Hudsons Coffee

6am flyers hit Hudsons Coffee first in T1

Regulars at Hobart International head straight to Hudsons Coffee in T1 before those Qantas and Virgin departures between 5:30am and 7:00am. It sits airside after security, on the main concourse toward the gates, and runs on typical first-flight-to-last-flight airport hours. Prices land in the $ tier by airport standards, but still higher than a suburban Hudsons; expect to pay around AUD $5–6 for a flat white and a bit more for specialty drinks.

This outlet leans hard into takeaway. Most reviews talk about grabbing a flat white or long black plus a muffin or croissant, then heading straight for the gate seating. Food is mainly pastries, slices, and pre-made sandwiches rather than full meals, so don’t plan on a big breakfast. Think coffee, banana bread, and maybe a ham-and-cheese toastie in a paper bag.

Lines build fast during the early-morning bank of flights; one traveller mentioned a long queue even 30 minutes before boarding. Service often gets called slow, especially when multiple flights depart around the same time. If your boarding pass says 6:00–7:30am, budget at least 10–15 minutes in the queue, more on school holidays, or you’ll be sipping weak plane coffee instead.

Coffee quality comes across as mixed in reviews. Some say their flat white at HBA “did the job” before a 6am Qantas flight, others call it weak or poorly textured. Sizes also attract complaints compared to the price, which several passengers chalk up to standard airport markup. If you’re picky about espresso, keep expectations moderate and maybe stick to simpler orders like a long black.

Tip: clear security, walk directly to Hudsons, order your takeaway coffee and pastry, then carry it to your gate so you’re not clock-watching at a café table when boarding starts.