Death Before Decaf

BRISBANE'S RADDEST 24/7 COFFEE SHOP - DEATH BEFORE DECAF

So you like coffee?  What about if you could get it any minute, any hour of the day or night. That's right shift workers somebody finally thought about you. And I'm not talking about your regular servo cappuccino, I'm talking about that smooth tasting espresso without any of the wankery.

Situated on Brunswick street in New farm, not far from the Brisbane CBD. Death Before Decaf a 24-7, Hardcore coffee shop. Carl opened the doors to DBD back in the beginning of 2014 and since then has established and branded the business and it is truly booming. His theory - pick one thing and do it right. And that's exactly what he has done. It's all about the coffee at DBD.

I took some time to talk to talk to Carl about this rad little creation. 

Where did the inspiration come from to open a 24-7 hardcore cafe in Brisbane

"I really just wanted to create a place I was happy working in, listen to the music I wanted to. Decorate it with shit I like."

Would you class yourself as a coffee snob?

"I wouldn't classify myself as one no, but in saying that I don't really drink coffee from anywhere else, I'm pretty happy drinking my own. But I'd always be keen to try new places if the coffee was good."

What advice do you have for someone thinking of opening a new business and doing something out of the ordinary?

"DO NOT HIRE YOUR CHILDREN. Nah, be prepared for hard work and long hours. It is rewarding when you get a great response from the public and can build up a regular customer basis."

24-7, crazy or genius?

"Genius! If anyone wanted to open a 24-7 coffee shop and stand as our competition we are already established, we will always be growing and finding new ways to expand. We nailed it. Pick one thing and do it right, fuck your avocado on toast."

What does the future hold for Death Before Decaf?

"Umm? Stress! Nah, I hope to expand the business to a point I can open a shop in every capital city in Australia."

Hardcore music is a big part of the DBD ethos, why does this work?

"We play the music for our own enjoyment, many of our customers hate the music but love the coffee. Go figure."

"Just to answer a couple of frequently asked questions. Yes I will be selling my own beans, I am in the process of coming up with a name for our very own speciality blend. Watch this Space! And NO we are not owned by The Amity Affliction. They are just good friends of mine. I 100% own the business myself."

Peace!

Emma Dawe of Shades of Dawe

EMMA DAWE FOR EIGHTS BRIGADE

INTRODUCING THE NEWEST MEMBER TO THE EIGHTS FAMILY AND FIRST EVER BLOG CONTRIBUTOR!

Around 6 months back we were visiting Brisbane and had heard of this rad little 24/7 coffee shop in Fortitude Valley called Death By Decaf. Needed that caffeine hit so thought we'd drop by for the daily boost. We ended up meeting a gnarly barista - Emma Dawe.

I have always loved art, in high school it was the only thing I managed to get an A in.  After leaving school I stopped drawing a lot, it was only a thing I would do occasionally as I was quite embarrassed of my work. After meeting my partner Bennett who is a tattoo artist, he pushed me to start drawing again. His style of tattooing being realism really inspired me to start drawing portraits and photo realistic pieces. If it wasn't for him being so supportive and patient with me I don't think I would of picked up a pencil again.  

At the start of this year I started a tattoo apprenticeship. One of the artists who I worked under also primarily tattooed realism. He taught me some great tips and tools to use whilst drawing. In the time I was doing my apprenticeship I learnt a lot about what I wanted from my creativity, and soon realised that tattooing wasn't for me. I loved to have the freedom to draw for myself and the pressure of tattooing was something I personally couldn't handle.  

I have only started drawing realism in the last 6 months so I still have a lot to learn but I am happy with the progress I have made in the time I have been drawing. There are so many amazing artists I follow on Instagram that I look up to. One particular girl I follow, Kit King, her work is incredible and if I could be half as good as her one day it would be a dream come true. I also love the fact I can relate to her somewhat as she use to tattoo but now focuses mainly on her drawings and paintings.

I started getting tattoos when I was 19, back then it was all about just having a tattoo. Now I appreciate the time, dedication and patience that goes into every tattoo and love the fact I can wear another artists work on my skin.  I hope to grow and learn as much as possible through my drawings as it is something I am very passionate about and truly love. 

I recently just started my own Instagram page - Shades of Dawe. The hype thus far has been incredible and I'm so appreciative of all the love. I look forward to being a monthly contributor to the Eights blog so hope you all enjoy what I have to bring in the future!

Emma xo
Instagram - @ShadesofDawe

Daniel Hatcher for Eights Brigade

You thought your barista was talented for putting hearts in the foam of your coffee? Well wait till we introduce Daniel Hatcher.

We first came across Daniel through mindless procrastinating on Instagram searching for rad photography and cool artworks. No not photo's of your breakfast at your local cafe. We stumbled across this rather unique page which was easy to see why it caught our eye...

My coffee cups came from my frustrations at work. I work for a fashion company and I design the graphics that go on the apparel. At times, I feel the work can get a little repetitive and frustrating so I started to come in early every morning and draw on my coffee cups whilst I was having breakfast before work starts that way I get to just draw whatever I wanted in my head at the time. I found this to be my sort of meditation before work as there was no brief, no time constraint and no client. 

