Industry Beans
How did Industry Beans expand from a specialty coffee supplier hailing from Fitzroy, Melbourne to an industry-recognized coffee brand beloved by most Aussies on the East Coast? Does the answer lie in the quality of the coffee beans, the flavour of its brunch offering across multiple venues in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane or is it some sort of magical je ne sais quoi… read more to find out!
Photo credit: @industrybeans
Australia is a country that runs on coffee and coffee snobs alike - whilst the rest of the world is content with a 7-Eleven or Starbucks for their early morning caffeine hit. Aussies have a higher standard for coffee and with the explosion of high-quality specialty coffee roasters and stores it’s no surprise that we have elevated our standards when it comes to our daily caffeine intake. Industry Beans was inspired by the ‘Third Wave’ of coffee roasters which redefined ideas about sourcing, roasting, and brewing coffee which recognize coffee as a natural product with many possibilities to yield something distinctive in the final cuppa. Fast forward 10 years and Industry Beans has grown in the number of venues and become a household name. I have been to both the Melbourne and Sydney venues - let’s compare the pair.
Melbourne - Industry Beans Lt. Collins
Bubble coffee, iced long black and chocolate chip walnut cookie
Melbourne is my second home, every time I visit I fall in love with this city all over again. Maybe it’s the European vibes, an abundance of art galleries and exhibitions, or the beautiful laneways that are both romantic and nostalgic of somewhere magical… ok let’s be real, I’m in love with Melbourne mainly because of the amazing foodie scene and superior cafes.
Industry Beans was a quick morning pit stop on my last day in Melbourne but I’m so glad I stopped by because everything was delicious. I tried the bubble coffee which combines cold brew coffee with coffee-soaked tapioca pearls - it sounds strange but was actually super yummy, the cold brew really accentuates the intensity of the coffee flavour whilst the mini tapioca pearls added a fun burst of coffee with each sip.
Moving onto the choc chip walnut cookie - as an avid baker I’m usually very critical of store/cafe-made desserts (if I can also bake it myself) but this cookie was mind-blowingly delicious! The cookie was crumbly and filled with chocolate chunks (not chocolate chips - fun fact: choc chips can taste waxy in cookies and they never melt but chocolate chunks will melt into a gooey texture), I loved the addition of the chocolate walnut pieces as well. Rating: would buy again/10
Sydney - Industry Beans York Street
Bubble cup - matcha and pandan flavours
My second visit to Industry Beans was a recent one for weekend brunch (this was a last-minute option but I figured if it’s good in Melbourne, it might be the same in Sydney) and my friends decided to try the bubble cups - note there is no caffeine here, just tapioca pearls infused with matcha or pandan flavouring with a pour-over of oat milk. I tried the matcha one and the matcha flavour was quite strong which I liked, however, my friend didn’t rate the pandan bubble cup as the authentic bitterness of the pandan was overpowering and the shot of coffee unfortunately didn’t provide any sweet relief.
Chilli Barramundi folded eggs [$29]
Industry Beans offers a seasonal brunch menu that boasts an immersive brunch experience as each dish can be paired with sides, desserts, and drinks (note I didn’t realize this until reading it up on the Industry Beans website so no I didn’t pair my coffee with this meal). The chilli barramundi folded eggs feature sous vide line-caught barramundi, sambal oelek, chilli soybean oil, coffee togarashi, native succulents, bonito flakes, and sourdough. To be honest I thought the barramundi would be served whole on the side instead of being folded into the eggs but this dish was pretty yummy - the eggs are a beautiful runny consistency punctuated by the kick from that chilli oil. I couldn’t taste the coffee in the togarashi but what was really pungent (not in a good way) was the pepper scattered across the plate, I think it was scattered for presentation purposes but the sharpness of the pepper made the meal a little less enjoyable as I kept eating. Otherwise, this is a decent dish although I’m not sure if it’s worth the hefty price tag of $29.
Porcini nest [$28]
The porcini nest is one of the more unique items on the menu, featuring a porcini-dusted egg, potato nest, wild mushroom duxelle, kale, pickled mushrooms, and truffle oil. I actually didn’t try this one but my friend said it tasted quite good although very “mushroom-ey”… if you are not a mushroom lover then probably give this a miss. It’s one of those dishes that seems good for Instagram but taste-wise might have missed the mark a little.
IB Breakfast roll [$22]
Every good cafe has its own take on the classic egg and bacon brekkie roll and Industry Bean’s offering features wood-smoked bacon, fried egg, avocado smash, triple cheese, chili jam, and rocket with a side of waffle fries. Not going to lie - when this arrived on the table I had a twinge of regret about ordering my folded eggs, my friend said this was delicious and why wouldn’t it be with the slight hint of spice from the chili jam (which is sweet and spicy) complemented by the smooth avo and umami goodness of the melted triple cheese. If I revisit Industry Beans York Street I’m definitely giving this a go.
Overall rating: 7.5/10
Industry Beans is a well-renowned coffee brand and there is no doubt they go to great efforts to source high-quality, specialty coffee beans that customers can either enjoy at one of its East Coast venues or order online to brew from home. However the seasonal brunch menu had a few mishaps which brought down the overall rating - although it’s undeniably creative, sometimes creativity and a rotating menu compromises taste and crowd appeal. My folded eggs were great but would have been better to have been served with a whole barramundi and less pepper, the porcini nest looked great but could have done with something to cut through the homogenous mushroom flavour. I would give Industry Beans a try but just be mindful when ordering food off its brunch/lunch menu.
Address: Multiple locations across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane
Website: https://industrybeans.com/
Menu (York Street): https://industrybeans.com/pages/york-st-cafe
Instagram: @industrybeans
