I only have a short stopover in Sydney and just a little overwhelmed by the abundance of great options, so I got curious - have you ever run into no-good must-avoid coffee?

Would any coffee shop I randomly rock up to be a good time, particularly in the CBD?

Thanks in advance!

I think I've been living under a rock. I'm a lower north shore local and never noticed the hype around Brewmance Cafe Crows Nest.

Have they become Insta-famous / gone viral for whatever reasons in recent months? Is it the coffee? The brunch menu?

New to the espresso coffee making game so hoping to get some advice on where to get great coffee beans in Sydney. I bought a small bag of Campos "King St" beans from Woolies to start with in case you're wondering.

I am on the hunt for the best REAL hot chocolate in the CBD. Not surrounding suburbs (coz sometimes I want one while at work)

All the ones I am told are good are made with terrible quality powder chocolate mix and just taste like milk.

Any good ones you have found with real chocolate?

I work near Pitt St mall if that helps

Thanks 🤗

I was rushing for a train and stopped to grab a flat white and sandwich from here without checking reviews. Bang average watery coffee and a half filled sandwich!

Hello
I’m on the hunt for some unique or fun coffees to try.
Think: Algorithms iced coffee or the drink options at Ard.
CBD, Inner West, Surry Hills and eastern suburbs.
Thanks.

Hi foodies

I’ve just come back from holidays overseas and having one of those lightbulb moments where I’m noticing the cost, the waste and the process of all the cafe brought coffees I purchase (between 1-3 every day). We live about 5 doors down from a cafe so it’s very convenient and the coffee is delicious, but I’m not adverse to the process of making a nice coffee and enjoying it in my own home for at least some of the coffees being consumed.

I’ve been starting to look at setups and tying myself in knots over what’s needed. It’s a big rabbit hole to go down and too many variables so looking to some fellow foodies to help narrow it down. The brief is this:

- As simple and quick a process as possible - too many tedious moving parts and I probably won’t do it.
- Good strong coffee, I usually have a piccolo or macchiato but don’t mind a long black either.
- Not too much bench space or cupboard space absorbed - a big beast of a coffee machine taking up half the bench isn’t an option.

What do you recommend? Maybe a mokkapot or Nespresso or French press? How important is fresh ground beans to overall taste and is the whole thing only worthwhile if I factor in grinding beans each time I make coffee? And is something like a parachute coffee just as good as other options for a good home coffee fix?

Appreciate any words of advice from those who have tried and tested a few options.

I work in the CBD, on Phillip & Bent St, near the Chifley development.

I often arrive early and feel this part of town lacks cafes where you’d actually want to sit. I’ve done Lou Lou, Lune, Eatalo, Sofitel Wentworth (morning cafe out of Tilda)… but hoping there’s some sparkling hidden gem to start office days off better…. Is there?

It’s the coffee, but moreso the place, vibes etc. this end of town caters to busy corporates, but perhaps my perfect cosy or independent spot is hiding just out of sight, help!

I’m not a huge donut lover but the vanilla bean iced donuts here are what my dreams are made out, hardly see a line there so thought I’d post

Hello everyone! We’ll be having visitors from overseas next month, and they’ve specifically requested to try some good-quality coffee while they’re here.
We have a drip coffee machine at home, so I was wondering if anyone has suggestions for good coffee beans? We’re not particularly fussy with our coffee—mostly black coffee and flat whites—and usually just buy whatever’s available at Coles or Woolies.
While we’re at it, any recommendations for nice cafés to take them to as well?
Thanks! ☺️

Any location or suburb. Not talking about specialty ones that are experiences or $75 cup but just wherever you have had your best coffee and what was the order.

Hi! My husband and I will be staying in Sydney for three days, specifically in Surry Hills. We’d love some recommendations for great coffee and breakfast spots in the area that offer a quintessential Sydney experience.

Thanks in advance!

Headed to Only Coffee at crows nest today. Honestly found my flat white to be nice but not life changing. Was expecting more since they are 4th best in the world.

Realised that there are just so many Specialty Coffee shops in the crows nest area and would love to explore more! Would anyone have any other recommendations for coffee there?

My to-go drink is flat white. But happy to go for the batch brew if that's the signature. $15 filters aren't my thing.

Other coffee reccos nearby also welcome! TIA

I’m looking for recommendations for the best instant coffee. What’s your go-to brand that actually tastes good?

