Where is the best cafe in Canberra now?

Silo?

Short black served in two minutes or less, otherwise do not call yourself a cafe.

frannjipani said :

Agree Ona in Fyshwick has the best coffee – they make a real long black! And their food is good and so reasonably priced. Is it the same guys at Ona in Manuka?

That long black comment makes me want to drive the 15km to try it! I drink my coffee black without sugar so most of the espressos served in cafes are simply undrinkable to me.

I should add – food is good and varied, service is good, better than the neighbouring cafes, but like the rest of Canberra, can be variable, especially when they’re busy.

If you work in Woden, I think Urban Bean is the best. It gets busy, and I usually have an extra wait because as a *ahem* soy drinker, I think they wait to batch the soy coffees. But it’s worth it. I’ve never bought into coffee wankery, but it was after drinking their coffee that I realised what a huge difference there can be in quality, and that some coffee is very, very good.

Solidarity said :

Tried Lonsdale St Roasters on the recommendations of this thread.

It was OK, but nothing special.

What the hell is with all the bike people? Some dude rocked up in a Subaru Forester, got his bike off the back, put it in the bike rack, ordered a coffee, picked up his bike from the rack and put it back on the car?

So yeah won’t be returning. Service was slow and the place is way too packed full of pretentious wankers.

Did he give his bike a little bowl of water?

I know it’s no Woden but Ona in Fyshwick is worth the drive from any part of town

Solidarity said :

Tried Lonsdale St Roasters on the recommendations of this thread.

It was OK, but nothing special.

What the hell is with all the bike people? Some dude rocked up in a Subaru Forester, got his bike off the back, put it in the bike rack, ordered a coffee, picked up his bike from the rack and put it back on the car?

So yeah won’t be returning. Service was slow and the place is way too packed full of pretentious wankers.

I mainly go for the coffee (the food menu doesn’t offer much). Not sure what the go is with the bike culture. I think the owner is a bit of a committed bike rider type…
Personally, on every occassion I have been I have been very happy with the service. It gets busy and sometimes you have to wait about 5 – 10 minutes for coffee but they have two machines and they bang em out pretty quickly. The busy-ness is what slows the delivery down. I think it’s worth the wait (because of the taste of the coffee), but fair enough if you don’t.

Tried Lonsdale St Roasters on the recommendations of this thread.

It was OK, but nothing special.

What the hell is with all the bike people? Some dude rocked up in a Subaru Forester, got his bike off the back, put it in the bike rack, ordered a coffee, picked up his bike from the rack and put it back on the car?

So yeah won’t be returning. Service was slow and the place is way too packed full of pretentious wankers.

+ 1 Lonsdale St Roasters
+ 1 Mocan and Green Grout (they’re open Sundays too, which is rare for exceptional coffee shops)
+ 1 Two Before Ten
+ 1 Farmer’s Daughter

All great coffee shops/cafes!

Has anyone been to the new cafe at Curtin shops? It is on the corner next to the art studio.

gus’s?? do you work there and are spruiking?

sfoglia in dickson, lonsdale st roasters and loui’s… hard to get a good coffee in this city – so many ‘barristas’ have extraordinary difficulty with ‘strong long black’. sheesh.

I’m with jinkies: 2 before 10.

And Ona, Fyshwick, on a Saturday is lovely.

Thanks for your comments but the content of my post is missing for some reason; I said that I work in Woden so was mainly interested in cafe’s in that area. I am interested in the whole package, food, drinks, customer service etc not just coffee, despite my username.

I have in fact experienced a “bad” coffee at LSR. Curdled soy (overheated). I have also had a few very awesome coffees from LSR. And some middle of the road. I find it inconsistent so have stopped going unless some try-hard from work insists on meeting there. I bought some beans from there once to use at home. They were fine, but I still prefer the special blue blend from Cosmorex in Fyshwick (which is also a good place to get a t/a).

