Mecca Espresso CQ

High acidity, plenty of crema, loved my espresso.
It’s the only decent option in the area (the nearest one I’m aware of is Marlowe’s Way in Tank Stream) so it gets the 5*.
Of course, being sandwiched between large roads and the biggest ferry hub in Sydney, it’s a busy place, better suited for a quick espresso on the counter or take away than a relaxing post-​lunch sip in the sun.

Oh Mecca! Mecca, Mecca!
So there are currently 3 different Mecca Espresso coffee places now in the city and each one as glorious as the last. Unlike the major store in Ultimo, the other two are smaller variations. I love the Ultimo café, as not only do they have amazing coffee, but food as well. At the CQ store, you can get sandwiches and cakes — but nothing major.
However, if you are looking for a good cup of coffee, then Mecca it is! I think Mecca is one of the best coffees in the city. And unlike the King St store, this one is less crowded. Unfortunately they close at 3.30, so you can’t leave it too late.

This was probably the best latte I have ever had.
It’s also stunning how much attention they pay to where the coffee came from.

It’s called Mecca for a reason, people!

Circular Quay isn’t going to be a haven for sit and enjoy type coffee. Their setup is suited to the quick pace of people moving through this area as a result. Their Dark Horse espresso blend was solid as always. Well extracted by the friendly staff.
But… Mecca, I’ve been enjoying your filter brews from afar (Adelaide) for a while now and charging $ 5 for a pre made cup of filter coffee out of a Moccamaster; that’s pretty questionable. A good quality roaster like Mecca is either interested in preparing decent filter coffee or not. The characterless Guatemalan filter I had here would suggest the later.
Great for a quick or takeaway espresso with or without milk. Look elsewhere for your filter coffee fix.

Mecca is its own mecca for corporate coffee lovers who work near Circular Quay. I’ve heard from many sources that Mecca is truly famous for its coffee. Its professional staff of baristas are talented virtuosos when it come to whipping up the perfect cappuccino.
This café also has a small food selection of things mostly to take away, like premade sandwiches and muffins. Try one of their delicious strawberry toasts, which although is just some strawberry jam on toast, is really good.
Until last week, I would have recommended this place to literally anyone and everyone because of how great the coffee is here. However, they recently increased the price of all their coffees by 50 cents. They said it was because the price of the beans has gone up a lot. While this may be true, if you’re a caffeine addict, it becomes easier on your wallet to frequent another café that has similar quality cappuccino but for $ 2.70 instead of $ 3.50. Still, I’ll give them four stars for their excellent coffee.

A great cup of coffee is as essential to most people as breathing. While Sydney offers a lot of different cafes to choose from, the quest for the best coffee is still on going. That is, it was until Mecca Espresso opened. A small unassuming café, it serves only top quality coffee from around the world with many varieties to choose from. Even their regular coffee is amazing! And while coffee is the main reason one would go here, they also serve the tastiest Rare Roasted Wagyu Beef Sandwich. The flavour and freshness of their sandwiches make them a perfect accompaniment to a great coffee. Mecca Espresso will give you a coffee and dining experience that you’ll absolutely not want to miss.

Cheers is the bar where everyone knows your name and Mecca Circular Quay is where they know my twitter handle, my coffee order, and most importantly… how to make a bloody good cup of coffee.
If you are near Circular Quay then this is THE place to get your coffee. Sure they have aeropress and syphon coffees available of that is your desire, but I would suggest sticking with their tried and true espresso.
This is another café in Sydney that more often than not can produce a velvety almost sweet crema on a really well espressed cup of coffee. Adding milk is almost a waste. Certainly try this place out. Pretty good spot to do some people watching too…
Café Summary
— — — — — — — —
Passion for Coffee — ⁹⁄₁₀
Coffee beans — Mecca and Mecca single origin
Crema (1=burnt, 10=velvet) — ⁹⁄₁₀
Special coffees avail? — Aeropress, Syphon
More info available at