Jesse Williamson wears a lot of hats. In addition to being a gun barista, she’s also an accomplished cocktail maker (and current world champion title holder for the Licor 43 Baristas and Bartenders competition). While a resume like that can get Jesse a job at just about any coffee slinger or boozer in Brisbane, few venues give Jesse the ability to be (and do) everything at once. Feeling unfulfilled by the prospect in staying in any respective lane, Jesse began dreaming up a concept that would allow her mind to go crazy and facilitate all of her ideas. Jesse initially shared her thoughts with good friend, Mr Chester Wine Bar founder Luke Reimers, before the pandemic. The duo spitballed various ways the concept could be executed before shelving talks once COVID landed on our shores. The topic was brought up once more earlier this year, when ideas quickly snowballed and before they knew it Jesse and Luke had plans in hand for Priorities – their multifaceted hub for coffee, wine and events that operates during the day and after sunset. The team’s process from commitment to opening took a grand total of two months. A high-ceilinged space on Samford Road in Alderley (right next door to Namu Leather Goods) proved to the perfect spot for Priorities’ flexible identity, with a community-driven approach underpinning the concept’s dual coffee and wine focus. An aesthetically crisp interior reflects the duo’s decorative sensibilities – minimal yet homely, different but approachable. Stool seating inside is complemented by low-set bench seating and a single picnic table outside – plenty of perches for people watching.

A tiled coffee bar hoists up the venue’s brand-new coffee-making apparatus, headlined by a fetching custom-painted Sanremo Cafe Racer, a set of Mahlkönig grinders (one with an auto-weigh feature) and a PUQpress automatic tamper. While the significance of this set-up might go over the heads of the majority of coffee drinkers, rest assured the bells and whistles result in a great up, be it a flat white, doppio, filter brew or coconut cold brew. Priorities uses Industry Beans’ Newstead blend as its go-to, though soon the crew will be running guest filters from Perth roaster DoubleDouble. Beyond coffee, folks can drop in for orange or green juices, kombucha, cascara and pastries (think artisan almond or custard-filled croissants) and sandwiches. Behind the bar sits a shelf loaded with bottles of vino, with Luke casting a wide net to source a range of natural Australian drops. In the coming weeks Priorities will open on Friday nights, serving a weekly rotation of drops by the glass. For now, the bottles are available to purchase takeaway – expect the overall range to morph regularly. Jesse and Luke are eager to use Priorities as an event hub moving forward, with Saturday nights likely to be given over to product launches, coffee events and even a wine club for mums.

Priorities is now open to the public. Check in soon for news on upcoming events, otherwise you can find all of the essential details in the Stumble Guide.