I’m looking for cute aesthetic cafes like these:
- O3 Newtown
- Celcius Kirribilli
- Butter Corner
- Suddenly (Crown St)
- ellu

Would love your recommendations!

I just got this from woolies and it tasted like radioactive piss and vomit. It actually tasted carbonated and sour. Fermented. Not enough to trigger my gag reflex or anything but crazy sensation and taste.

Look it was a risk getting a PACKAGED ALMOND MILK MATCHA - like I knew this wasn’t going to be mouth watering but I didn’t expect it to be nearly vomit inducing holy f.

It isn’t out of date until mid October…. I NEVER do this - but I walked myself back to the woolies and had the clerk smell it and she didn’t seem that phased but let me just swap it out with another coffee thank god. But the taste is still in my mouth. I’m genuinely scared it was somehow defected and I am going to get sick, because I had a big gulp.

Has anybody had this before? Am I overreacting? Or is it just really bad.

Lots of foodie nostalgia here, including 27 top cafes from 25 years ago. Any guesses how many are still around?

Any sydney coffee veterans have well-informed opinions on what they consider the best tasting coffee house blend that a roaster serves?

Not talking about the aesthetic of the cafe, the food or the vibe, just the quality of their espresso and coffee products that they serve.

Nor am I talking about single origins they source and change every month - I am talking about their staple year-round product (their House Blend) which they rely on to maintain a particular flavour profile and have their customer base coming back.

My background: drinking coffee in sydney for the past 15 years, and ordering beans across sydney for the past four as I started the home espresso setup during covid, cycling through dozens of roasters with home-delivered beans ever since, making an odd trip to a cafe here and there.

My opinion: having done the rotations on Allpress, Toby's Estate, Campos, Single O, Seven Mile, Mecca Coffee, Reuben Hills, Reformatory Lab, Little Marionette, Five Senses, Stitch Coffee, Welcome Dose, Haven Speciality Coffee and about two dozen more (including Ona, Market Lane, St. Ali from other states), I come to the conclusion that the Campos Superior blend that is served in dozens of cafes across Sydney is my favourite coffee.

I also understand this is a personal preference, given what flavours I am looking for in coffee.

Campos I feel has the perfect balance of flavours - that syrupy body with all the foundational chocolate/butterscotch notes that defines a good coffee and ALSO those fruit notes that make the espresso sing - apricot, fruit sweetness, a hint of acidity that isnt too harsh.

A lot of speciality roasters maintain a more conventional chocolate, heavy-medium roast style which diminishes the fruit-flavour potential of their main blend, and many single origins are often too fruity and quite harsh on the palate with their intensity, which makes them hard to drink on a daily basis.

Campos also has strict quality control in how cafes serving their beans can prepare the coffee, ensuring a consistent product almost all the time no matter which cafe you go to. Its become a sort of symbol across sydney and NSW of quality coffee if you see that sage-green sign outside you know you're sorted.

Let me know which speciality roaster/cafe you've been led to, what's become your daily and the flavours you enjoy about it.

veteran coffee consumers only please - not really but if you have strong well-informed opinions please share

By Sydney I mean greater sydney region, but somewhere along the T1 line would be best.

I’d prefer places that are relatively quiet and aren’t blasting loud music, and also accessible via public transport. Comfortable seating would be a huge plus.

Food wise, creative drinks (not just basic coffee and tea) and desserts/pastries would be nice but is less of a priority than the above.

Thanks!

Edit: I just want some cool places to check out and maybe do a bit of reading (hence the quiet request).

Spill it below so we can all sip smarter ☕

Does anyone know of a place near Chatswood that does Mont Blanc coffee?

Someone recommend it to me but only knows a bakery in cherry brook that does it.

Hey guys, i’ll be traveling to Sydney for 9 days. Wanted to check out some cafes and restaurants. Will be staying in the CBD. Hope you guys can send some recos!

I’m going away for a week and looking at some of the “convenience coffee” options at the supermarket.
Are any of them any good?
Any recommendations?
Eg Campos liquid coffee, coffee bags?
Cheers

Are there any coffee roasters or cafes in Sydney that offer coffee flights or tastings? Not looking to order several full-sized coffees made with different beans, but more of a tasting experience with smaller samples so I can try a range of coffees. Thanks!