+1 to A Bite to Eat in Chifley – nowhere near me but memorably good on each of my infrequent visits
+1 to Koko Black – particularly if you’re into mocha or like to pay too much

Despite all the above, I will remain loyal for my daily t/a’s to Dobinsons due to thier no-longer-issued VIP card that gets me a respectable lg soy f/w for $2.50. I shall bequeath this card to someone in my will, such has been it’s value to me.

Bookplate Cafe at the National LIbrary make decent coffee – you have to put up with Attitude though: if a customer orders their coffee say extra hot, the surly sharp-faced woman with stringy blonde hair behind the coffee machine will bitch the customer out for ten minutes and wait 20 minutes before she sends out the coffee. Oddly, also, you can’t order the bacon and eggs sans bacon. They don’t allow ANY order changes.

LSR are good for coffee, not so good on elbow room or personal space. If you’re getting a takeaway, great, but every time I’ve tried to sit down there and have a conversation with someone I’ve ended up with twenty hipsters more or less in my lap – which is fine if you like that sort of thing, but not worth it for me.

Agree Ona in Fyshwick has the best coffee – they make a real long black! And their food is good and so reasonably priced. Is it the same guys at Ona in Manuka?

johnboy said :

Lonsdale Street Roasters is head and shoulders the hippest.

Hipster St Roasters is the definitely the place to go if you need to feel like you’re trendy and hip, or if your level of smugness is approaching “Paul Keating” level.

Bluey said :

I find Lonsdale massively over rated. Its good but people carry on like its the nectar of the Gods or something.

KoKo Black on Bunda street does an excellent coffee.

I agree. Their coffee is ok but I don’t think it’s great. I’d rather hit up Octane next to Blue Ginger – great coffee and excellent service.

Gungahliner said :

Lonsdale Street Roasters & Gus’s….by a country mile

Gus’? I’ve never had a good experience there. The service has been slow and forgetful more times than not.

BimboGeek said :

Ona is the goods. Their staff are trained like it’s rocket surgery and no wonder they win so many awards. Pro tip: ask them about their single origin beans.

I had my first coffee from Ona today and it was pretty good. And at last, a flat white that’s not a bloody cappuccino!

Cafe MoMo, Bruce is excellent.

Riccardo’s at Jamo I found was weak, but will go back since Jethro says they’ve changed their blend.

taninaus said :

At Dickson Svoglia is very reliable and friendly. D”Zire has been good but the barista is leaving so not sure yet about the replacement. Lots of workmates enjoy Trevs – and the guys are always good for a laugh!

I like fun-ghis !

Solidarity said :

Had a short black at Koko Black on Wednesday night and it was… meh.

The place sure is packed though, so people must like it.

When you say it is packed, do you mean there is not mushroom inside?

Two Before Ten, for all-roundedness (food, coffee, pretension).

dpm said :

I assume you (with your name) are asking about coffee specifically, and not food etc?
I think you’ll find there are a heap of cafes that make coffee that is basically at the same ‘level’ of perfection/snobbiness (+/- 1%!). Besides the coffee anywhere can mostly be hit or miss depending on a number of factors.
I don’t always get the desire to go to THE (supposed) ‘best’ coffee place, thus implying that everywhere else is not worthy. There are 3 coffee places near me and all make good coffee, IMO. I guess you generally have to if there is competition nearby?
If the place(s) you currently go to is OK by you, then don’t stress that you are missing out on something wonderful in life that is available elsewhere!
Maybe it is like JB says – all about the hip factor?

What was that all about? Mocan and Green Grout in New Acton if you want a good coffee.

Had a short black at Koko Black on Wednesday night and it was… meh.

The place sure is packed though, so people must like it.

Bluey said :

I find Lonsdale massively over rated. Its good but people carry on like its the nectar of the Gods or something.

KoKo Black on Bunda street does an excellent coffee.

I didn’t say LSR was good, I said it was hip

I find Lonsdale massively over rated. Its good but people carry on like its the nectar of the Gods or something.

KoKo Black on Bunda street does an excellent coffee.

