Kiwanda Cafe Logan City

TL;DR: If it were anywhere else in town, it might be just another coffee shop. All the way out here, with the freedom to be a factory and to experiment with different modes of coffee - this is a whole other world. For any fan of Zarraffa's coffee, you owe it to yourself to come here. It has always been a good head ahead of the competition, and this merely validates it.

A mere half hour drive from Brisbane's city center, and in a whole different environment we come across a real treat. Right within a big warehouse that was planned to be a big shopping hub, and just adjacent to the local tavern, the coffee giant Zarraffa's has comfortably set up their bases. Being a long way from the hustle and bustle, instead of the usual route of getting it to go, they have made it into a comfortable, and relaxing hang-out which is merely the facade for a factory.

It was a bit after lunch, and my house mate had some business to do Beenleigh - to put in some other words. There was still another good hour or two before the operation was due to take place, hence he was biding a bit more time. This was all planned in advance, since he had this on the day's hit list. Going to find a place to get a coffee was a no-brainer, yet where he managed to scour out I had no idea what kind of treat I was in for.

When the chips were down during the great Australian bludge in January all these years, Zarraffa's has been a real life-saver. Out of all the coffee chains that are around the city, Zarraffa's has managed to the best quality and most consistently satisfying. That isn't going to continue; instead, it will be transcended into a whole other level since it has gained a huge lot of respect from me with the quality of this outlet.

About the first thing that will be noted when walking into this establishment is just how spacious it is, both in the floor area and with the height of the ceilings. This gives it a fresh aesthetic, allowing in the natural light Like with the building behind it, the whole affair is a work in progress. From whatever decrepit state it was in last time, they have done it up with polished tiles, plenty of oakwood for the boards, and great quality furniture. You can see the planning going with how everything is sectioned, and that it welcomes happy customers; through the glass doors, the first thing most people will see is the giraffe logo up high on the awnings. After that, through the display window is the busy factory, churning out the product on a consistent basis. That is only the start.

The coffee shop is off to your left, and is partially a gift shop as well. There is all sorts of coffee paraphernalia, including freshly roasted beans from all across Africa. Go a little further in, adjacent to the glass door where the factory workers enter for a work shift, and they have several comfortable couches. These are semi-circular, to gravitate around a small fire (great for the winter months). After that, the tables and chairs are set out more like a cafe with the bar and kitchen being the next landmark in the factory. Whatever else come next from here, I will be interested to see. So far, it is a beautiful environment from the simplicity of the aesthetics.

I will also give some props to the customer service. We are getting more into the less urban part of the world, where people are more relaxed and become that much friendlier. This is ever evident with waitresses as I have found. It is quick here, and they are always finding a small job to do here and there - including gradually clearing the table. Expect the terms of endearment to be coming your way. One of the nicest components is the self service water, straight from a chilled tap - all free, even the sparkling water. A small aspect, yet it ties the whole experience together.

It goes without saying to talk about their coffees first. Think of it a combination of any old Zarraffa's store you could find in town, mixed with the factory showcasing their best brews that are currently on offer, mixed with the experimentation lab. For once, I think I have happened upon a coffee place that will manage to please everyone - and this time, I will mean everyone. Without any question, it has got all those espresso-based options - cappuccinos, macchicatos, simple espresso and the ilk. Whether it be Zarraffa's, Gloria Jeans, or whatever else, there is also that extensive menu for those not inclined for coffee, or might want something more on the cold side. Whatever they are called by name, to me they end up being more or less glorified milkshakes - many of them flavoured with coffee. It is not just milk-based, but also a few fruity ones as well. You can also get some of the usual offerings from the fridge, the sodas, waters and whatnot.

The real showstopper to my perspective, is the alternative methods of brewing coffee. More often than not, when a coffee place does this it ends up being one or two unless they really specialise in it. Well, aren't you in for a treat now? They offer the cold drips, all sorts of long peculating methods, nitro blends and air-roasting, plus at their bar just a few meters away, they experiment further. How does combining coffee with lager sound? If that is a bit weird, the bar also has beers, martinis, and all kinds of cocktails. This is where the coffee house meets the bar.

In addition to all those beverages, they also have a decent brunch menu going on. It is more or less a few of the cafe favourites, with some African influence thrown in there. The food is fairly light in tone, not wanting to distract from the coffee. Along with that, they have plenty of cakes and sweets in the cabinet to go along with whatever drink you have purchased.

It was being kept simple as it could this time, me merely purchasing a coffee. My house mate was the one to indulge in getting something to eat, which from memory was a chocolate brownie. Both of these babies did well together. This time, it was no messing around with the coffee. They knew about serious coffee drinkers like yours truly, and managed to put the black varieties of coffees in to their own section. I got a classical brew, or the Gazelle as they called it. I will say, great touch in addressing the African origins of the coffee beans.

The way they did the coffee was delicious. The flavour of the beans was really allowed to come out, plus the temperature of the coffee was perfect - it was hot enough to keep the flavour in tact, just warm enough to drink without worrying about burning any part of the mouth. The texture was really smooth, and it went down a treat. The chocolate brownie was rich and sweet. It had a thick texture, and was a solid portion.

I have often stressed that the best places to get coffee are right from the source. Next to traveling all the way to the plantation, it does not get closer to the source than this. For the serious coffee drinkers out there, put this right at the top of your list - as in this instance you are reading, and get there at the soonest possible moment. I can guarantee you a fortune that you are not only going to not be disappointed, but instead be blown away by the quality of the brew, as well as the environment they have carved out.

What might be the trump card above it all is that, if it has not already begun, there are roastery tours planned in the future. That is as of writing. This is the next step from getting people to like coffee, to appreciating the notes and flavours in the different blend, to actually getting an appreciation for the cultivating method. Sky is the limit here, and hopefully many coffee aficionados will follow their nose to the source.