Bellissimo Coffee
CLIENT : BELLISSIMO COFFEE
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
LOCATION: BRISBANE
SERVICES: INTERIOR DESIGN
PHOTOGRAPHY: PIXEL FACTORY
FITOUT BUILDER: BRISBANE JOINERY
PROJECT SIZE: 346m²
Besitos is a reimagining of Bellissimo Coffee’s Bulimba flagship store. Opened around ten years ago, the all-day breakfast and lunch venue was Bellissimo’s first foray into a food-focused cafe. Opened in late October 2021, Besitos pays homage to the history of both Bellissimo and the industrial area of Bulimba.
Bellissimo Coffee began as three mates having fun with some pallets of beans and a little roaster bought on a whim. Their original blend, Emporio, won the Espresso Champion trophy at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Awards with their very first entry. They’ve gone on to become Australia’s highest awarded coffee roaster, but their humble beginnings remain at the core of everything they achieve. Their philosophy is simple: “source smarter, roast better, reduce our impact on the environment, care about the community and share our love of what we do with you.” For Bellissimo Coffee, coffee is an institute. Moved by their immense passion, Alkot Studio wanted to bring something different to Brisbane, looking down south to Melbourne for inspiration. Renowned for their love of coffee, Melbourne’s laneways are filled with coffee shops and eateries. Unlike the fresh and colourful aesthetic favoured by Queensland cafes, Melbourne cafes are grungy and urban.
This design approach allowed Alkot Studio to honour the pre-existing architecture of the Besitos location - a warehouse. The blockwork wall of the building has been retained and celebrated rather than covered or removed. Raw timber, black steel, brickwork, and a neutral colour palette allow the product, in this case, the food, to be the hero. Plants provide a pop of colour and will grow in the space alongside the Bellissimo team. The result is a timeless and unpretentious eatery that honours the ethos of Bellissimo. Besito’s is inclusive, community-centric and product-forward, relaxed enough for an after-workout coffee and sophisticated enough for date night.
