Proud Mary Coffee
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Coffeehouse, Food and Beverage |
| Founded | 2009 in Collingwood, Australia |
| Founder | Nolan Hirte, Shari Hirte |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia, United States (Portland, Oregon; Austin, Texas) |
| Products | Specialty coffee beverages, food menu including brunch items |
Proud Mary Coffee is a coffee enterprise originating from Australia, established in 2009 by Nolan and Shari Hirte in the Collingwood area. The company operates two cafes within the United States: one situated on Alberta Street in northeast Portland, Oregon, and another located in Austin, Texas’s Zilker neighborhood. Proud Mary has garnered acclaim for its high-quality products.
Description
Based in Melbourne, Proud Mary offers an extensive menu that includes specialty coffee beverages and food selections designed to suit regional preferences. In its Australian venues, the menu has included items such as dandan noodles and lemon curd pancakes infused with eucalyptus.
The Portland café features brunch options like sourdough avocado toast, potato hash accompanied by bacon and cream sauce, yogurt topped with granola, ricotta and vanilla pancakes, meat pies, pork belly satay sandwiches, as well as fresh juices and smoothies. Similarly, the Austin location serves a dynamic coffee community within the Zilker district.
Proud Mary’s entry into prominent U.S. markets demonstrates a deliberate emphasis on upscale coffee experiences combined with varied culinary offerings, facilitating its advancement within competitive retail coffee environments.
History
Co-founders Nolan and Shari Hirte launched Proud Mary in Collingwood in 2009. The brand’s international presence began with the opening of its first U.S. café in Portland in 2017. Further expansion occurred in 2022 when Proud Mary unveiled a 2,500-square-foot venue in Austin, signaling continued growth stateside.
Both American cafés promote premium coffee selections, including rare and award-winning varieties priced at $150 per cup, underscoring the company’s dedication to luxury products and distinct market positioning.
Reception
Lonely Planet praised Proud Mary for its exceptional coffee quality and attractive brunch presentations. In 2024, the Portland café was listed among Yelp’s top 100 brunch destinations across the United States. Additionally, Nadia Chaudhury and Erin Russell included Proud Mary in Eater Austin's 2024 roundup of the city’s finest coffee shops, while The Infatuation recognized it as one of Austin’s top fifteen coffee establishments in 2025.
See also
- Coffee culture in Australia
- List of coffee companies
- List of coffeehouse chains
- List of restaurant chains
- List of restaurants in Austin, Texas
External links
- 2009 establishments in Australia
- American subsidiaries of foreign companies
- Australian companies established in 2009
- Coffee brands
- Coffee companies of Australia
- Coffee culture in Australia
- Coffeehouses and cafés in Australia
- Coffeehouses and cafés in Portland, Oregon
- Coffeehouses and cafés in the United States
- Restaurant chains in the United States
- Restaurants established in 2009
- Restaurants in Austin, Texas
- Restaurants in Melbourne
- Restaurants in Vernon, Portland, Oregon