by cafedave on February 2, 2010
Campos Coffee. 166 Glebe Point Road, Glebe.
Open since Feb 5 2009, this place is next door to the grave of the Valhalla cinema of years gone by. Service is really great: George, the owner of the cafe, and his team are committed to making you feel welcome, to showing the kind of passion for the menu board that makes the food taste better when it arrives.
Even when we arrive at lunch time when the place is fairly full, and need seating for a baby (there are no high chairs here, so you need to bring your own high chair substitute) they are happy to seat us in any remaining seat: it’s our choice.
There’s a dedicated decaf grinder that is full-size; the coffee is ground to order and tastes great (yes, even the decaf).
And the food is really top-notch too. If you’re in this part of Glebe, you owe it to yourself to check this place out.
by cafedave on November 23, 2009
Campos Coffee. 37 York St, Wynyard. From the street frontage you wouldn’t realise that there is quite a lot of seating in the back of this cafe. Prices seem a little high, though its proximity to Wynyard and the banking district has to be a factor here.
The coffee-making staff work in a separate bubble to the rest of the staff: when they’re finished, they present a decaf latte that is very hot, but pleasant tasting: the traditional well-made Campos cup.
by cafedave on September 28, 2009
Campos coffee. 73 St Johns Rd, Glebe. Relaxing jazz muic drifts across this converted patio: the Perspex roof gives a great deal of natural light, giving the illusion of even more space than the arrangement of tables would suggest. Surprisingly for a cafe in Glebe, it has an alcohol licence: beers are available for between $6.50 and $7.50.
The lunch menu is a little on the pricey side – you’re looking at $8-11 for lunch, instead of staying below the magic $10. There’s an all-day breakfast menu too, which is more moderately priced.
Coffee comes out after the food. It’s thin, and very hot, but the flavour is good. They’re doing a good job making decaf here.
Hours:
Mon-Fri 7am-3pm
Sat 7:30am-4pm
web: manoespresso.com.au
by cafedave on September 22, 2009
Campos Coffee. 82 Regent St, Redfern. A really beautiful interior filled with furniture that clearly has a history, this is a place where you could certainly relax and enjoy the morning. A range of table sizes, even a large communal table with a big bunch of flowers in the centre. Prices are a little higher than I was expecting – a large takeaway decaf latte comes in at $4.10. Staff are really friendly and helpful.
Coffee was somewhat disappointing at first – there was a sense that the milk and coffee hadn’t combined quite correctly, and there was something of a thin texture to overcome. After a while, though, it settles down to being quite okay, though not the best Campos I’ve had. I would imagine that the caffeinated coffee is a better option.
Having noticed this Chai display, I’m curious to try their chai tea offering, too. Perhaps another time.
by cafedave on July 31, 2009
Campos Coffee. 623 Harris St, Ultimo. There are not too many places around Ultimo where Campos is on sale – the distinctive umbrellas and signage had called out to me a few times, but this was my first chance to try the place out.
Don’t be fooled by the street frontage: inside there is plenty of space to listen to the background music, be dazzled by the array of lunch options and sweets: there’s even a bench against the window so you can watch the traffic go past.
Coffee is competently made (though the decaf is pre-ground). My first coffee (a normal sized decaf latte) has some leftover grinds at the bottom of the glass, and the milk is a little too thick. A decaf piccolo latte, though, is just right; served in a half-full piccolo glass, it has great balance between the coffee and milk, and leaves me wanting another.
Website: lushbucketcafe.com.au
by cafedave on May 27, 2009
Campos Coffee. 127 Rowntree St, Birchgrove. Don’t be fooled by the car parked out the front: this is a charming little space inside, and a good spot for people watching. Order and pay at the counter your choice of options from the blackboard menu. On this visit, I try out the breakfast bruschetta: a sourdough topped with avocado, tomato and basil with a herb-infused olive oil that’s just magical.
Coffee is really good: I find out in talking to the owner that it’s actually the end of the week’s batch, but still the latte manages to have notes of coffee flavour through the milk.
There are high chairs towards the back of the seating area, and it seems a popular place for neighbourhood kids to gather on weekends. There’s also a dinner menu on Thursday and Friday nights. I’d never been to Birchgrove before (it’s a little north of Balmain) but I’ll be back to try this place again.
by cafedave on April 29, 2008
Campos coffee. Shop 6/28 The Kingsway, Cronulla. As you can tell from the photo, it’s pretty cramped here – one group of customers have a stroller with them, and so it’s a little tricky to move through to get a seat. Once seated, you will realise that it’s order and pay at counter, and have to walk back around to the counter, where the menus are – perhaps they should be available on the tables too?
The ambience of the place, though, and the food, and even the coffee, more than makes up for these inconveniences. A lot of character, and some quality fixtures and fittings have been crowded into this space.
Coffee is brought out, and passed across the divider that spreads this small shop into two columns by a friendly waitress. It’s a worthy cup of Campos decaf that’s brought out – the milkwork, the flavour, the aftertaste are all good, and the pancakes, too, are very tasty.
by cafedave on February 6, 2008
Campos coffee. 2/148 goulburn st, Surry Hills (enter via Brisbane St). I read about this place in delicious magazine, and had to check it out. The food looks extraordinarily good, and with its open plan kitchen, you can see everything being made as you wait for a takeaway order to be prepared.
Walk up a few stairs, and you stand below a 15 foot white-painted, exposed beam ceiling on a concrete floor. The color palette is black and white, with a touch of red. Food is excellent: visually pleasing, and fresh.
Coffee is properly made, perhaps a bit on the thin side, but still very good.
This place is doing so much right, you’d be mad not to try it.
by cafedave on December 19, 2007
Campos coffee. Commonwealth st, surry hills. The large, communal table is the first thing you notice on arriving, even more than the polished concrete floor or bright green walls: it seats 12 comfortably. Staff are friendly, and in the crowded surry hills café space, it’s a sign of success that there are regular customers even in the week leading up to christmas.
If you don’t want to sit on the big table, you can instead sit on the wall/benches, or outside at one of a couple of tables.
Coffee is really good: campos swiss water decaf, the right temperature for easy drinking. Worth a trip on its own, but they do good food too!
As a writing destination, this place would be good: the right balance of quiet and subtle activity, and just enough space to feel that you’re not sending them broke.
by cafedave on December 7, 2007
Campos coffee. 99 Elizabeth st, Sydney. This is a by-the-numbers cafe for the city: the usual suits as customers, a standard issue menu with some specials – the breakfast seems cheaper than most – and some friendly-enough staff.
Coffee, though, is really good: though the barista doesn’t seem to be trying hard to tamp the coffee, she’s efficient, and clearly knows her job well. Coffee is a good temperature for immediate drinking, and has a sweet, lingering aftertaste.
The cafe would be a good spot for writing, there’s about the right amount of noise and activity to keep you from feeling like you’re in a library, but not so much that you’re struggling to concentrate.
