Hidden away in a bit of light industrial backstreet in Brisbane's suburban Stafford, Elixir has been pumping out great coffee for the past two years from premises which contain a roasting warehouse and retail outlet for their freshly roasted coffee beans, coffee pods (more about that later) and coffee equipment.
It's a family business and with their long history in hospitality ( Mum Carmel ran Cosmopolitan Coffee in Brunswick Street Mall in the late 1980s ) sons, Jason and David should know how to get it right - and they have.
Breakfast is a very busy affair. If you don't like crowds go early (it opens at 7am) or rock up late. They do take bookings and kindly reserved a street-side table for me when I called so I could take one of the family dogs with me.
As a friend pointed out to me recently, weekends are dog time and the rest of the week is spent away from them. If you can find a place where they are welcome for breakfast everyone is happy. (Mandatory dog shot below)
As you can see in the photos, this place is wildly popular with sporty types who ride their bicycles here or stop in on their morning walk. It's just as well as the parking is a bit crazy because of the popularity - you know who you are white four wheel drive owner who thinks it's okay to park half over the footpath on the corner as well!
While meals are delivered to the tables you need to order inside and there's bound to be a queue. The choices include bacon and egg rolls, vanilla bean standcake stack, eggs benedict, rosti with smoked salmon and a primal paleo plate for all those super healthy types.
I chose the breakfast burrito ($14.50) which sounded too large with three eggs but went down very easily in the end.
I was lucky and the coffee of the day was my favourite amongst their blends, the smooth and creamy Velluto which also has just a hint of chocolate.
Bonus for the day was stocking up on their coffee pods for my Nespresso machine.
Best tip: Take home a bag of coffee pods and save on the $8 postage fee.
Bottom line: Breakfast prices range from $8 to $15.
Disclaimer: Ed+bK paid for the meal.
Kerry Heaney