I recently went on a little winter road trip from Byron Bay to Brisbane and then to Noosa. As an espresso lover with a machine at home, coffee is always first on the agenda on a trip away. So, as a very convenient excuse to drink coffee everywhere in town, I decided I’d try to find the best coffee in Noosa.

Best coffee in Noosa

I have been to Noosa twice now so it has been handy to compare notes from last time. My favourite espresso in Noosa remains the same as it was last time, but I have added plenty of new spots to my list as well.

I am an espresso girl so I have tested all espressos in researching this post. With that said, I generally find that a good espresso means you will get a good milk based coffee too.

I consulted a number of sources in researching this article, including Reddit, Instagram and TikTok. Because I have been to Noosa twice now, I have some previous knowledge of the best coffees which helps. All in all, I don’t think you’ll find a bad coffee on this list. I hope it gives you some inspiration for your next trip to Noosa.

Best coffee in Noosa Heads

Moonstruck

Moonstruck is a cute little cafe and bar down the quieter end of Hastings Street. They make a great espresso and the cocktail lists looks really interesting too. I didn’t get a chance to try one, but a repeat trip (with more cocktails) is definitely in order! At the time of writing, Moonstruck has quite varied hours so I recommend looking online before you visit.

Deus Ex Machina

This comes up on a lot of lists so I had to give it a go. Turns out they make a great espresso and sell some delicious looking snacks and pastries as well. You can have it to go, on the front deck or in a little courtyard out the back. They have some opening times online but I am not sure if those are just for the store or for the coffee in general.

Honourable mention: Aromas

I must admit that I dismissed Aromas. It is on Hastings Street and constantly busy, so I figured the coffee wouldn’t be great. Science dictated that I give it a whirl, though, and I was surprised. Is it the best espresso I had? No. But it seems to be reliably open when others are closed and the people watching is great. Sitting out the front with a glass of wine wouldn’t be too shabby, either.

At the time of writing, it open from 6am-pm Tuesday to Saturday, 6am-4pm Sunday and 6am-3pm Monday.

Best Coffee in Noosa Junction

Vanilla Food

On both trips to Noosa, Vanilla Food has been the best espresso for me (and my Dad, who is an espresso snob). They use Clandestino beans as far as I saw and this has been my standout espresso on both trips to Noosa. I can confirm that the brunch is also excellent, particularly for those of us with dietary constraints. We had a delicious gluten free focaccia and I would have gone back for more if I had the time. At the time of writing, Vanilla Foods is open every day from 7am-2.30pm.

Although I didn’t try the coffee there, they also have a pantry called Nilla’s Pantry a few doors down. I had a delicious (but expensive) gluten free eclair from here, but not a coffee.

The Coffee Noosa

I have to say, I had discounted this cafe because I assumed it was a chain rather than a standalone coffee shop. However, a TikTok made me research the venue and I realised my error. There was a big line on a Wednesday morning (not even early, either) and my espresso was great. At the time of writing, The Coffee Noosa is open 6am-2pm weekdays and 6am-1pm weekends.

Moto Bar

I didn’t get a chance to try this place, but I Googled it after I saw it was pumping on a weekday morning. They serve their own blend of Clandestino beans and it would be a very convenient spot if you were staying in and around Noosa Junction. I have added it to my list of places to try for my next visit to Noosa.

At the time of writing, Moto Bar is open from 6.30am-12pm and from 4pm for drinks on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The Junction Coffee Shop Noosa

Another coffee shop I didn’t get a chance to try, this busy little spot on the corner looks very promising. I can’t quite figure out if they are called The Junction Noosa Coffee shop (as per the website) or Noosa Coffee Roasters (as per their Instagram) but the addresses are the same. Either way – the food and coffee look like a sure bet. I will definitely be stopping in on my next visit.

At the time of writing, Noosa Coffee Roasters is open from 6am-1pm Monday to Thursday, 6am-7pm Friday and Saturday and 7am-12pm Sunday.

Sunshine Social (Sunshine Beach)

This one isn’t technically in Noosa Junction, but it felt like the closest group for Sunshine Beach. About a 5 minute drive from Noosa Junction, Sunshine Beach is one of my favourite parts of Noosa. Sunshine Social (formerly Entity Coffee) is a cute little spot hidden away at the top of the Sunshine Beach shops. They make great coffee and roast their own beans as well. At the time of writing, Sunshine Social is open from 6am-1pm daily.

Mine Cafe (Sunshine beach)

I discovered this place while walking the strip of shops in Sunshine beach. While I didn’t try it this time around, the coffees and menu look great. At the time of writing, Mine is open from 6am-12pm daily. They use Clandestino beans, by all accounts.

Best coffee in Noosaville

Clandestino Coffee

Most of my favourite espressos I had in Noosa were made with Clandestino beans, so it’s no surprise I also love their cafe. Set in Belmondo’s Organic Market (which is a must-visit in and of itself) the cafe has plenty of space out the back as well as inside. Every espresso I have had there has been great and the brunch was delicious too. If you are not gluten free like me, you can also buy baked goods from Tanglewood Bakery to have with your coffee.

At the time of writing, Clandestino Coffee is open 6.30am-4pm Monday to Friday, 6.30am-3pm on Saturday and 8am-12pm Sunday.

Padre Coffee

A Melbourne classic, Padre coffee makes a delicious espresso in an Industrial setting in Noosaville. The design is such that you can watch the coffee being roasted through the glass too. At the time of writing, Padre Noosa is open from 6.30am-2pm Monday to Friday, 7am-1pm Saturday and closed on Sundays.

Vault Espresso

This was supposed to be on my list and I can’t believe I missed it. I’ll blame it on trying to do Byron Bay, Brisbane and Noosa in one trip. Either way, it looks excellent and the reviews seem to speak for themselves. At the time of writing, Vault Espresso is open 6am-2pm weekdays, 7am-12pm Saturday and closed on Sunday.

First Batch Espresso

Although I didn’t manage to get their this time around, First Batch was one of my favourite coffees last time I visited Noosa. Judging by their reviews, it is still as good as it was. At the time of writing, First Batch Espresso is open from 5.30am-2.30pm on weekdays and 7am-11.30am on Saturdays.

More Sunshine Coast coffee recommendations

• Flying West (Doonan and Eumundi Markets)
• Everyday Coffee Bar in Coolum Beach
• Compound Surf and Drink Coffee, Coolum
• John Kyle (Maroochydore and Buderim)
• Third Place in Maroochydore)
• Wax Espresso, Maroochydore
• Birds and The Beans Buderim (special mention because this is in an old Garage that I pulled over to photograph and only realised it housed the coffee shop when I was writing this article).
• Between the Flags in Dicky Beach
• Lamkin Lane in Caloundra