Koast Café opens.
Koast Café opens.
Gathering for a good cause is one of the most delightful things you can do. Being surrounded by like-minded people, learning about new ways of doing things, new businesses or listening to stories is the perfect bonding experience and one we’ve vowed to take part in more often now that we’re allowed to spend time together again.
All of those things are made even better, if they take place in a pretty space and of course, with a cup of coffee in hand. Which is the exact situation at Burleigh’s new Koast Café, a new coffee spot and event space that you can pop into as of right now.
Technically Koast Café is part of Burleigh Studio, a double-storey venue on Fremantle Street that is decked out in crisp whites and plenty of greenery.
Upstairs you’ll find a meeting-style area that can be hired for mini expos, product launches, women’s group catch ups, birthday parties, you name it. A four hour event will set you back $400 and includes one staff member to assist. You can take food in or have your event catered, so that’s a good time.
The space is also perfect for photoshoots, art exhibitions and workshops.
Downstairs, there are comfy couches, a dining table and a couple of sun-filled corners, perfect for sipping a toasty cuppa.
Which of course is a thing you can also do, as the downstairs area is home to Koast Café where you can pop in for a quick takeaway or stay to sip in peace.
Owner Sandra is also quite the clever maker, so you can take home one of her seagrass planters, a pretty new cushion or a stunning dream catcher if you’re in the market.
All the good things in the one pretty spot.
Pop in for a coffee and to check out Koast Café for your next event.
LOCATION: 28/4 Fremantle St, Burleigh Heads
HOURS: 9am until 4pm Tuesday to Friday
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
Owners of Social Espresso.
They’re the delightful pair behind your sweet, lifesaving cuppa every morning so, for Mitch and Hayley of Social Espresso, let’s all take a minute to give thanks.
The clever couple started their business just a few short years ago and, in that time, have amassed a huge following of loyal Gold Coasters in love with their unique blends.
We sat down for a chat with Mitch and Hayley about what it takes to create a brand new coffee blend (yes it’s a lot of coffee) and how they came to be stocked in so many locally loved cafes.
How long have you been Gold Coast locals?
We moved from WA to the Gold Coast about five years ago now for Hayley’s work at the time. Fell in love with it immediately and very quickly made it our home.
What do you love most about living in our beachside city?
We are both from small coastal towns so we love that it has beautiful beaches and that laid back coastal vibe but there is also a great buzz! There is an awesome cafe and restaurant scene (we are both foodies) and so much growth and opportunity for business. We feel there is a great sense of community here where startup businesses are encouraged and small businesses support each other and work together and that’s pretty special!
Tell us how your business, Social Espresso, came about?
Mitch: I’ve always worked around coffee and while on a surf trip through Central America I visited some coffee plantations and my real interest in coffee began. When I moved back to Australia I began deepening my experience as a barista. From there it progressed to managing cafes. When we moved to the Gold Coast I had the goal of eventually starting my own business. I started working for several cafes and I felt there was a gap for local coffee with a strong focus on service and so I just started learning everything I could and took the leap.
What’s the process of creating such a unique blend?
It’s quite a journey the coffee bean takes from crop to cup. But keeping it short and simple; we start with an idea of a flavour profile we want to achieve. We generally find the most crowd pleasing is a full body with smooth caramel and milk chocolate sweetness and a slight berry or dried fruit acidity. We source a variety of beans from around the world and sample them through a process called cupping. Here we look for different characteristics in each bean, some offering body, some sweetness, others a fruity acidity. From there we build the flavour profile through these layers to give our drinkers the best experience.
Why do you think people grew to love it so quickly?
It took time and lots of trial and error to come up with a few blends we are really proud of. We had the Gold Coast market in mind and are constantly asking the public what they look for in their daily brew. I think that’s the most important thing, keeping the end consumer as top priority and not getting too carried away with trying to be too different. We also make sure we work with good machinery and train our baristas thoroughly in weighing and timing each shot in order for them to deliver consistently delicious coffee every time.
What does a normal day look like for the two of you?
Starting bright and early serving coffee in our coffee bar in the Burleigh industrial area. We open from 5.30am to 10.30am for the morning rush – it’s our favourite way to start the day – chatting to our regulars and having a few laughs, networking and solving the problems of the world. Once that shift is done we then pack both cars up, split ways and pop into each of our cafes with their weekly delivery. Mitch looks after all barista training so he may have a few of those booked in each week. The rest is filled in with time at the roastery, machine maintenance, sales enquiries, packing online orders, marketing and back end admin. It’s just a two-man band so we do it all.
How do your beans come to be brewed by some of the most loved cafes across the Coast?
