Throughout Emiria Lorentzen’s childhood, two things were ubiquitous – coffee and flowers. Growing up on a rose farm near Armenia in Colombia’s coffee axis, the rich aroma of freshly roasted beans was inexorably intertwined with the heady bouquet of flowers.

Even into adulthood, florals and caffeine have remained Emiria’s twin loves. Before moving to Brisbane from Norway 11 years ago, Emiria operated a number of flower shops. Since settling Down Under, the bouquet doyenne has opened another successful stem slinger in the form of Rosita Flowers at Westfield North Lakes, a widely beloved purveyor of bouquets, particularly Colombian roses.

Earlier this month, Emiria expanded her footprint at the northside shopping complex, this time indulging her other passion – coffee. Blanko Specialty Coffee, a chic Scandinavian-inspired caffeine dispensary, sits near the Woolworths entry of Westfield North Lakes. Here, Emiria and her family are dispensing cup after cup of expertly poured brew made using the Overend blend from East Brisbane’s Cafetal Coffee Roasters, a small-batch supplier known for sourcing its beans directly from Colombian farms. According to Emiria, a partnership with Cafetal was a no-brainer decision.

“Cafetal brings some of the most amazing beans over from Colombia and they roast them to our taste,” says Emiria. “It’s very aromatic and then you have a fruity flavour.”

A gleaming La Marzocco coffee machine pumps out espresso brews in bulk alongside filter pours. But Blanko’s menu goes far beyond just coffee – the shop is also serving specialty beverages like pistachio lattes (boasting a rim slathered in Pistachio Papi spread), turmeric-infused golden lattes and matcha lattes made with matcha imported from Japan. On the food front, Blanko stocks an assortment of pastries and also serves waffles, as an ode to the Norwegian vafler.

Flanking Blanko’s dispensary are two flower displays, with a colourful assortment of Rosita bouquets on sale. If you’re looking for a small gesture gift, Blanko’s bloom and coffee deal might be just the ticket. A small carrier box boasts a tiny bouquet on one side and a takeaway coffee in the other, making for a memorable off-the-cuff gift next time you’re tasked with the coffee pick up.

Blanko Specialty Coffee is now open to the public – head to the Stumble Guide for more details.