Photos and listing by Matthew Michaelis
If coffee is like a narky relative, tapping you on the shoulder, yelling up the stairs or waking you like a toddler bouncing on the end of your bed, then face it, you’re a caffeine addict. Here’s a hit list to get your early fix. It’s my short-short list of the places serving a decent AM coffee if you’re desperately seeking one between 6 and 7.30am. There are plenty opening after this time, but the earlybird cafes are becoming more common than they were when I first moved to the area. Many of the cafe owners are here on a sea or a tree-change themselves and are buggered if they’re going to open at stupid o’clock for you or me. Thankfully, the marketplace is becoming crowded and there are a dedicated few that are seeing to this inner city demand. Swinging open your doors to the ‘dark-ringed’ set can be fraught with danger. can’t promise the following recommendations will be consistent with my experiences, nor can I promise that all of your favourites have been included.
It’s all rock’n’roll to me
Rock & Roll Cafe opens Mon–Fri 7.30am–3pm (Sat: till 2pm) Dinner: Wed–Fri: 5pm–9pm, Closed Sun
3/55 Burringbar St, Mullumbimby
This is the place you go not to be seen, although many of us know that’s not going to happen here. It’s my early spot when in Mullum. Trent the owner makes a great cup – don’t distract him though; Bec is focused and on task; Timbo – well he’s fun and there for you. The thing is, they all make a bloody good cup of ‘O’ organic roast. Perhaps a fabulous bowl of Asian flavours: eggs Kurasawa for brekkie? All this and I don’t have to do my hair before ordering it.
Pooling resources
Mullumbimby Pool opens 6am–6pm (September–April)
Jubilee Ave, Mullumbimby
This place is not open in the winter months, yes… umm; well it’s a swimming pool. Yep, that’s right, folks. Mark, the operator of the Mullumbimby Pool, was a lifesaver (in a coffee sense) when I first moved into the area. If you get the right barista here, you can score a nice coffee at 6am throughout the swimming season. Here they use Botero coffee roasted by Danny Young down south in Maclean. This company produces great blends also found in places the likes of La Table (but 8am isn’t quite early enough for my cravings).
A foot in the door
Footbridge opens 7am–4pm, 7 days
1/14 The Terrace, Brunswick Heads
To be perfectly honest, each place in Bruns has its own special thing. This is the place I go when I want to disappear into my coffee. It’s unplugged, they leave you to it here –no wi-fi, just your cup. A good coffee fashioned by dab-handed baristas and produced by Moonshine, a boutique local roaster. Try to get your foot in the door later on in the morning and you’ll soon realise it’s not an easy affair. This crowded little place is attracting people with its friendly and colourful staff and the quality of their brew – so expect to wait if you’re tardy.
Happy Camp-os
Torakina opens 6.30am–4pm, 7 days
2 The Terrace, Brunswick Heads
The new kid in Bruns sits under the Brunswick River Inn. The owner Matt Wilson is happy to make a coffee when he arrives to set up (around 6am each day – officially it’s 6.30am so don’t tell him I told you). ‘The machine never sleeps’ he assured me as I’ve solicited many an early cup. Campos Coffee is here and rest assured they’ll [Campos] be happy their product is being made to a high standard.
Rising star
Terrace Cafe opens 6am–4pm, 7 days
Shop 4/16 The Terrace, Brunswick Heads
When the sun hits your coffee on its way up, know that it’s the only mug of La Casa Del Caffe on the north coast. This coffee’s been around for 30 years. I should know; I used the brand 29 years back in my first cafe. It seems that tradition still exists, loyal addicts line up from 6am to drink the same nicely blended roasts I served decades ago.
Barefoot and toey
Barefoot Brewroom opens 6am–4pm Mon–Fri, 7am–12.30pm Sat, Sun
1A Lawson Lane, Byron Bay
Don’t you just love the hole in the wall? Rodney Contojohn hand-roasts his coffee here, and it’s award winning. This little cafe is winning medals in a sizeable coffee market. It’s a big deal indeed. An even bigger deal is that most mornings, the roaster himself is serving you your morning cup. If you’re feeling a little toey, Barefoot is worth the lineup.
Head-out for espresso
Espressohead opens 7am–3pm, 7 days
This place is now opposite the Byron Bay Court House on Middleton St. To the uninformed it’s not in plain sight, though follow your smartphone to the Byron Court House and it’ll appear… Here you’ll find confident ordering, and familiar faces – I’m one of them. I’ve drunk the coffee and eaten here over many years, following the crew from Byron Woolies carpark to this side street. They won’t disappoint. Raani (a young barista stalwart) seems always competent while head chef John Strange is quite the dab hand at delicate omelettes.
A top stop
Top Shop open 6am–4pm, 7 days
65 Carlyle St, Byron Bay
This place churns out Single Origin Roaster coffee. Unlike some cafes, these guys are always awake and ‘on’ in the early AM. This is my ‘have a look at…’ place when friends pop into the Bay. A place to be seen? I care only about my coffee and how it’ll enter my bloodstream via my fussy mouth – here it’s a secure shot in the arm.
Precious brew
Bayleaf opens 6.30am–2pm, 7 days
2 Marvell St, Byron Bay
Central and busy, they push out some great cups – they do their own roasting, so fresh-roasted beans are on hand. You do get the feeling that these folks are precious about coffee and everything associated with it. Here, you can expect the zealous to be concerned about delivering a superlative cup right there into your hand.
A cup at Sparrow’s
Sparrow opens 6am–2pm Mon–Sat
34 Byron Street, Bangalow
The Harvest people are obviously hyperactive – I was cruising down the main street of Bangalow recently to find a tiny little coffee house, only to discover that Sparrow’s is their latest venture. It’s a one-room affair, aptly named as it’s the only coffee you’ll get at 6am in this tidy suburb. If you can’t speak at that time they also have an app available called ‘Beat the Q’ that allows you to make an order and have it charged automatically – just collect the cup, no talking required. Super home-made cup cakes, brownies and muffins – OMG! A must-try.
