Her Coffee series: 10 coffee spots you must try in 2015

Posted on 20 January, 2015

It’s no secret that I love my coffee, and I have tried almost all the coffee that there is to drink in Canberra. Needless to say, my dentist is a tad concerned about the stains on my teeth…but it’s all for a good cause. I have now come to know where I can get a top-notch caffeine hit in this town. So here it is, my friends (and in no particular order): The Top 10 spots to try in 2015!

Harvest

This place has been a long running favourite. Situated on the corner of Marcus Clarke Street and Alinga Street, this spot caters to great number of public servants and uni students, and any city-goers who are willing to walk a little out of their way for a good cup of coffee.

After recently going under a little refurbishment, Harvest has hatched a whole new look for itself. The colour scheme is much of the same post-refit—black walls, floors and roof, dark wooden tables and chairs and dim lighting. Although now there is a much bigger space for customers to linger, which really changes the overall vibe of the place.

It’s somewhere you can spend time and not feel flustered by the flurry of public servants darting in and out for their takeaway orders. Sit, relax and draw out every sip of your coffee and wow is it good coffee!

High on the recommendations is their iced latte, especially if you’ve spent the day sweating up a storm shopping in the city. Just take yourself for a little wander and it will be worth it. Harvest claim they have ‘Canberra’s best coffee!’ and might not be that far from the truth.

The essentials
Where: 40 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra City
When: 7.30am-4pm Monday to Friday, and 9am-3pm on Saturday
Phone: 0433 358 024
Web: www.harvestcoffee.com.au or find them on Facebook

Nookie Espresso Bar

Opening up in winter last year, Nookie is a fresh and interesting addition to Garema Place. Tucked away into the side of Sizzle Bento, it’s only small with the coffee ‘kitchen’ work space itself the only area technically inside.

Large enough to fit two people at most, Nookie is literally is a hole in the wall (hence its name, NOOKie). There’s no counter, just the coffee machine and room for husband and wife duo, Nam and Liv.

With no countertops or oversized glass cabinets between you or them, you could almost believe you’re in the kitchen of close friend—just two people enjoying good coffee. Beyond the coffee machine, there cosy seated area that looks out onto Garema Place. A tad retro and home-y, there’s a collection of mismatched stools, tables and benches draped with hand-knitted blankets and an assortment of eclectic illustrated cushions.

Keep your order on the small side and try a piccolo latte—a good way to really gauge how good the coffee is. Sourced from Blacksmith Coffee Roasters in Wollongong, the coffee has no bitter after taste and slides down smooth with creamy yet slightly sweet taste that hints at notes of honeycomb. Delish.

The essentials
Where: 4A/148 City Walk, Garema Place, Canberra City
When: Open 7.30am-4pm Monday to Friday
Phone: 0420 721 529
Web: Find them on Facebook

Common Grounds

This is Southside’s buried treasure—a little suburban gem if you will. Born and raised in the deep south of Canberra in the Tuggeranong district, I’m often hard pressed to find a good coffee fix close to home. More often not, it would require a travelling into the Civic or further, just to satisfy my caffeine cravings.

Southside has been calling out for something like this for years, and of course, once I had defected to the Northside, this charming little place came along.

Common Grounds is a wonderful little café situated on the edge of Gowrie shops on Jeffries Street. The décor is modern and there’s a large feature wall inside with black and white illustration and text. But in my opinion, the outdoor seating is where it’s at. At the rear of the café there’s a private courtyard area which backs onto the quiet streets of Gowrie, and many-a-time I have sat in that courtyard writing articles and assignments bolstered by a few double-shot brews.

The coffee, sourced from Campos Coffee, is full-bodied and creamy, and I’ve never had a dud cup. Now I’m travelling across town once again just to get a hit.

The essentials
Where: 4/1 Jeffries Street, Gowrie, Canberra
When: Open 7.30am-4pm Monday to Friday, and 8am-3pm Saturday and Sunday
Phone: (02) 6291 7412
Web: Find them on Facebook

38 Espresso

The Kingston foreshore is one of Canberra’s most exciting up-and-coming dining areas, so it’s only natural that an exceptional coffee place is included in the ranks. 38 Espresso popped up some time ago now, when the foreshore was in its early stages of construction. However, they’ve really started to gain more momentum in the past 12 months.

They source their coffee from Blacksmith Coffee Roasters and offer a special blend called The Boardwalk Blend, which is exclusive to 38.

There’s also a small selection of cakes and light snacks with all of the produce is locally sourced. The décor takes on an urban industrial feel, boasting high ceilings, metal light fixtures and table settings, and polished cement floors and walls. There’s also some wall artworks and very creative chalk-boards which always prove entertaining.

On my last visit I went for the iced coffee – nothing better than an icy drink by the water (right?). When it arrived at the table, I was surprised to find some orange rind in my coffee – initially I thought it odd, but it sure did taste good, and it was really refreshing.

The essentials
Where: 4/2 Trevillian Quay, Kingston Foreshore, Canberra.
When: 7am-3pm Monday to Saturday, and 7am-2pm Sunday
Phone: (02) 6162 3027
Web: Find them on Facebook

Lonsdale Street Roasters

A Canberra classic you just can’t pass up—Lonsdale Street Roasters. They’re one of Canberra’s big players when it comes to coffee and if you’ve tasted it you’ll understand why. It packs a punch! It’s always full-bodied, creamy and extremely flavoursome.

There are around 16 different blends on the grind at the moment, but you’ll most likely see the Smith & Evans blend used the most. Lonsdale Street Roasters have a number of locations and side projects and distribute their beans widely across Canberra.

