Where to visit in Sydney

Kelsey

Although I lived in Sydney for many years I paid little attention to coffee - mostly because I'd been spoiled by Melbourne and just couldn't be bothered tracking down somewhere to get a consistently good brew (tho I did have a favorite spot or two in Mosman).

I've got a series of client meetings down there in the second week of November. Unfortunately it's starting to look like they will back to back the entire time, but I'd still like to make a bit of time for a good roastery or some coffee hardware porn while I'm there.

I'll mostly be hanging around the inner west (mostly Balmain), as well as the lower North Shore and perhaps Manly.

Any good roasteries around this area that serve a nice brew?
Any green bean suppliers that I could visit? (I'll be driving down, so can take supplies back with me!)
Any hardware suppliers that are amenable to drop-in visitors?
Anyone want to join me for a brew (most likely at short notice!)?

coffeehorse

I'll mostly be hanging around the inner west (mostly Balmain), as well as the lower North Shore and perhaps Manly.

Piccolo Padre on Darling St., Rozelle (Balmain end) Little Marionette on Darling St., Balmain (by park, south end of shop drag) are the best places for good coffee in Balmain. Cafe Berlin stocks/sells Morgans' Coffee and is open all hours, the place oposite is okay with Campos. Bean Drinking in Crows' Nest is okay. Russhole's 'The Source' in Mosman is probably where you know already. Inner West cafe's are a mixed bunch: Paper Cup in Stanmore is consistent (alchemy) Joe Black Cafe (City end of Slurry Kills) is funky, fresh and fun (5 senses) Le Monde in Surry Hills is my meeting place for lunches - awesome food and coffee (5 senses) Russ's new place in Surry Hills is opening soon (Source) Plunge in Summer Hill is open 7 days, does cakeycakes, good specials etc. Coffee Alchemy custom blend. Wedge Espresso in Glebe (55 Glebe Point Road) is new and trying to do good stuff with 5 senses beans.

Any good roasteries around this area that serve a nice brew?

Mecca Espresso in Ultimo (Harris St) - cafe nearest their roastery. Coffee Alchemy in Marrickville (cnr. Addison Rd and Cook St) - this is known as 'the pub' because so many of us regulars go there then: Single Origin, Surry Hills

Any green bean suppliers that I could visit? (I'll be driving down, so can take supplies back with me!)

MinistryGrounds are up in the Blue Mountains, but depends what quantities you're after.

Any hardware suppliers that are amenable to drop-in visitors?

Di Bartoli in Bondi Junction are always friendly and worth a visit, most of the Leichhardt retailers aren't the cheapest or the most knowledgeable, or are stuck in the non-specialty coffee end of the industry. I don't know the owners of Jet Black, but they're obviously LNS.

Anyone want to join me for a brew (most likely at short notice!)?

Of course!

Kelsey

Thanks Coffeehorse! A font of information, as usual! With any luck, I'll be staying somewhere in the inner west, so a catch up at the 'pub' would be fantastic.

Jetblack_Espresso

Kelsey wrote:

Although I lived in Sydney for many years I paid little attention to coffee - mostly because I'd been spoiled by Melbourne and just couldn't be bothered tracking down somewhere to get a consistently good brew (tho I did have a favorite spot or two in Mosman). I've got a series of client meetings down there in the second week of November. Unfortunately it's starting to look like they will back to back the entire time, but I'd still like to make a bit of time for a good roastery or some coffee hardware porn while I'm there. I'll mostly be hanging around the inner west (mostly Balmain), as well as the lower North Shore and perhaps Manly. Any good roasteries around this area that serve a nice brew? Any green bean suppliers that I could visit? (I'll be driving down, so can take supplies back with me!) Any hardware suppliers that are amenable to drop-in visitors? Anyone want to join me for a brew (most likely at short notice!)?

Hi Kelsey, We're on Military Road and you're most welcome to drop in and check out our hardware, charlie.

Kelsey

Hey thanks Charlie, right near my old stomping grounds! Hopefully I'll get a chance to drop by.

admin

These are not specifically Balmain area, but if you're wanting to check out Sydney, it's the obvious place to start... http://www.bestcafes.com.au/cremas-top-sydney-cafes-for-2011 we take these ['Best Cafes of...'] extremely seriously; as we've mentioned in previous threads, not done by the odd 'junior' journalist who knows the difference between a polystyrene and a carboard takeaway cup, but by a panel of senior coffee people. A

Kelsey

Thanks for that! So I'm definitely going to Coffee Alchemy. As soon as possible after I arrive. Probably Monday morning. Apart from that, my schedule's kinda crazy, but I'll update here as soon as I know more for whoever wants to meet up for a cuppa.

coffeehorse

Alchemy is closed on Monday, so you'll be stuck with Mecca Espresso on harris st, ultimo 🙂. 8-2 tue-fri, 8-3 sat = alchemy 🙂 IBTL may result in different opening hours.

