Drive down to Tarragindi’s 6/11 Kuring Gai Avenue and you will find Black Lab Coffee. It is, by far, the suburb’s most dog-friendly café. Established in February 2016, the café specialises in high quality “barista-made takeaway coffee”. The café also takes pride in being a champion of animal welfare.
Black Lab Coffee proudly supports the cause of the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). As Australia’s “oldest, largest, and leading animal welfare charity,” the RSPCA’s mission statement is “helping animals, enlightening people, changing lives.” Black Lab Coffee supports this mission fully. Tarragindi’s dog-friendly hub often hosts pop-up pet adoption events.
Last year, on three separate occasions, the café co-hosted “Coffee for a Cause” events with the RSPCA. One dollar from each coffee sold during the events went to the society’s dog rescue projects. A lot of dog owners and fur babies were seen soaking up the love during these events.
Primarily Designed for Humans… and Pooches, too!
At the café’s front, there are plenty of water bowls with fresh drinking water. There is also a water refill station in case the bowls run out of water. This is to ensure that no visiting dogs at the café would ever go thirsty.
Inside Black Lab Coffee, there is ample seating for the café patrons. Table sizes vary from small to large to accommodate varying groups of people. Astroturf grass covers most of the flooring. Indeed, the café is designed for the comfort of dogs and their humans.
Outside of the establishment, just by the roadside, there is an area where people can also order coffee to-go. Outdoor seating is available so customers can be comfortable while waiting for their orders.
Quality Barista-made Takeaway Coffee
Coffee at Tarragindi’s most dog-friendly café is made of locally-roasted Di Bella coffee beans. The beans are brewed to perfection by the establishment’s friendly barista to ensure its high quality. Patrons are given a rewards card which is stamped whenever they purchase some coffee. Collect ten stamps on the card and your 10th coffee is “on the house.”
Aside from their specialty coffee, the café also offers a variety of other delectable treats on the menu. They have milkshakes and freshly blended smoothies that come in flavours like coffee frappe, berry blast, mango lassi, banana nut, and hulk. More choices are available from the cafe’s well-stocked fridge.
The café’s food selections vary daily. At the counter, there are plenty of goodies for takeaway. They have baked desserts, toasties, as well as bacon and egg rolls. They also have an abundant supply of home-baked and hand-made Discuits (dog biscuits), which contain well-selected natural ingredients only. In this café, health is wealth for your pooch and you.
‘The Boss’ of Black Lab Coffee
At Black Lab Coffee, “The Boss” is a black Labrador named Audrey. Patrons often quip that the café is owned and managed by this adorable resident pooch. Actually, her regal, dignified presence at the cafe will convince even the most jaded guest that she is, in fact, “The Boss.”
Audrey makes frequent visits to the café. If you are lucky, you might be able to meet her during your visit. Don’t forget to have some snaps taken with her for that perfect Instagram moment. Feel free to follow her on Instagram, too. She probably has more followers than the average Joe.
Visitors to Black Lab Coffee can check on updates on events through their Facebook page or Instagram gallery. The cafe is open from 5:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Mondays to Saturdays, and 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sundays.