Page 48 - Tropic Magazine Issue 36

TROPIC • FOOD & BEVERAGE

Returning to Caffiend moved to a new home on
Grafton Street in 2016, before Oliver
its roots made the difficult decision to sell up to
regular patron, Fern Campbell.
FULL CIRCLE He wanted to spend time with his
dying father and to focus on his Tattooed
Taste extraordinaire Oliver Sailor Coffee Roasters establishment
James has re-taken ownership in Newell Street.
of his first Cairns café and has “My Dad passed away not long after so
revealed exciting new plans for I’m glad I did that,” Oliver told Tropic.
“But I’m also excited about Caffiend
the establishment. version 4.0.”
In the time that’s passed, Oliver has also
There’s no doubt Oliver James has opened another establishment, Guyala
made his mark in Cairns since opening Café – and plans to bring some of
Caffiend in 2009, when he helped what he’s learned there into Caffiend,
transform the coffee culture in Cairns. along with some old favourites.
Back then, the café was in the laneway “I want to keep the team on, but I’m
between Grafton and Lake Streets, which planning a small refit which I’ll do
he set about adorning with graffiti, whilst slowly,” he said.
introducing Cairns to chilli eggs. “I was “I want to expose all the brickwork –
one of the first to have specialty coffee,” which I didn’t have the chance to do
he told Tropic. “Laneway street art was last time – to bring back that grungy,
new and so was gourmet breaky, which industrial, urban vibe. I’m adding a
were the things I missed from living courtyard that’s got laneway feels.”
in Bondi. I thought surely I’m not the only
one who wants good coffee, good food Olly’s Cairns journey
and good vibes.”

It will bring back that 2009 Caffiend in the
laneway opens
graffiti and ambience like
we had in the old days 2016 Caffiend moves to
Grafton Street
Oliver James
Entrepreneur
2016 Tattooed Sailor Coffee
Roasters opens
From Guyala, he’ll draw on his market
research from the popular cheese and 2019 Guyala Café opens
wine nights. “We will feature a large
and broad wine list, many by the glass, 2022 Caffiend returns to
including natural wine and pet-nats, original ownership
conventional and well-known wine, plus
some rare, old and exotic wines, to go
along with a fun and fresh sharing-style Images. Caffiend in the laneway
food menu,” he said. “My plan is to open in its early years.
the venue seven days again. It’s currently
closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. MORE: caffiend.com.au
“There are fun times ahead!”

48 • Tropic • Issue 36