Run by Owner and Head Barista John Quinlan, Espresso Engine serves specialty coffee and signature sandwiches to the law and business professionals of Brisbane’s Santos Place.
John started his coffee career in his early twenties and quickly developed a taste for the industry while working at one of Merlo’s flagship stores in Brisbane City. This is where he witnessed the evolution of the area’s coffee culture.
“When I first started, Brisbane’s coffee culture was in its infancy,” says John.
“The craft of coffee wasn’t as refined as it is today, but I could see the shift towards premium café experiences and specialty beans. I treated coffee as a profession, and that’s what eventually led me to own Espresso Engine.”
John found the perfect spot on Turbot Street, amid the city’s busy barristers.
“Turbot Street is where all the legal heavy hitters meet. Every city has an area like this, where the pace is just a little quicker as people rush to get back to work. Time is money for the lawyers who visit, so we have made it our mission to deliver their morning coffee quickly and efficiently,” he says.
Operating in a 22-square-metre venue, John and team serve more than 1000 cups of coffee a day. John says the secret to Espresso Engine’s success is being good at making great coffee fast.
“We have finessed our operation to such a degree that the wait time is always less than five minutes,” he says.
When it came to selecting a blend to satisfy the area’s barristers, John tapped into his industry connections and reached out to his former colleagues at Merlo.
“What I love about Merlo coffee is its smoothness—it’s not acidic. It has a rich, chocolatey flavour that’s absolutely packed with taste. It’s a crowd favourite and keeps customers coming back for more,” he says.
Experiencing huge bounce back post pandemic, John has expanded Espresso Engine to six different locations across the city and has no plans to stop anytime soon.
“We’re passionate about what we do and we do it well. We’re always on the lookout for the next great spot. With all the exciting new developments in Brisbane, I’m sure the right opportunity will come knocking soon,” he says.
Espresso Engine
32 Turbot Street, Brisbane City, Queensland, 4000
Open Monday to Friday 5.45am to 3pm