Kelsey

Looks like it'll be Piccolo Padre then - I'll be in Balmain most days. 😢

Kelsey

Well it's been a crazy busy trip and I really haven't had the time to enjoy the caffeinated delights listed above, with the exception of The Little Marionette (which I enjoyed enormously) and Plunge in Summer Hill, which I resorted to after Coffee Alchemy was closed this afternoon. TLM have a very enjoyable espresso, tho a little bright for my tastes. As a macchiato it's delightful tho. I got talking to the baristas and one of them recommended an iced macchiato, which I was happy to try. Went back the next morning - stinking hot day - and ordered another one, only to get quizzical looks. Apparently the afternoon boys like inventing cold coffee variations 'cause there's no aircon in the cafe. Also went to Bertoni's, which my design partner recommended as 'an institution'. It was a really nice espresso, not as acidic as TLM and the crema was as perfect an example of crema as I've seen. Overally tho, the brew perhaps wasn't as complex a flavour as I've had elsewhere, but perfectly nice nontheless. I'm hoping to make it to The Source tomorrow if I can, but apart from that I think my coffee journey in Sydney is almost done, sadly!

Kelsey

Managed to get to piccolo's today. Had a rather incredible double ristretto. Probably the best coffee I've had in Syd to date. The barista seemed genuinely pleased at my choice.

DoubleRistretto

no visit to sydney is complete without visiting a couple of the classics like campos & single origin in my opinion [even if they're not what they were]; also Toby's Estate in Chippendale [opposite Sydney uni.] is going great guns ...

WotB

How about a visit to JoeBlack? It's on Commonwealth St., just a block from the War Memorial end of Hyde Park.

Kelsey

I'm hoping to organise my afternoon meeting to be at The Source and to drop in on Jet Black. I've had campos, tho admittedly at a time when I wouldn't have appreciated it. Apart from that I tend to avoid the city as much as possible! Today I'll be in the Kirribilli area and staying overnight in Chatswood. We'll be moving on to Bondi for lunch on Saturday and stating with friends in Charing Cross.

coffeehorse

Hey Kelsey, had read your post as you being down next week rather than this week. would still love to catch up if you're around - oddly have my wife's dad staying (unexpectedly, he drove down from townsville). coffee alchemy is open sat 8-2, you should coffee pub early! in bondi, the cafe at the bottom opposite the pavillion (eg. across the main junction and bear right, it's a couple of doors up the street going up the hill) and the one at the top of the hill past bondi RSL turnoff (Depot serves Morgans through a Mistral) are useful bits.

coffeehorse

Also meant to say that PP and TLM have pumped out genuinely good coffee for years, the problem is the traffic. What kind of design do you do?

Kelsey

Hi CoffeeHorse, so sorry I missed you down there. It was just crazy busy and I didn't make it to any of my planned coffee stops. Got some good coffee nonetheless, but no alchemy or source! 😢 If you want the short answer, I'm a web designer. The less short answer is that I seem to have become more of an online strategist/consultant where I handle actual production less and less... if that makes sense.

admin

was soliciting recommendations [see best cafes>>Sydney below] but haven't had much response so far... am in Sydney and will check out some of the ones mentioned in this thread, would be great to have more!! A

Kelsey

I mentioned this on the Best Cafes thread, but the more I think back on my trip, the more impressed I was with Ruby Cafe. We got there early enough in the morning that I could chat with Ed, the owner. Later the place was way too busy, but he still sought me out so we could continue our chat. He seemed to really appreciate having someone to chat about coffee with. The cafe itself is in no way suited to be a coffee haven, being a busy breakfast spot in Charing Cross, but he has a regular staple of Single Origins, one available at a time and a house blend. They have a tasting notes folder and offer both the usual espresso/milky drinks and cold brew, siphon and aeropress. When I asked for the SO after having the blend, Ed suggested trying it as a 3/4 black - something I've never had a cafe recommend. In the end, while it wasn't my beloved espresso, I found that I could more readily distinguish some of the subtler flavours in the brew that probably would've been overpowered in my usual shot. I really enjoyed it and noticed a mocha flavour which was very palatable. I would've stayed for the cold brew, but my 14 month old boy contrived to have one of the worst accidents he's had while we were in the middle of breakfast. No fault of the cafe and no blood, fortunately. Just a lot of screaming and a frantic mother ripping out a table to get to her bub. I'd recommend going there in an off-peak time as Ed was one of the more approachable cafe owners I found in Sydney.