gusto cafe, penshurst

Toby’s estate coffee. 23 The Strand, Penshurst. New kid on the block, this place raises the bar of coffee at Penshurst. Clean, contrasting red and black on a wooden floor, this place has a modern feel.

Staff are chatty, there are two cooks working away in the kitchen; all that the place needs is some more time for word of mouth to spread.

The decaf is pre-ground, but when paired with Crema milk, comes together as very drinkable.

TJ’s coffee house, Penshurst

Piazza d’oro coffee. A little hole in the wall, with a broad coffee menu and a number of food choices. A few small tables and chairs outside, where you can get some fresh air, and watch for your train.

Decaf is disappointing: a few technical errors, and no crema to speak of. Bearable, but not a great cup.


Update: according to the commenters, the caffeinated coffee is really good.

short black espresso bar, penshurst

Schibello coffee. In a suburb that has a dearth of cafes, short black has managed to pick up a few business awards. Simple, muted colours, a glossy wooden floor, wooden chairs indoors for around 30, and plastic and metal outdoor seating for another 16. There’s a choice of cakes in a glass display, and a number of all-day breakfast options if you miss the 11:30am breakfast cutoff.

Coffee is ground in large batches, not to order, and presents well, though there’s no latte art. It’s a good, drinkable temperature, and though no particular flavours demand to be noticed, it’s a perfectly drinkable cup.