Barista of the Month - Alex, The Junction Cafe - September 2026

Meet Alex from The Junction Cafe, Griffith University, Gold Coast who is our Barista of the month for September !! 

With over 13 years of experience as a barista, he knows a thing or two and has a passion and appreciation for the science behind coffee.

What’s your name and where do you work?
Hi, I'm Alex Browning and I am working at The Junction Cafe located at Griffith University.

What inspired you to become a barista?
I've been a Barista for 13 years and in that time the art has changed a lot. It has become so beautifully refined, especially here in Australia and for me it really offered a lot of learning to do both socially and the science behind the product.

How do you start your day before a shift?
I usually start at 5:30am so there isn't much time but I ride a bicycle everyday to work and that's a great way to start the day generally.

What’s your favourite part of working at the café?
My favourite part is the people really. There are so many memorable interactions, I've worked around the Gold Coast for a fair while and everyday I see customers out in the community outside of work either riding to the beach or getting groceries and, without my job I would never have the chance to meet so many different people, sometimes cafes build communities.

Do you have any tips for perfecting latte art?
I've mostly explored free-pour latte art so, I focus on angling your cup, height of your pour, milk temperature and using different milk jugs to achieve different techniques, have fun with it.

What’s your favourite blend or origin and why?
Anything out of Africa. The versatility of a nice Ethiopian from decent elevation is unmatched.

What’s a fun fact most people don’t know about you?
I used to sleep with coffee beans in my pillowcase. It was a few years ago and I loved exploring different origins that way.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us Alex. Go give them a follow @thejunctionatgriffith