Store Espresso

Sundays are kind of a drag in that all my go-​to cafes are closed because the owners have lives to get on with. I was meeting a mate for brunch in Newtown and we were dithering about where to go and I suddenly grabbed his arm with an emphatic, «Dude!» because I remembered this place. How could I forget this place in the first instance! If the weather is fine you can order inside, grab a blanket, and they’ll bring your meal over to you in the nearby park when it’s ready. But whenever I’m here the weather tends to be ordinary (whyyyyy) so I end up sitting at the long communal table inside. The menu is vast; it really just goes on and on. I always get the poached eggs with smashed avocado and feta on toast at $ 14 or so, and it is so much food I struggle to finish (which is saying something for me), but they also do burgers and sandwiches and things beyond the usual brunch fixin’s. The toilet is located out back and you have to walk through the kitchen, which is hilariously awkward but does make you marvel at how great food can be prepared in such a small space by so few people. And the waitstaff are bloody nice.

Was very surprised by this space. Funky and some lovely service. I only stopped in for a coffee and bacon and egg roll, and both were excellent. It is located next to a green park area so its got a lovely vista when vans aren’t parked in front of your view.
Very close to everything, but far enough away so that its not to noisy. Will be bringing my partner in crime back here to have a full brunch.

Stopped by to grab a coffee to go. This is the closest coffee shop to the apartment I am renting and was a must-​see on my first day in town. Great coffee and nice employees. I like the big communal table, the frequent buyer card, and it is very sweet that they let you take blankets over to the park and have a little picnic. Will be back soon to try the food.
My question of the day: Why don’t coffee shops here sell cute travel mugs with their logo? I was in 3 different stores today and didn’t see any. I also don’t really see folks here using their own mugs very often. Strange in such a strong coffee culture.

Store Espresso is a beautiful little café in a beautiful little neighbourhood opposite a beautiful little (big-​ish) park.
They have a beautiful breakfast menu that is beautifully cheap (French Toast w bacon $ 10; Corn Fritters w bacon, rocket & spicy salsa $ 11) and beautiful (and helpful) staff.
It is a beautiful spot to sit on a sunny day and overlook the beautiful oval, watch people walking their beautiful dogs and, depending on how good your eyesight is, watch people play some beautiful tennis on the other side of the park.
As tired as I am of saying it, Store Espresso really is a beautiful spot. There’s a real sense of community here, as the staff will give you service not just within the confines of their quickly-​filled café but anywhere from the gutter across the road to a rug in the middle of the park, on a nearby bench, or even delivering you breakfast if you live in the nearby houses — as long you as bring the plates back afterwards.
The drinks here are great too, with yummy hot chocolates and icy cold milkshakes served in big tins (always a good thing). Unfortunately, what lets Store Espresso down is that its coffee isn’t quite up to scratch, which is disappointing for if this place had really good coffee it could almost make my list of new favourite places.
Be warned — they don’t take card. The nearest place to take out money is the milk-​bar on the corner a block or two away, where you’ll have to make a purchase and then ask the guy really nicely if he’ll let you get money out.

On a relaxed, sunny Sunday morning, what could be better than sitting at a table overlooking the park and having breakfast? Not much, in my opinon, and Store Espresso was the perfect café: friendly staff, restorative coffee and fabulous food. The breakfast menu is innovative and interesting — not just eggs and bacon, but an enticing array of dishes such as avocado, roma tomatoes and mushrooms on multigrain toast; bacon and egg Panini with swiss cheese, aioli and a garnish of olives; French toast; scrambled eggs with chorizo, muffins and fresh fruit salad (to name a few). The bacon and egg Panini has been given a rave review in the SMH, but it’s by no means the only incredible edible on their menu.
The coffee was good, although served in a rather measly cup, the service was great (I even saw them doing take away deliveries to neighbouring houses) and the whole vibe of the place is relaxed, rustic and comforting. Large share tables are arranged inside, with vases of fresh flowers nestling next to the sugar bowl. It’s the little touches and extras that make this place a serious cut-​above-​the-​rest: they provide picnic blankets so you can take your coffee to the park opposite. Indeed, the café provides all the leafy sleepiness that is what makes living in a city wonderful. I will definitely be back to experience many more relaxed breakfasts here — not only did it fill me up with delicious food, but a happy mood that lasted the whole day.

I have to admit, my taste buds are tingling and it’s like my tongue is orgasming in my mouth, though that might just be the citric acid. I don’t know, I’m not an expert.
But the blood orange juice from Espresso is definitely some kind of wonderful, but in this modern world where things are driven by cost over quality as to what is good value, I don’t know if the juicy sensation is enough to make me overlook the fact I just paid $ 6.90 for it.
If you would have told me ten years ago that I would be paying $ 7 for a cup of orange juice the size of a large coffee, I wouldn’t have believed you, in fact, I would have said, get out of my room! (Being a teenager and all.) Yet here I was. The perfect day for it though, the sun was shining, the juice was delicious, seating is available, but when you’re just across the road from Camperdown Park, why would you sit inside?
I wandered in next door prior to entering Espresso and inquired as to whether they made juice, «Just what’s in the fridge.» He said. So I left and ordered my blood orange in liquid form from Store Espresso.
So I guess the question is, ‘Would a $ 7 fresh juice trump a $ 4 bottled juice?’ Not every day, no, but on those occasions when you want a little tastebud tingling, I think it’s justified, though only just.