Coffee culture meets killer beats in Canberra’s first ever coffee party
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The morning hustle has never sounded so fun.
Swapping hangovers for high vibes, Canberra’s newest event series is flipping the script on the weekend social scene: all the euphoria of a night out, but without your body hating you for it the next day.
And honestly, it’s what our dreams are made of.
Say hello (or good morning), to The Morning Grind – the ultimate daytime social where coffee culture meets killer beats and nightclub energy promises to be injected straight into your morning coffee.
We’re talking pumping R&B-house beats, social mingling, and all the buzz of a night out, minus the 2 am kebab and spending the next day on the couch doomscrolling.
The brainchild of local content creator Gem Chua-Saaed Basaad and her wife Judah Saeed Basaad, the idea came to the couple following a trip overseas, after they traded their late-night party habits for something a bit more sustainable.
Gem Chua-Saaed Basaad and her wife Judah Saeed Basaad.
“Back in our twenties, my wife and I lived for the party scene – clubbing, late nights, and dancing until sunrise. We loved the energy, the music, the freedom of it all,” explains Gem.
“But as we grew, we started to see things differently. Also, as healthcare workers who do a lot of shift work, the whole nightlife scene just isn’t worth it anymore.”
After years of recovering from nights out, they decided there had to be a better way to socialise that didn’t leave them feeling wrecked the next day. And then it hit them like a shot of espresso (pun intended).
“We craved something that actually set us up for the day ahead – something that still had that hype energy, but without the burnout,” says Gem.
“That is when it clicked – why not take the best parts of nightlife and bring them into the morning? The music, the social energy, the fun – but paired with coffee, good vibes, and a fresh start to the day.”
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Mixing the energy and music of a night out with the social aspect of catching up over a cup of coffee, The Morning Grind promises no hangovers, and no exhaustion, just a fun and uplifting way to start the day.
Instead of bartenders, there’ll be baristas. Instead of shot glasses, there’ll be espresso cups. And instead of an alcohol buzz, you’ll get a caffeine high.
“We want to create a space where people can start their day with the same excitement they would get from a night out – dancing, good music, and a social atmosphere – but without the exhaustion from hangovers,” explains Gem.
“It’s about bringing people together over coffee and fostering sober connections, exchange business or creative ideas and build a community that thrives on good energy.”
Believing that music will bring people together and is the ultimate form of social connection, Gem and Judah are hoping The Morning Grind will be a new way for people to connect without feeling like they have to go out for a cocktail.
As for the first place you’ll be enjoying DJ beats at breakfast hours? Their launch event is taking place at Taco Boi in Braddon on Saturday 5 April (because nothing says “good morning” like tacos and techno) where they’ll be pouring Bean Culture blends and DJ Zeal will be spinning tracks that’ll have you moving before your caffeine even kicks in.
“Aside from coffee and the DJ’s R&B-house music mix, we’re also serving up freshly baked goods, because there’s no better combo!” says Gem.
“Right now, we’re starting at Taco Boi. We love the Braddon location because it’s mostly outdoors-y, intimate, and has the perfect energy for kicking things off. But as more people join in and the community grows, we’re definitely looking at bigger venues to accommodate everyone who wants to be part of it.”
And yes, there will be merch.
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Planning to add more drinks in the future (including matcha), Gem and Judah’s ambitions don’t stop at one event. In the long term the plan for The Morning Grind is to become something that Canberrans can look forward to every month, so people can come together and start their weekends on a high note.
“Our main goal is to build a community that truly embraces the morning hustle, coffee culture, sober and meaningful connections, and, of course, good vibe music.”
“We want them to experience how music, coffee, and community can create a different kind of atmosphere – that it is not just an event but embracing a new way of socialising. We hope attendees walk away realising that mornings can be just as fun, energising, and social as nights out, but without the downside of exhaustion or hangovers,” says Gem.
“And who knows? Maybe this event becomes a new ritual for someone that replaces the traditional night out with something just as social, but way more refreshing.”
Keep an eye on @themorninggrind_canberra to see what they have planned and grab your dancing shoes and your travel mug – Canberra’s mornings just got a whole lot more interesting.
