roasters – think Dibs Coffee (formerly The Black Lab), Parallel Roasters and Single O – are also on deck for filter brews, while Ollie will also be sourcing and serving limited batches of high-grade reserve coffee for those eager to try an ultra-premium product. “It means if you come in one weekend and try something really cool, then the next time you come in there will be a different experience to try,” says Ollie.
Soon, Ollie and his team will introduce a small menu of staples, but for now an ever-changing selection of sandwiches – think garlic Turkish bread with double-smoked ham and Swiss cheese, and chicken pesto with spinach and gouda cheese – are available alongside freshly baked croissants from Brasserie Bread.
While Nundah Village locals have already started flocking (many with pooches in tow) to Ollie’s for their morning cup, Ollie himself hopes the espresso bar evolves into a comfortable pit stop for all. “I want to make this a place that everyone feels they can just hang out – whether it be just business people who need to grab a coffee before they run to the train, or people who work from home and just want an escape from the nine to five,” says Ollie. “I just hope to be that kind of go-to place for really good coffee – a place that you can come and try some really unique coffees that are sometimes hard to find at other places.”
Ollie’s Espresso Bar is now open seven days a week – head to the Stumble Guide for more information.