We feel extremely lucky to work with some of the top cafes on the coast. We have formed great relationships in our coffee community and have been lucky enough to get most of our business through these friendships, customers and word of mouth. Service is a priority for us; we make sure we are in our cafes each week checking that everything is running smoothly. We really love what we do and I think that’s the key to a successful business.
What else is involved in the business we might not be aware of?
We partnered up with our friend Jeremy at Raw Earth Organics to start our own cold brew company, Two Amigo’s Cold Brew. It’s really taken off nicely and we are stocked in several cafes, bars, restaurants, markets and supermarkets throughout the coast. That’s been an exciting little venture and one that we are hoping to keep growing.
What’s the plan for 2019 for the two of you?
Further growth hopefully in both Social Espresso and Two Amigo’s cold brew. There are still so many areas we would love to branch into. And a holiday! It’s been a while.
Tell us your favourites on the Coast…
Beach: We live right on Talle Creek, so we feel like that’s our little local sanctuary. But our favourite beach has to be Cabarita. For Mitch it’s wherever there is surf.}Cafe: This is a hard one, it’s a little like asking who your favourite child is. Obviously we love all our Social Espresso cafes! But depending on what mood we are in, we usually can’t go past breaky at Cafe Caribou. Cafe Dbar also do a great feed and they have incredible views! Mitch loves a pie on the go at Fuel Bakehouse or on treat day a coffee and donut at D point 10…if you haven’t tried one of their donuts, you haven’t lived! We are also really excited for our newest partnership, Burleigh Co-op who’ll be opening their doors in a few weeks!
Restaurant: Etsu. We love Japanese and this place never disappoints! It’s our go-to when we need to treat ourselves (which is quite often) or impress visitors. We also love Baskk in Kirra. Epic food and cocktails and a really fun vibe.
How does your weekend usually look: Getting up early (cant sleep in to save ourselves), Mitch usually goes for a surf, I go to yoga and then meet at home to make a cold brew coffee, throw the mattress in the back of the van and cruise down the coast for an adventure. We love finding cool new cafes, a quiet beach to surf and relax and a nice spot to park up for the night (preferably with ocean views)
From ocean-inspired to Moroccan magic, we’ve got you covered.
Homewares are our love language, and yes, our friends may call it an “obsession”, but we prefer “healthy, well-styled commitment”. Cushions, ceramics, rattan chairs… they’re our version of self-care (and we’re not here for anyone’s intervention).
Luckily, the Gold Coast is stacked with boutiques that’ll have you mentally rearranging your living room before you’ve even left the shop. Whether you’re chasing coastal calm, Moroccan magic, or a little mid-century mojo, here’s your ultimate hit list, from north to south.
Think “liveable luxury” with a coastal-chic twist. Founded by Kristin Gilford in 2014, this award-winning interior styling and design studio is all about tactile layers, bespoke pieces, imported luxe fabrics, artisan wallpapers, and signature rugs—each with a story to tell. The Runaway Bay showroom is a wanderlust-infused playground perfect for inspiration or a luxe shopping sesh.
Where: Runaway Bay Shopping Village, 10-12 Lae Drive, Runaway Bay
From Mongolia to Morocco, Denmark to India and Asia to Africa, St Barts has travelled the globe sourcing unique pieces that bring a sense of wanderlust into your home. Their Brickworks Ferry Road store is a feast for the senses, and the flagship in Burleigh Heads is paired with Next Door Espresso for a caffeine hit while you browse. Expect handcrafted furniture, lush textiles, striking art and lifestyle goods that are always ahead of the trend curve. Every visit feels like stepping into an expertly curated holiday destination you never want to leave.
Where: Brickworks Ferry Road, 107 Ferry Road, Southport and 24 Junction Road, Burleigh Heads
If “coastal cool” was a store, this would be it. The Beach Furniture is all about sun-drenched, barefoot vibes with natural textures, raw timbers, and soft, airy tones. Think statement dining tables, plush sofas you’ll never want to get out of, and ceramics that make your shelves look like they belong in a magazine. Warning: you’ll want everything — and we mean everything.
Where: 48 Bundall Rd, Bundall
An OG in the Gold Coast homewares scene and still absolutely smashing it. Village Stores is like walking into a Pinterest board IRL: rattan pendants, textured rugs, organic ceramics, and soulful little décor gems that scream “main character energy” for your home. It’s the kind of place you walk into with zero intention to buy… and walk out with a car full of “necessities”.
Where: Shop 1/54 Bundall Road, Bundall
Started as a lighting and tile boutique, but like any good glow-up story, now it’s one of the Coast’s most stylish interiors spots. Three Balls Red is serving buttery-soft linens, sculptural chairs, original art, and rugs you’ll want to roll around on. Their design-savvy crew can help you nail the look.
