Merlo Coffee Drive Thru & Cafe | Chermside

Merlo Coffee Drive Thru & Cafe in Chermside is built around a practical combination: barista-made coffee, hot food and a drive-through setup for people heading somewhere else. Described by Merlo as Brisbane’s first drive-through, the venue sits at 665 Gympie Road and is easy to spot by its large blue cup sign. It is particularly suited to early starts, commuters and busy locals who want to pick up breakfast or a coffee without making a longer café stop.

The coffee is central to the experience, with Merlo promoting freshly roasted coffee and the option to take home a bag of beans. The Chermside site also connects with the broader Merlo range, including espresso blends, capsules and decaf. Among the named blends are Espresso Blend, Private Blend, Forza Blend, Riviera Blend and Organico Blend. Espresso Blend is described as a traditional Italian-style coffee with cocoa, dark chocolate, hazelnut and malt notes, while Forza is made for those who prefer a bolder, stronger style. Organico is made with organic coffee beans and has brown sugar, almond and milk chocolate notes.

Food is designed for speed and easy takeaway. The menu includes toasties, burgers and snacks, alongside baked goods supplied by Milano Bakehouse, which Merlo identifies as its sister bakery. Pastries, pies and both meat and plant-based sausage rolls are available as grab-and-go options. The selection gives customers a choice between something light from the bakery range and a more substantial meal when they need fuel for the next part of the day. Merlo also says fresh bread will be available in the near future, but that should be treated as an upcoming addition rather than a current menu item.

This is a straightforward choice for solo coffee runs, takeaway breakfasts and quick food stops rather than a venue presented around long sit-down meals or special-occasion dining. The early trading schedule is a practical advantage: it opens from 4am on weekdays and 5am on weekends, closing at 4pm each day according to the supplied venue information. With a 4.6 Google rating from 17 reviews, it has also made a positive early impression, though the review sample is still relatively small.