Jayden O’Grady wasn’t even a coffee drinker when he started working at Bellissimo Coffee more than a decade ago. It was meant to be a short-term internship placement as part of his marketing degree, but he ended up staying for nine years. After gaining further wholesale coffee experience at Industry Beans and Coffee Supreme, O’Grady is now preparing to launch his own cafe, Speed Dial, from a 30-square-metre converted shipping container in Newstead this October.

For this venture, O’Grady has partnered with Hal Cozens and Timothy Cashin, both of whom he met while working at Bellissimo in Bulimba. Together the trio aim to replicate the high-volume, high-quality coffee experience that their former employer is known for.

“We’ve been planning Speed Dial for almost two years,” O’Grady tells Broadsheet. “It was really important to find something with the right mix of high foot traffic and modest rent. And that was drawing on everything we saw at Bellissimo, because they are such great high-volume spots.”

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In the early stages, O’Grady scoured the suburbs, searching for the perfect hole-in-the-wall opportunity. Eventually, a leasing agent proposed the shipping container space, and O’Grady jumped on it.

The fit-out has begun on the container, which is located in the driveway of Bunnings Newstead. O’Grady says they’re aiming for a contemporary aesthetic with timber accents, a dark smoked mirror, and a striking pop of bright purple flooring. While there will be a few counter seats and outdoor bench seating, the focus will primarily be on takeaway service.

When it comes to coffee, Speed Dial will offer a reliable house blend alongside a rotating selection of filter and batch brews “sourcing a wide array of roasters, possibly [from] worldwide”.

The container space is also big enough for a small kitchen, which will serve a concise menu of toasted sandwiches, complemented by pastries from Sprout Artisan Bakery.

Speed Dial will open at 142 Breakfast Creek Road, Newstead in October.

@speeddialcoffee