In Australia, visiting your local cafe might as well be the national pastime – but some Aussies are more discerning than others. The unfortunate truth is that you can’t get an excellent latte everywhere, so when you find a local cafe that knows its stuff, you stick to it.
That’s the case for plenty of the regulars at Brisbane cafe and bistro Cordeaux Social Club, which opened in 2022 and quickly became a West End favourite.
“Our head barista, Daniel Suh, he’s been making coffee for more than 20 years – he lives and breathes it,” says owner and chef Michael Jokovich. “We understand that quality is everything, and if you’re not putting out good-quality coffee, you’re really not going to get that repeat business.”
The love of a good brew is clear here, from the house-blend roasted by local distributor Common Coffee to the plant-based milk varieties by The Alternative Dairy Co. that meet those high barista standards.
“We want something that’s going to complement our [coffee] blend,” Jokovich says. “We want it to be a nice one-two punch, and The Alternative do a great job at that.”
And the team makes sure its food offering is up to par too, with a menu that reflects Jokovich’s time in New York.
“We’ve got a breakfast burrito, which was a staple item on every breakfast and diner menu in New York, but you don’t see it too often here,” he says. “We get fresh corn that’s locally grown and burn it over a flame. There’s a fresh tomato salsa with coriander and red onion, fresh guac and an omelette. Then it’s rolled up, pressed and wrapped up to serve.”
But it’s more than coffee and food that keep people coming back. Jokovich and the team strive to create a space that’s not just a passive backdrop for community groups to gather, but also somewhere to join in and engage with West End locals. Today, it’s a popular spot for neighbourhood gatherings and social teams such as the rowing club and cycling groups.
“Everything we do, we’re trying to give back where we can,” he says. “We’re providing [these groups] with a space to meet and, if there’s charity events, we’re always happy to donate. We’ve donated vouchers and dining experiences to charity in the past. We’re always happy to use our platform to spread the word for people who are trying to do good for the community.”
Take a group like Altru – an initiative by West End local Jacqui Toumbas. “[Altru’s] whole mission was to raise $50,000 to go directly towards supporting families and individuals in need, so they can access essential services, new clothing, food and things like that,” says Jokovich. The Cordeaux team donated a dining experience to Altru to help the group raise funds for the cause.
Whether it’s helping out local charities or just providing a space for people to gather and relax, the cafe is always there for its community. “There’s not many times where we’ve had a closed door,” says Jokovich. “If we can help in any way, we’re always pretty happy to do so.”
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with The Alternative Dairy Co.
