Barra Brings Sunshine Coast Vibes to Central Minneapolis

Inside the new Barra multiroaster cafe in central Minneapolis. All images courtesy of Barra.

Customers at the Skyway shopping center in downtown Minneapolis are getting a taste of the Sunshine Coast through Barra, a new cafe with a thoroughly Aussie-inspired multiroaster program.

The concise drinks menu includes espresso, drip coffee, a latte and, of course, a flat white. Barra goes a step further with a Lemon, Lime and Bitters (LLB) — a citrusy, slightly spicy refreshment that’s as common down under as any non-coffee drink.

Beyond the menu’s Aussie-style brevity and coffee focus, Barra also customizes its water to mirror the mineral profile common in Melbourne coffee shops.

“As we grow, we hope to incorporate more Aussie foods, and create more seating and space for people to gather over morning tea,” Barra Co-Founder Eric Nordberg told Daily Coffee News. “We’re hoping to create the experience of Australian coffee culture overall, with a coastal vibe for the interior of the shop.”

Barra’s lime-washed walls, natural wood surfaces and beachy potted plants set an oceanside tone around a Slayer espresso machine and a Mahlkönig EK43 grinder equipped with SSP burrs.

A white stone bar and white tile backsplash keep the focus on the coffees, which currently include drip roasts by Prodigal Coffee in Boulder, Colorado, and espresso roasts by Bellingham, Washington-based Makeworth Coffee.

“Quality was my number one priority when selecting roasters. There are a few other roasters whose lineups I am tasting through,” Nordberg said. “No Australian roasters yet, though that would be amazing. The tariff situation and shipping costs have put a hamper on any desire to start that.”

Prodigal supplied the coffees Nordberg served during retail pop-ups in Denver before he founded Barra with his wife, Mallory Nordberg, late last year. Formerly a middle school science teacher, Eric Nordberg was also working toward a nursing degree when the pull of coffee became irresistible.

“I found myself spending more time reading about coffee than studying for school, so it became obvious that maybe I would give up going back to school,” Nordberg said.

Mallory Nordberg, an attorney who also handles Barra’s social media, branding and administrative work, was born in the United States to an Australian immigrant father and holds dual citizenship. From 2001 to 2007, she lived in Brisbane and has visited frequently since.

The clearest inspiration for the Minneapolis shop came from a 2024 trip to Queensland, where the couple stayed at an Airbnb on a street called Barra Crescent in Coolum Beach.

“We walked the boardwalk every morning to a few vibey coffee shops, which started the urge to open a brick and mortar,” Eric Nordberg said.

Since opening on March 2, Barra has focused on grab-and-go coffee service. The company plans to keep refining its multiroaster experience while gradually adding food, drinks and seating.

“We are focusing on building out and growing this cafe this year,” Eric Nordberg said. “Eventually I would like to open a sit-down specialty coffee shop in St. Paul.”

Barra is located in the Skyway at 950 Nicollet Mall UNIT 205, in Minneapolis.

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