Where: 2/85 Ashmore Road, Bundall
If your Pinterest boards scream “Hamptons, but make it Gold Coast”, Alfresco Emporium is your mecca. We’re talking crisp coastal furniture, Euro-chic tableware, lush greenery, and soft furnishings that look straight from a designer shoot. Each display is so perfectly styled you’ll be mentally moving in before you’ve hit the checkout.
Where: Ashmore Rd & Bundall Rd, Bundall
Minimalists and mid-century modern lovers, welcome home. Kira & Kira in Miami is a retail-meets-workshop space where form and function get along really well. Every piece, from clean-lined furniture to perfectly proportioned lighting, is made with intention and meant to last. The whole vibe will make you want to KonMari your entire house and start fresh (in style).
Where: Store: 2017 Gold Coast Highway, Miami. Showroom: 4 Fortitude Crescent, Burleigh Heads
One foot in Miami, the other in Marrakech. Trader Trove is bursting with vibrant textiles, intricate rugs, handwoven baskets, and ceramics that feel like souvenirs from your most exotic holiday. Bonus: they stock vintage treasures, so every trip feels like a treasure hunt. Basically, if your home needs more you, start here.
Where: 22 Christine Avenue, Miami
This serene, sunlit space is all about those thoughtful finishing touches, from art and ceramics to linen aprons, children’s toys, and vintage finds that tug on the heartstrings. With its focus on local makers and sustainability, Heartfill feels less like shopping and more like slow-living inspiration.
Where: 1/29 Lemana Lane, Burleigh Heads
Your bohemian dreamscape lives here. Maison & Maison’s range is straight out of global markets, carved buffalo skulls, embroidered cushions, leather pouffes, and luxe throws you’ll “accidentally” nap under all weekend. This Burleigh Heads beauty is physically impossible to leave empty-handed.
Where: 53 James Street, Burleigh Heads
Warm, inviting, and just the right amount of quirky, Emporium on James is a one-stop shop for gifts, coastal furniture, Mongolian sheepskin throws, and candles you’ll want to burn every day. It’s part inspiration hub, part retail therapy, and 100% the kind of store that turns “just browsing” into a full-blown style mission.
Where: 1/50-52 James St, Burleigh Heads
Beachside minimalism at its most swoon-worthy. Cotton Living’s palette is soft, neutral, and oh-so-inviting, with plush textiles, sleek décor, and classic furniture that feels both timeless and fresh. Whether you’re hunting a hero piece or the small details that tie it all together, this place has the goods.
Where: 1 Lord St, Coolangatta
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
A new Miami home for the crafty crew.
Is there anything better than making pretty art with your very own hands with like-minded ladies in an absolutely stunning space with a cup of tea and some organic treats to nibble on?
Don’t think so. Did you know that is an exact time you can have at Gold Coast gem The Craft Parlour, which has indeed been around for a few good time packed years now, but has recently moved to a new home at Lemana Lane in Miami.
Which is perfect because, as you may have noticed, there is A LOT of incredible things happening on Lemana Lane (Hotel Miami, Granddad Jacks and Heartfill) in Miami and The Craft Parlour is right at home there.
In case you’ve never had the pleasure, The Craft Parlour is the work of one Rachael Valentine who, not coincidentally, is one of the most love-filled (and loved) lasses on the Coast.
So much so, that she wanted to create a place where creatives could share their passion and skills and in turn, inspire others to awaken theirs.
Built on the premise of creating a community, connection and stepping outside your comfort zone, the space has become one of the Coast’s most adored spots for everything from macramé workshops to pottery and paint and sip classes to paper making.
So all of the things you love.
But back to the space itself (sorry got carried away).
As you’d expect from a gal who encourages creativity for a living, The Craft Parlour is a naturally-lit wonderland of woven wall hangings, shelves packed with coloured yarn, abundant greenery, vintage rugs and timber flooring that all comes together as the 70s beach shack of your dreams. But also probably better than anything you or I could dream up.
It’s a labour of love by Rachel and her partner Seb, jam-packed with soul and a place you will absolutely never want to leave.
If there’s ever been a place to encourage your inner creative to come out and play, it’s this one.
So, if you’re interested in sewing yourself a new frock, painting a resin art piece for your wall or even hosting a baby shower or hens do in a perfectly put together space, look no further than The Craft Parlour.
You might find yourself a new hobby, a new gal pal or simply just some time to kick back and create something pretty.
We’re in love and we think you will be too.
Yeah the Gold Coast.
LOCATION: 27 Lemana Lane, Miami
HOURS: Various, depending on workshops
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
