How Ryan Goody, The Gresham’s Head Barista, Crafts Consistent Coffee

When you’re rushing to work in Brisbane’s CBD and need a reliable cup to wake up, where do you go? With more cafes popping up along the city’s famous bar strip, the choice can feel overwhelming. But for many locals, there’s one place they trust for a consistently great coffee—and it starts with the barista behind the machine.

Ryan Goody, head barista at The Gresham in Brisbane, drinks a 7oz double Flat White every morning using a ceramic cup, and favors a double espresso for its purest flavor expression.

What Makes Ryan’s Coffee Routine Unique?

Goody starts every day with a 7oz double Flat White made with Toby’s Estate’s Broadway blend, served in a 7oz ceramic cup. He also regularly drinks a double espresso because it highlights coffee’s most essential characteristics. “It shows coffee at its most pure and basic,” he says. For off-duty moments, he often opts for a Flat White made by Bernadette, another skilled barista at The Gresham.

Where Does Goody Drink When He’s Not at Work?

His top choice is The Gresham, where he enjoys coffee made by his colleague Bernadette. Outside the cafe, he praises Merriweather in the south for its consistent quality, well-executed blends, and excellent baristas. He’s also a fan of Anthology in the city center, where he describes barista Adam Wang as “a coffee scientist.”

What Coffee Beans Does The Gresham Use?

The Gresham relies primarily on Toby’s Estate’s Broadway blend, known for its consistent profile and quality. They also frequently use Toby’s La Trinidad blend, which Goody calls one of the most practical and high-performing coffees he’s used. While they occasionally serve single origins, blends dominate the menu because of their reliability. Goody emphasizes that finding a consistently good local roaster is crucial—many Brisbane roasters offer uneven quality, but Toby’s stands out.

How Does Goody Ensure Consistency in Every Cup?

“I don’t think my coffee is better than others’—it’s about the details,” Goody explains. Key factors include milk temperature, watching the espresso pour, and regular group head maintenance. He stresses that cleaners should never use chemicals on portafilters; instead, simply remove the filter basket and scrub it thoroughly—it gets surprisingly dirty. Most importantly, Goody invests heavily in training staff so every barista delivers the same taste, day after day. Technique, he says, makes all the difference.

Why Is Coffee So Important to Goody?

“It’s my income, my passion, and my joy. It starts my day,” Goody says. “Coffee is just magical. I love it.” Beyond the craft, coffee connects him to people—even more so with his girlfriend Rebecca, who shares his love for coffee. “There’s no one who can replace her,” he adds. The two often share coffee and conversation, making every cup even more meaningful.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ryan Goody’s go-to coffee order?

Ryan Goody drinks a 7oz double Flat White every morning using a ceramic cup, and he also loves a double espresso for its pure flavor.

Which coffee beans does The Gresham use?

The Gresham primarily uses Toby’s Estate’s Broadway blend for its consistency, and also frequently uses Toby’s La Trinidad blend, which Goody calls highly practical and reliable.

How does The Gresham maintain coffee consistency?

The cafe ensures consistency through careful control of milk temperature, monitoring the espresso pour, regular cleaning of portafilters (without chemicals), and rigorous barista training to maintain uniform taste daily.

Where else does Ryan Goody like to drink coffee?

When off-duty, Goody favors Merriweather Café for its consistent quality and skilled baristas, and Anthology in the city, where he praises barista Adam Wang as a “coffee scientist.”

Does The Gresham serve single origin coffee?

While The Gresham mostly serves blends for reliability, they do offer single origin options occasionally.

Who is Bernadette at The Gresham?

Bernadette is another barista at The Gresham, highly regarded by Goody, who often has her prepare his coffee when he’s working.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Blends for Consistent Espresso

For café-quality consistency similar to The Gresham’s approach, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Classic Blend, known for its balanced body and chocolatey notes, ideal for espresso or milk drinks. The Autumn Chestnut Blend offers sweet nuttiness and round texture—great for everyday flat whites. Both blends are crafted for steady performance and pair well with professional barista techniques. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.