Coffee raves are the new clubbing trend – here’s where to find one

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Think good vibes, loud beats and lattes in hand. Here’s why Australia’s caffeine culture is going clubbing.

Words by Hayley Hinze for Body+Soul

Vibes were high at Brisbane's Darvella Patisserie for their first morning coffee rave. — Vibes were high at Brisbane’s Darvella Patisserie for their first morning coffee rave.

Cafes and night clubs are two very different social scenes, but a new trend is combining the unlikely pair.

A morning coffee rave is exactly as it sounds – there’s a DJ next to the barista, and a busy dance floor of people clutching their morning lattes.

The trend started months ago in cafes across LA and London, and now a bunch of Aussies are making events like these happen at local cafes, social spaces and even bakeries.

What goes on at a morning coffee rave?

Picture a nightclub vibe, but in the morning and with coffee instead of alcohol. That pretty much sums it up.

“We’ve seen what’s happening overseas with a lot of these events popping up in the UK and the US, but we want to convert that to an Australian thing,” Brisbane’s Caffeine Club co-founder Konrad Lancaster says.

At the riverside cafe’s first morning rave recently, Lancaster says they aimed to bring the “nightlife vibe to the morning”.

“There were DJs performing, coffee and food available, and a juice bar serving wellness shots,” he adds.

In Melbourne, one group has made matcha its rave drink of choice.

“We curate our menu venue and music for every event,” Mix & Matcha co-founder Tanya Mohan says.

“People come down, sip coffees and matcha; they can network and socialise if they’d like to, but ultimately we want to get people dancing.”

Melbourne's Mix & Matcha event serves matcha as the rave drink of choice. Photography by alain_film. — Melbourne’s Mix & Matcha event serves matcha as the rave drink of choice. Photography by alain_film.

Why try a coffee rave?

It matches your morning schedule

As more young people embrace sobriety and rise early for run clubs, it makes sense to give nightlife a new time slot.

“We wanted to create a fun space where people can socialise and listen to good music,” Lancaster says.

“The advantage here is that, especially in Brisbane, the weather is great, the city wakes up early and people are already out socialising.

“(At our first rave) we opened the doors at 7am then, by the time it was done at 10am, people still had the whole day ahead of them.”

You can get to know new DJs

The morning rave gives local artists more opportunities to perform and share their work.

Mohan, who is also a DJ, says DJs are looking for variety as well.

“If a DJ is working at a night club, they can’t necessarily drink anyway, so by bringing it to the morning, it almost promotes health and wellness,” she says.

“And the fact that people are still ready to dance in the morning just gives them more energy.

“There’s a healthy outlook for everyone involved.”

It’s good for sober socialising

Morning coffee raves prove we don’t need liquid courage to have a boogie.

Brisbane’s Darvella Patisserie put its spin on the morning rave trend with a bakery rave (complete with loaves of bread as dancing props).

Owner Giorgina Venzin says it was the perfect opportunity to get social without alcohol.

“We held it inside the bakery, so it was a small enough space for someone to get to know the person next to them and build relationships without the alcohol,” Venzin says.

A bit of caffeine and the right atmosphere can be just as effective in bringing people together.

“We started passing around loaves of bread, baguette sticks and pastries that people started having fun with,” Venzin says.

“People were laughing with the person next to them, joining in, taking bites of bread, and it was a kind of novelty that cut through the awkwardness of them being strangers.”

All ages are welcome

Whether it’s a young family, a group of friends or a couple on their first date, morning coffee raves are fit for everyone.

“It’s a family-friendly thing where you can come have a coffee and a dance,” Lancaster says.

“I think it’s cool to have parents and young families who might not have the opportunity to go out at night.”

It is also a good way to get your fix of live music without the big night out.

“If you’re into house music but don’t necessarily want to be at a club, with these events you can come, dance, then still go out and enjoy the rest of your day,” Venzin says.