A Bite to Eat at Chifley shops.

The Glass House at Industry house on Binara street in Civic always does reliabley excellent coffee.

Worked in the same building as them for a year and got atleast one cup a day. was never let down.

i liked my job there but losing that coffee supply was the saddest part of leaving.

At Dickson Svoglia is very reliable and friendly. D”Zire has been good but the barista is leaving so not sure yet about the replacement. Lots of workmates enjoy Trevs – and the guys are always good for a laugh!

McCafe in Charnwood…

Ona is the goods. Their staff are trained like it’s rocket surgery and no wonder they win so many awards. Pro tip: ask them about their single origin beans.

sien said :

The Brean Hunter site ( search it ) rates Hoz Express highly.

What do folks think of that?

I work in Woden and would have to say that Urban Bean is a godsend. Fine coffee and good staff.

I have had many a coffee at Hoz Express and agree with the reviews on Beanhunter regarding the staff at Hoz – they’re great! The coffee, on the other hand, is inconsistent at best… I ended up buying my own espresso machine and have never looked back

The Brean Hunter site ( search it ) rates Hoz Express highly.

What do folks think of that?

I work in Woden and would have to say that Urban Bean is a godsend. Fine coffee and good staff.

Grotto said :

Ona Coffee in Fyshwick is the goods.

No argument there. Also been enjoying the Farmers Daughter at Yarralumla shops (not a euphamism!)

Ricardo’s, Gus’……..you people must have pretty low standards. Next someone will rave about Coffee Guru or mourn the loss of Starbucks.

Ona Coffee in Fyshwick is the goods.

Lonsdale Street Roasters & Gus’s….by a country mile

Waiting For Godot said :

I would have said my house but I just ran out of Nescafe . . .

I always thought of you as an International Roast man.

For me, the routine of the cafe visit is important, not just the coffee. In school term it has always been walk daughter to school, go to Tilley’s, check mail and do a little work.

Now I won’t be walking her to school anymore I will have to develop a new pattern. God life is hard…

Ricardo’s over at Jamison foods ok but 5 star prices

I would have said my house but I just ran out of Nescafe . . .

Lonsdale Street Hipsters is head and shoulders the roastest….wait a minute..

They’re certainly good for an early morning coffee, that I know.

johnboy said :

Lonsdale Street Roasters is head and shoulders the hippest.

JB, please note this down for future reference.

I agree with you

I assume you (with your name) are asking about coffee specifically, and not food etc?
I think you’ll find there are a heap of cafes that make coffee that is basically at the same ‘level’ of perfection/snobbiness (+/- 1%!). Besides the coffee anywhere can mostly be hit or miss depending on a number of factors.
I don’t always get the desire to go to THE (supposed) ‘best’ coffee place, thus implying that everywhere else is not worthy. There are 3 coffee places near me and all make good coffee, IMO. I guess you generally have to if there is competition nearby?
If the place(s) you currently go to is OK by you, then don’t stress that you are missing out on something wonderful in life that is available elsewhere!
Maybe it is like JB says – all about the hip factor?

The Central Cafe in Queanbeyan.

Ended up at Urban Pantry in Manuka over the Xmas break. Great food, very good service. First time visitor but now really keen to go back.

Probably not this one lol http://the-riotact.com/local-cafe-owner-can%e2%80%99t-handle-the-heat/59999

I like the coffee at Roasters but not the food but that’s probably just my fussy eating habits

curlylocks said :

I really love Ricardo’s over at Jamison, food is alway fantastic staff friendly and coffee fantastic. I always admire the cakes that are in their but never have room after having lunch to fit one in.

I like Ricardo’s too, but I think they may have changed their coffee blend recently. I popped in for one this morning and it tasted very not nice.

Lonsdale Street Roasters is head and shoulders the hippest.

I really love Ricardo’s over at Jamison, food is alway fantastic staff friendly and coffee fantastic. I always admire the cakes that are in their but never have room after having lunch to fit one in.