Contessa By Blackstar

Contessa is a super cool place near Roma St train station that serves delicious Blackstar coffee and has one of the best vibes when it comes to Brisbane cafes. The long black is incredibly smooth and the baristas have a very adept handle on making the milk-​related coffees as well.
Seating is in the back on some wooden tables and stools. It’s pretty cozy and a great place to do an ad hoc coffee meeting away from the normal city hustle and bustle.
Definitely come before 7:30 or after 9:30 if you want to avoid the long lines that inevitably develop during the peak hours of the weekday.

If you’re any kind of Brisbane coffee drinker you know the name Blackstar. Chances are you’ve probably had many a coffee or cold press at their Thomas Street location in West End. You’ve maybe even sipped on one of those sweet, sweet cold presses while doing your market shop at the West End Markets. If so, you know it’s good.
Thankfully, they’ve opened shop along Roma Street giving the daily commuter and office worker are decent cup of Joe to kick start their day. The café itself is a little schmicker than the West End venue, but still has the rustic «fit out doesn’t matter but the coffee does» feel to it. Given the location it’s more attuned to the take-​away coffee drinker but the last time I stopped by there were a few bar seats to perch upon if you happened to take your coffee to drink in.
It’s comforting to know a decent cup of coffee exists at this end of the city. They’re few and far between but Blackstar are worth trusting to come through with the goods.
Pro Tip; order a 4oz and get the taste of the coffee rather than a coffee milkshake.

Part of the daily ritual of walking to work in the morning for many is stopping for coffee. Popular West End roaster Blackstar Coffee has an espresso and filter coffee bar on Roma Street in the heart of the legal precinct.
The fit out is simple with a long row of wooden tables joined together to form a counter, a row of padded stools along the wall for while you wait and a novel projection of the menu above the counter. There are also a few tables out the back for those that want to sit and relax.
The usual range of espresso blend and single origin options is available along with filter and the signature Blackstar cold pressed coffee bottles — for which I will have to return and try.
A simple, efficient, quality café in the inner city.

Another Brisbane Coffee Stop! With the ever-​growing coffee carts, shops and hole in the wall caffeine stops appearing in Brisbane, it can be really difficult to a) set yourself apart, b) compete with other more established and loved coffee spots and c) get a name for yourself with great staff and coffee. Contessa is well on their way to all three. What started as a pop up store with some delicious cold coffees in Summer has grown to be a funky, cool coffee hub. With friendly consistent baristas who make service a priority and the addition of tables and chairs all the way to the back of the store Contessa delivers a mighty fine brew.

In the land of Brisbane City, we have really become spoilt with options when it comes to good coffee.
Contessa uses Blackstar coffee, which I believe is great in taste (particularly the ever changing single origin beans) and is definitely one of the better coffees around. But coffee beans is only half of the equation. The baristas here are pretty consistent, efficient and friendly, and therefore, is what keeps me coming back every morning (plus it’s conveniently located to Roma Street Train Station, so less excuse not to go…). Prices are average for coffee in the City, which further makes it worthwhile to try.
To be fair, when Contessa first opened, there really wasn’t much to look at. It was pretty much a «pop-​up store» (one day the shop was empty, and the next day there was a coffee shop). There were no seats, no food, dim/​dark, uninviting…
Well, the past is the past. And while the shop has improved (there are plenty of seats towards the back of the shop, some foods such as danishes and muffins), nothing has changed in terms of coffee quality. It is excellent and consistently so.
Therefore, if you were put off from trying previously due to the appearance of the shop, well come in and try. I have really noticed the ramp up in clientele in the past month or so, which is good to see and means there are many others who think the same (that this place makes great coffees).

I liked the idea of changing coffee beans every day … Although I would suggest they open the variety for costumers to choose from. However, great atmosphere and coffee. Well done, yet I’m waiting on those simple cheese /​tomato /​cucumber toasted sandwiches guys!

Contessa’s takeaway brews come in the following sizes: Small (4oz) $ 3.50, Regular (8oz) $ 3.80 & Large — 2 shots (12oz) $ 4.50. In terms of value the Sm is $ 3.07/100ml; Reg $ 1.67/100ml; and the Lge $ 1.32/100ml.
They use single wall planet cups that are ‘forest friendly & 100% biodegradable’, the coffee wasn’t served overly hot so the single wall cup was not an issue.
I enquired as to the difference between a Latte and a flat white and was informed that ‘a latte has a tiny bit more foam’. Well, this reformed Mocha drinker ordered a flat white (no sugar) and I can tell you that it had way too much milk for my liking and tasted rather insipid — don’t think I’ll be a regular.
I like the fit out and the service is better than its West End sister, it’s grab and go as there’s no seating and there’s no food on offer (yet). 2.5 stars more accurately reflects today’s experience.

My first experience with Blackstar was with their bottled iced coffees, which I found good — but only after trying their lattes was I convinced this is the place get your coffee fix! Blackstar does your usual coffees, as well as bottled iced coffees in black, soy, or just regular or skinny, which is quite the variety.
Now that they have Contessa near Roma Station in the City, their coffee is even more accessible to those who work in the area! They’ve newly installed some seating out back for those who aren’t obligated to return to their offices. The service here is friendly and quick, and most importantly, the coffees are consistently good.
While pricier than neighboring coffee hubs, their aromatic coffee is definitely worth a go. Though they change their blends, and some are distinctly better than others, this place’s coffee beats out most coffee brewers in Brisbane.