Their largest location (but not their first) is situated on—you guessed it—Lonsdale Street in Braddon. It’s a very communal space. There are large wooden benches everywhere and hardly any ‘lone’ tables, so you’re almost forced to sit with strangers but that’s kind of the beauty about it. It encourages others to come together and really feel like a part of the community.

The essentials
Where: 23 Lonsdale Street, Braddon, Canberra.
When: 6am-4pm Monday to Wednesday, 6am-9.30pm Thursday to Saturday, and 7am-7pm Sunday
Phone: (02) 6247 9882
Web: www.lonsdalestreetroasters.com or find them on Facebook

Tupelo Coffee Co

The newest local coffee shop to the ranks, Tupelo Coffee opened with a bang just last week. These guys have new-age kind of vibe, reflected by the simple minimalistic décor. There’s an array of handmade furniture and fixtures made from plywood and crates, and the large windows and white walls really open the space up.

Tupelo source their beans from Code Black, who are based in Brunswick, and the beans are brought up to Canberra within two days of roasting so the coffee is always quite fresh.

Tupelo brings something a little different to Canberra’s coffee scene and the team is pouring everything from your stock-standard cappuccino to a specialty filter coffee. So don’t be shy to express yourself and order that caramel latte or a short black with just a dap of froth. Whatever your poison, you won’t be judged.

And another thing….they don’t charge for extras, so put that extra eighty cents back in your wallet because your soy milk is free!

The essentials
Where: 92-100 Alinga Street, Canberra.
When: 7am-4pm Monday to Friday, and 8am-12 Saturday.
Web: Find them on Facebook

Coffee Lab

Another ONA Coffee initiative, Coffee Lab, opened up a mere seven months ago just behind the Canberra Centre. Large windows surround the outer half of the café with a few small light globes hanging from the ceiling. The walls are covered in timber and wooden pallets. Some pallets are stacked with sandbags in-between them and there’s even a few hanging pallets attached to the roof. In contrast to its polished concrete floors and bench-tops, the mixture of textures and colours creates an edgy but inviting space.

The name Coffee Lab isn’t just something clever they thought up after a few brews—these guys are doing some pretty serious caffeinated alchemy, so the name really is quite literal. They’re constantly experimenting with coffee and churning out new ideas and concepts to implement in the café and other ONA Coffee projects. Coffee Lab is interested in the process of making coffee and aim to perfect every step in that process.

The essentials
Where: 26 Narellan Place, Canberra.
When: 7.30am-4.30pm Monday to Friday
Web: Find them on Facebook

Superfine Café

Tucked away in the bottom of a public service building on the corner of Mort and Bunda Street, Superfine can be easy to miss. It weren’t for a small chalkboard sign you’d walk right past it, so pay attention if you’re planning on hunting this place down—and I do suggest you do. Upon entering the café you’re greeted by a corrugated iron feature wall with small wooden shelves that house a collection of coffee memorabilia.

As you move towards the counter you’ll notice a tantalising display cabinet filled with all kinds of food and tasty treats, and even cold pressed juice (only $6 for a large size—total bargain).

The coffee on offer comes from Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters who are originally based out of Woolloomooloo in Sydney. It’s got a savoury flavour to it but definitely not bitter. It’s smooth and creamy, and warms you up inside with every sip you draw from the cup.

The essentials
Where: Corner of Mort & Bunda Street, Canberra City
When: 7am-4pm Monday to Friday
Web: www.superfine.com or find them on Facebook

The Cupping Room

Designed by the folks at ONA Coffee, The Cupping Room is a specialty coffee house whose aim is to educate and inform its customers about coffee. These guys are passionate about what they do and have a fervent desire to share all things coffee-related with their customers.

Located on the corner of University Avenue and London Circuit, the vibrant timber exterior makes this place impossible to miss. There’s a huge coloured mural on the side external wall of the café, and painted across a banner in the middle of the mural is their slogan…

The coffee, for lack of a more fitting phrase, is always on point. It’s got really nice flavour but isn’t overpowering, so you can have a coffee with your meal and not end up with a horrible aftertaste. It’s well-rounded and balanced coffee, and it caresses the senses rather than assaulting them. Be sure to try the iced coffee, which is served up in true-hipster form: deconstructed.

And I know we’re talking about coffee here but I have to mention the salted caramel popcorn milkshake Yes, it’s a real thing. And yes, it’s amazing so make sure you try that one too!

The essentials
Where: 1/3 University Avenue, Canberra City
When: 7am-4pm Monday to Friday, and 8am-3pm Saturday and Sunday
Phone: (02) 6257 6412
Web: www.thecuppingroom.com.au or find them on Facebook 

Two Before Ten

And last, but certainly not least, Two Before Ten! Now located in Aranda, these guys are brewing up a storm. They’ve got themselves a brand-spanking new location. Their trailer, dubbed ‘The Juggernaut’ (below), can be found on Lonsdale Street in Braddon, too, if you’re feeling the need for their beans when in the city.

What you will find, however, is great coffee. And right in the middle of Northside suburbia! Two Before Ten source and roast their own coffee, and you can look in on the roastery to see Hank doing his thang. That makes the coffee experience just a little bit more exciting, don’t you think?

The essentials
Where: 68 Bandjalong Crescent, Aranda, Canberra
When: 8am-2pm Monday to Sunday
Web: www.twobeforeten.com.au or Find them on Facebook

Now, don’t take my word for it – if you haven’t already, get out there and give these places a go! These 10 spots only scratch the surface of what lies within Canberra’s coffee community, and there is certainly much more good coffee to be had. We’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to leave a comment below and let us know what your top 10 looks like for 2015!