Meet Cult Coffee – the new Teneriffe cafe built on heart, hospitality and hollandaise
Cult Coffee is proof that new beginnings can brew from unlikely moments. The brand-new Teneriffe cafe is all about stripped-back approachable food, excellent coffee and familiar comfort. Think classics done properly – no fuss, no theatrics, just simple pleasures.
For Georgina Murray and Billy Limov, 2025 was a year of upheaval, but also one of new beginnings.
Last July, the same week Billy sold his business, Georgie’s mother passed away after a lengthy battle with glioblastoma. Two weeks later the duo went overseas, embarking on an eight-week trip (or, as Georgie puts it, a ‘grief gallivant’) across Europe to regroup themselves and give thought towards their future.
At some point during the trip, the couple decided to open a cafe.
“Because I quit my job [to care for my mum] and Billy (a hospitality veteran) was ready for a new venture, it was a bit of a no-brainer,” says Georgie. “The more we spoke about it, the more we thought this could really work.”
Georgie, a former journalist and marketing guru, immediately put on her marketing cap and quickly devised mock-ups of logos, colour schemes and inspirations. Upon their return to Brisbane, they hit the ground running.
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“The week we got home from Europe, we started the process of [locking in a space] and planning our wedding,” recalls Georgie, with a laugh.
The week of Christmas, Cult Coffee opened on Commercial Road in Teneriffe. Taking over the space previously home to Caffeine Espresso (next door to Danny’s Bread), Georgie and Billy have transformed the site into a warm and welcoming haunt boasting a cream and pink colour scheme with polished chrome accents.
At the heart of Cult is a sense of sweet simplicity – a classic-leaning menu that celebrates the basics, but isn’t beholden to staid formulas. Here, it’s all about good food executed at a high level, the kind of grub that’s familiar and approachable, but you aren’t likely to get anywhere else.
“I was sick of looking at a menu where you had to Google the ingredients, or pay over-the-top prices for something you can really make at home,” explains Georgie. “[Cult’s] about bringing it back to basics, but basics done really well.”
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The all-day breakfast offering is headlined by crowd-pleasing options like the Cult Benedict with poached eggs, spinach, hollandaise and bacon, avocado toast topped with dukkah, feta and balsamic glaze, and zucchini fritters with halloumi, mushrooms and roasted capsicum.
Those after some outside-the-box options should look to the Balkan brekkie (an ode to Billy’s Serbian heritage, with poached eggs, smoked salmon, feta, avocado, cherry tomatoes, orange slices and toast), pesto scrambled eggs with garlic mushrooms, wilted spinach and ham, and French-style crepes with vanilla-bean ice-cream, housemade strawberry compote and fresh strawberries.
“We’ve got the staples, but they’re staples done well,” says Georgie. “There’s nothing crazy. We’re not trying to do art – we’re not concerned with the theatrical, we’re just trying to do really good food.”
From 10:30 am onwards, the kitchen adds a list of toasties to the menu, with four kinds available, including a New York-style Reuben and a crumbed-chicken toastie with provolone cheese and chipotle herb mayo.
On the coffee front, Cult has secured Coffee Supreme as its supplier of choice. On deck are three blends – the creamy South blend, the juicy and clean Five Star Day blend, and the syrupy smooth Big Joe filter blend.
“Obviously everyone is talking about food, food and food – but I think coffee has really been the staple,” says Billy. “Obviously we have nice breakfast, but I think this really is a coffee shop.”
The crew is also slinging specialty peach and mango matcha, Mont Blancs, freshly squeezed juices and smoothies that can be upgraded with flavourless supplements from Pogo.
Looking ahead, Georgie and Billy hope Cult becomes a part of Teneriffe locals’ everyday ritual – a regular haunt for a chat and a cuppa, as well as a dependable weekend brunch destination.
“We want it to be the go-to fail-safe cafe that people can come to for amazing coffee, familiarity and friendliness,” says Georgie. “A place to really lift your day.”
Cult Coffee is now open to the public – operating hours, contact details and catering info can be found in The Directory.