Veneziano Coffee Roasters unveils its new-look West End cafe, roastery and training centre
Veneziano Coffee Roasters has been keeping Queensland locals perked up for two decades, with its roasting and wholesale headquarters in West End doubling as a dependable dispensary of the good stuff for 12 out of those 20 years. Late last year the Veneziano crew enacted a sizeable refresh of its Montague Road roastery, giving the interior a bright and crisp new look, adding a full kitchen (and debuting a cracking new menu) and opening a training centre right next door. The revitalisation heralds the start of a new chapter for a brand that helped pioneer the modern coffee experience in Australia.
Over the past five or so years, the team behind nationally renowned coffee roaster Veneziano has been growing. First came the 2018 opening of the team’s Richmond warehouse cafe, followed quickly by the arrival of its flagship Surry Hills espresso bar. The aesthetic of these milestone expansions set the stylistic precedent for the next steps in the coffee powerhouse’s plans, including the opening of a new training space and cellar-door-style venue in Canberra and a revitalisation of Veneziano’s long-running West End outpost intended to bring it in line with its sibling locations. Renovations were supposed to commence in March 2020 but, well, you can probably guess what the hold up was. Refurbishment plans were shelved for more than a year until the two-stage overhaul finally got underway in May 2021. The first step was the creation of a new training room next door, where baristas from Veneziano’s wholesale partner cafes (and even home enthusiasts) could brush up their skills in regards to espresso foundations, latte art, work flow and brew ratios. Once complete, the team dragged an old coffee cart into the space, transforming it into a pop-up espresso bar and retail nook while the original cafe underwent modification. Veneziano West End’s new look was officially unveiled earlier this month – a bright, light-filled cafe greets customers as they enter, with a palette of white, timber and concrete accented by hanging greenery and the brand’s ribbon-inspired decorative branding. Structurally, the cafe’s tiered dining space has been replaced with windows that offer views into the roastery at the rear, while another window peers into the training space next door.
With the new-look digs comes a renewed focus on enhancing the customer experience. Whereas previously Veneziano West End was primo for informal dining and expeditious grab-and-go exchanges, now the team is shifting its service model to facilitate better interaction between venue and clientele. The cafe now boasts table service, with staff on hand to make the experience smoother and more efficient than before. When it comes to the coffee, expect an even deeper level of attention and knowledge sharing – Veneziano’s seasonally shifting house blend Soar is the brew of choice for any milky make, while an assortment of rotating seasonal microlots available via filter pour are perfect for those eager to explore coffees of varying origins. A barista breakfast (a trio consisting of a house espresso, a house milk-based coffee and house filter) will also give sippers a succinct tour of the best brews on hand, with tasting notes provided with each cup. The real coffee aficionados are advised to give Veneziano’s new Pinnacle Collection, a reserve list of limited-edition nano-lots that have been sourced, kept, frozen and showcased as part of an ever-evolving coffee library. Veneziano West End’s kitchen is dispensing a new menu of eats that blends some of the stand-out selections from its Richmond menu with some vegan and vegetarian-friendly additions. Dishes like the crab omelette with papaya salad, eggs Benedict served on zucchini fritters and chilled coconut rice pudding are early favourites, while a cabinet stocked with salads, sandwiches and treats remains for those looking for a simple takeaway nibble.
Veneziano Coffee Roasters is open once again on Montague Road. Click over to the Stumble Guide for current operating hours and contact details.
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