JAMIE'S ESPRESSO BAR

E. McPhillips
Dec 16, 2016
3 min read

Need tips on how to start your Friday mornings? Just follow in the footsteps of myself and my oldest and dearest friend Annabelle (otherwise known as Annasmelle).

Up early before work, we went to Jamie's Espresso Bar off James Street in the Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. A very unassuming store front - just the way I like my cafe's. It makes it easier keep those hidden gems a secret for longer.

The first thing I noticed entering Jamie's was the lace, laid back, 'we're all family here' vibe. No over the top hipster-deconstructed-coffee-in-a-mason-jar-with-a-beard bullshit; just great quality coffee, the go to basics of Aussie breakfast, and good service.

Given Brisbane is a cesspit of humidity this time of the year, it's iced coffees all the way for me. Long black with ice, no milk and definitely no sugar = pure perfection. It's not uncommon for long blacks to be quite bitter when drinking them on ice, however this morning's was smooth and subtle; one of the better iced coffees I've had. I'm definitely going to have to return to try their regular coffee's, but maybe in more suitable weather; you know, one where you aren't branded by your seatbelt buckle everytime you enter the car.

I ordered a slice of fruit toast with a side of Vegemite. Stop looking at me like that, I know how you're eyeballing me right now and I don't appreciate it. Everyone gives me the same look when they hear my order. Before you judge like Judy, you must try it. The saltiness of the Vegemite works so well with the sweetness of the fruit in the toast, and with the addition of butter it becomes a creamy blend of deliciousness. Yes, that's my official food critic analysis. Deliciousness. Cinnamon fruit toast works the best as it adds a depth of flavour I won't even try to explain.

The fruit toast at Jamie's Espresso Bar was incredible. I can't say I've had one like it, I really enjoyed it. Lovely texture and filled with big chunks of sweet dates and apricots. As it was a bit more dense in comparison to your general store bought loafs, one piece was sufficient to fill up.

Another thing I loved was the way everything was served. No fuss. We sat up at the bench and instead of plates and side plates brought out to clutter us, some parchment paper was laid straight on the bench, toast went directly on top, and an entire jar of Vegemite accompanied. Just as if the Vegemite was salt & pepper, there for communal use. I loved it. The only negative to this morning was I had work at 8:00am and had to cut our date short, otherwise I have no doubt I would stayed for round two of coffee's and bites.

If you're floating around James Street looking to try somewhere new, look no further. It's also a licensed venue and available for hire. Definitely something I'll be looking into with my birthday approaching. The carpark/ally which the cafe backs onto is quite large, it'd be perfect for an event and something a little different.

I've linked to relevant pages, follow the orange hyperlinks. Go check out their menu and if you want to check out there Instagram please do.