To be honest I didn't think my coffee cups would get much attention. I just started to put them up on Instagram because I didn't know what else to do with them. I Have about 50 of them under my desk and about another 50 at home. A couple of weeks in people started to message me to see if i could do coffee cup for there cafes .There really was no motivation other than I like coffee and drawing.


Instagram - @danielhatcher26

Anthony Christie for Eights Brigade

Anthony Christie. Traveler, explorer, film photography jedi. 

We've been following Anthony's work for a while now and it's easy to see why. Get to know him a little bit below and take in the awesomeness of his work across America!

"I was fortunate to be given two Pentax film cameras for free from a Vietnam Veteran"

I’ve been shooting film for over four years now. I always had an interest in photography which started when I got my first decent Nikon camera for a summer trip to Europe back in 2005. But it wasn’t until 2009/2010 while living in Vancouver, Canada that I became interested in film photography. In particular I was inspired by Joel Birch (vocalist of Australian band, The Amity Affliction) who was using an old Konica Minolta at the time and taking photos while touring with his band. I loved the colours and the look he was getting from various film types which encouraged me to jump into film but also to learn the basics of photography (iso, shutter speed, aperture etc). After coming back to Australia I was fortunate to be given two Pentax film cameras for free from a Vietnam Veteran who had since upgraded to digital.




I then spent a good two years shooting with these cameras and a combination of different film brands through trial and error learning about what I liked and didn’t like. Finally, I made the step up into medium format film with the purchase of a Mamiya 7 rangefinder in mid 2012 and have never looked back.
There are a number of reasons I shoot film. Firstly I love the look of it, a certain look which is find is hard to replicate in digital format. Secondly I love my camera. The combination of an easy-to-use body with one of the best lenses in the world (rivals Leica and Zeiss glass) means the results you can achieve are phenomenal. Thirdly I love the way film makes me work shot as a photographer. There is a limited number of shots per roll making it vital not to waste a frame. I feel that I am also more present, ready to capture the decisive moment rather then constantly looking a small screen to see how the shot turned out.

I’ve been fortunate to combine two of my passions in life which are photography and travelling. Over the past few years I’ve taken my Mamiya 7 to numerous countries across North and Central America and also Europe to capture amazing landscapes and interesting people. Along the way I’ve also worked on a number of photography series. In particular I shot a 25 portrait series of friends and family from Australia, Canada and the USA and a series of images from two road trips (I, II) through the deserts of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. Then there are the small projects like photographing bikes, cars and ocean pools around Sydney or family portraits at my parents farm in Queensland. I find, no matter how big or small it may be, that working on focused series of images continues to keep me creative, inspired and to push my photography further then before.



Looking towards the future and the rest of 2015, I‘ve got plans in the works on a number of photography series with different themes but nothing I can share just yet. I’m also looking at travelling again to Europe for a bit this summer but fail that, making the big move to Berlin in 2016 just before I turn 30 to enjoy the European life plus visit all the amazing locations I haven’t had the fortune of visiting just yet.


http://www.anthonychristie.com
Instagram: @anthonychristie1


(Images) This a selection of images from my ‘Into The Desert’ series. Taken during multiple road trips through the deserts of California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah visiting national parks along the way.


Ollie Khedun for Eights Brigade

Tawny Taylor for Eights Brigade

An afternoon with Tawny Taylor for Eights Brigade

"I'm a nasty coffee snob and can't live a day without an espresso"

We recently had the pleasure of catching up with Brisbane based, coffee loving, tatty slippin' Tawny Taylor.  You can catch Tawny on the social side of Instagram @tawnytaylor

Photographer: David Collins

Tell us a little about yourself?

I'm probably the most impatient sonabitch you'll ever come across, but I would rather be early than late. 

I don't think I can go a day without somehow eating or drinking a banana, they give me the happy feels. 

Rainy days are my favourite even if it does mean my hair is going to be ruined because of them. 

Nothing gets me like a man with a nice cologne... Shit gets real. 

It's funny when people meet me in real life I usually always get the comment ' wow I didn't think you were so short '... :/ I'm probably about 5"1ish.

You love a solid tattoo, whats your most favourite and why?

I have three different favourites for different reasons. My collar bone reads 'china blue' which is a song my dad wrote when he was 14 years old and my first tattoo, and I love my dad he is the man. The horse on my thigh is a cover up piece by Tom Bartley and I couldn't be happier with it. He killed it and you would agree with me if you saw the big ol black lump that he had to work with! 

Finally I have a little initial behind my left ear... I won't tell you who's it is but I can tell you that it was one of the biggest learning curves in my life and they will always hold a huge spot in my heart. 

We know you love coffee, what’s your local spot in Brisbane?

Fuck! Coffee!! I'm so bout it bout it. 

I'm a nasty coffee snob and can't live a day without an espresso. There is this roaster in Milton that has a bean that I'm sure was created by jeebus. It's called The Odyssey Project and wherever I see them using their beans I'm there. 

Plans for the new year ahead?

I'm going to fucking kill it, head down- booty up and get shit done! It's only getting better from here I promise.

WHAT WHAT WHAT!!?!?!