If you ask Arthur and Paul what the secret to Only. Specialty Coffee’s success is, they’d probably tell you it’s just a matter of putting yourself where you’re needed most. For their inner-city pit stop, they managed to capture the tastes and patronage of those in the immediate catchment area of Queen Street’s intersection with Eagle Street – saving them the hassle of having to trek blocks for a sip of top-notch coffee. The duo’s second outlet follows the same formula, this time setting up shop at the ground-floor of a booming UniLodge student accommodation hub in Woolloongabba – right near the Buranda train and bus stations.
The cosy hole-in-the-wall space offered up some challenging design restrictions that necessitated a streamlining of Only.’s offering. Local designer Matthew James Reynolds helped visualise the tenancy, incorporating the venue’s existing gas pipes into the aesthetic, resulting in a chic industrial vibe. The handy crew at Woodsters took charge on the fit-out itself, while Isabelle Cameron of Botanicals by Bella has added some lush greenery to soften the space and add a lively lift. As for the goods, Only. will be serving up its popular style of specialty brew, leading with Five Senses and bolstered by a constantly rotating array of single-origin pours and filter for caffeine-deprived commuters and students. Although the space doesn’t permit a salad counter, Only. is serving up Butterbing Cookie Sandwiches, which make for a delicious and decadent accompaniment to any coffee, if we do say so ourselves.
Only. Specialty Coffee is now open. For opening hours and other details, click on over to the Stumble Guide.