My flat white in its heavy blue teacup was
just $3. It is creamy (I don’t do skinny coffee) and nutty and smooth. It could
be a little hotter – I risk having a cold last mouthful or two. But they roast
their own beans, and I can see them in the hopper, bouncing around like
popcorn. The staff seems friendly, smiling even at the various small people who
accompany their parents. They must had a recent shop makeover, as one of the
regulars (who was called by name) says it’s become very bright and open. The
man behind the counter said they’re getting a lot of good feedback and had a
write-up in a magazine last week. Oh! And they make their own muffins. I will
have to try one. I generally find café muffins bland and artificially
over-fluffy.
A small breakfast menu is chalked on one
wall, including sourdough toast with ricotta, tahini and honey, or smoked trout
with poached eggs, goats’ cheese and hollandaise. They also advertise an apple
pie and cinnamon milkshake for $5.50. There’s a full menu but I haven’t
taken a peek yet.
There’s a regular stream of customers –
half a dozen ambulance workers, locals out for their morning walk, moms and
dads in casual wear, and a few people in business clothes. There are four staff
members behind the counter for the morning rush, one of whom pops out to tend
to the beans. It’s amazing how fast they roast to a rich brown. Mmmm coffee!
I went back for a little pot of English Breakfast and a muffin. I picked strawberry and found mango hidden in its depths! The muffin is substantial and cakey, but in a good way - dense and perfectly baked. And the teapot has a silly bit of script on it: oh darling, darling, stand by TEA.
