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yourRestaurants Guide to Sydney's Best Coffee


Some call it the latest trend in coffee couture, some the Third Wave, but whatever label you favour, the growing number of boutique roasters doing their thing in Sydney is definitely on the rise. It is with this in mind that we at yourRestaurants give a well-deserved tip of the cap to those artisans of espresso who make our early-morning heart-starter a thing of beauty and enjoyment.

If the words cupping, terroir, single origin and yirgacheffe aren't in your daily vocabulary, you need not apply; this list is reserved for those who live and breathe coffee — and want to know where to find Sydney's best.

1
 
Mecca Espresso
Sydney
Pioneers of the latest and greatest coffee trends, the roasters and baristas at Mecca are at the forefront of the industry in all respects. Espresso, filter, siphon and clover: these guys do it all and they do it extremely well. The lines out the door may seem a little excessive just for a coffee, but reserve judgement until you've tasted it. Different blends are constantly being tried and experimented — from an Ethiopian Sidamo to a fruity Nicaraguan blend — all in search of the perfect cup of coffee.

2
 
Coffee Alchemy
Marrickville
All puns aside about their coffee being gold, the team at Coffee Alchemy (aka Flint & Steel) know their stuff and are passionate about coffee. Their gossamer gold plunger-style is the perfect example of true coffee in all its glory. It's no wonder resident roaster Hazel was named Australian Coffee Cupping Champion in 2007.

3
 
The Source Espresso
Mosman
It's not rocket science; like most things in life, if you want the best, then go to the source. The dedicated team here have been doing some of Sydney's best coffee for quite some time now, and they don't look like stopping anytime soon. The innovators at the Source single-handedly put Mosman on the coffee map in Australia with their talents.

4
 
The Little Marionette
Balmain
Quintessential boutique roaster the Little Marionette, brainchild of entrepreneur Ed Cutcliffe, is proof that often good things come in small packages. Beginning with a hole-in-the-wall cafe in Balmain, the Marionette coffee brand has expanded to a sister cafe in neighbouring Annandale as well as to a host of stellar cafes stocking the signature blend, including phenomenal pastry chef Chris The's Black Star Pastry.

5
 
Single Origin Roasters
Surry Hills
The name says it all. This Surry Hills landmark not only makes a great coffee, they are also diligently committed to sourcing high-quality, ethical and sustainable produce from some of the world's historically exploited regions — and all without compromising on the quality of the product. Special mention must go to the Ooplala blend for its rich mouth-feel, ideal for sweet-tooths who prefer the toffee and caramel notes to be more prominent.

6
 
Bean Drinking
Crows Nest
There's no doubting the commitment to coffee shown at this leafy, little cafe, where the two buzz words are 'naked' and 'Slayer'. Despite mental images of nude people rocking out to death-metal, we are still talking about coffee; naked is the extraction method of choice and Slayer is their very exclusive machine with mid-extraction water pressure control. Be sure to try the cold-drip Guatemalan if it's on offer.

7
 
White Horse Coffee
Sutherland
Representing for the Sutherland Shire, these guys have an intimate cafe dedicated solely to worshipping the intoxicating elixir of life that is coffee. Former disciples of the Mecca Espresso way of coffee, these guys recently got their hands on their very own roaster, and, considering their expertise and knowledge, the coffee community will wait with bated breath to see what they can achieve.

8
 
Campos Coffee
Newtown
They had to be here. In a list of smaller coffee producers driven to excel by their passion and dedication, Campos may seem a bit more mainstream by comparison, but it is no less deserving. It's hard to believe the juggernaut that is Campos only began in 2002 in a tiny back lane in Newtown. With a host of cafes stocking their signature blends all across Australia, some doing it justice and some not, the only way to be sure of getting true quality is to go back to where it all began.

9
 
Vella Nero Coffee Couture
Sydney
With a swag of awards already to their name, the team at Vella Nero could be forgiven for resting on their laurels. Luckily for us, they aren 't. Roasting several different blends and constantly sourcing new beans, these guys are searchers of the purest form, always striving to make the best possible coffee. The house blend has subtle fruit flavours and sweet, nutty undertones to balance the slightly elevated acidity.

10
 
The Penny Royal
Mosman
Nabbing another spot for Mosman, the Penny Royal is one of the few cafes in Sydney doing great coffee without sourcing and roasting it themselves. Serving Campos coffee makes this task a little easier, but full credit must go to the consummate professionals working tirelessly to perfect their art behind a coffee machine.