When Brendan McCrystal fired up Straits’ Audio-Technica turntable on its first official day of trade, he already had a record primed and ready to play – one recorded by the cafe’s namesake. “Obviously I had to play Dire Straits,” says Brendan. “The first record I played was a live album called Alchemy: Dire Straits Live – it’s a compilation of just some of their absolute belters.” Straits – which can be described as a hybrid, of sorts, between casual coffee spot and listening bar – is Brendan’s first solo endeavour. After a few years manning the brew bars at Blackout in Paddington and If You Say So in St. Lucia (as well as working in wholesale for The Black Lab Coffee Co.), the long-time barista not only knows how to pull shots like a pro, he’s also got a pretty firm grasp on how cafes run. His pint-sized piccolo peddler, nestled in the quiet backstreets of Coorparoo next to Isabis Hair, isn’t just an opportunity for Brendan to flex his milk-frothing skills – it’s a chance to imbue his personality and tastes into a concept he hopes will become a community fixture. “I think the best part is putting my own stamp on it – the kind of things that I find quirky and fun that make it my space,” says Brendan. “It’s really nice to have full creative control over everything.”

Straits’ fit-out process saw the site’s 37-sqm internals refreshed. The interior is light and bright – freshly sanded, polished and varnished timber floors match nicely with a white-heavy palette, which is accented by vibrant pops of colour courtesy of the orange tiling on the coffee counter (which houses Straits’ specialised Sanremo Café Racer), orange stools and patterned cushions. There’s a cluster of seats on the footpath, as well as some tables and chairs on a side patio. Next to the service counter sits the record player, which is connected to a set of twin Klipsch speakers. In between orders, Brendan will swap records from an ever-growing collection dictated by his own tastes. “It’s colour and sound,” says Brendan of the Straits experience. “It’s like a full auditory and visual experience walking in at the crack of dawn.” The Black Lab Coffee Co.’s signature Platinum Blend is Straits’ go-to option for milk-based coffee, with Brendan eager to showcase rotating single origins (this week he’s already showcased Jazz Club from Western Australian roaster from Double Double and The Black Lab’s Ethiopian single) via the cafe’s batch and filter brews. A small menu of sweet and savoury pastries are available, but Brendan may introduce deli-style sandwiches to the offering in the near future. Finally – and perhaps most importantly – Straits is trading every day of the year. Yes, including public holidays.

Straits is now open – head to the Stumble Guide for operating hours and links to social media pages.