Sensory Lab

This café is now closed.
Sensory lab will open another venue in Sydney late 2016. Allegedly.
Luckily Reuben Hills has taken up the mantle

Having read some of the reviews people write for coffee places, I feel the need to say the following: what you will get here is not the Starbucks kind of coffee where the only question is whether or not one should go for the jumbo size and if the flavor of the week might me skim or soy. Instead you get carefully calibrated brown deliciousness where everything matters from the roast to the grind size to the water temperature and the cup it’s served in. Now that might not be to everyone’s taste and is bound to vary from one barista to the next, but we sure got a very tasty coffee here. And a delicious pastry to go with it.

I read that this place is a contender for the best coffee in Sydney so of course I had to check it out! Well, it didn’t disappoint! I ordered a basic flat white and it was delicious. Although it was pretty strong, it wasn’t at all bitter, and I needed very little sugar. The café itself has a super chill vibe with an open store front and even some seating outside. If you’re ever in Bondi Beach I definitely recommend stopping here for an authentic Australian coffee experience :)

I had the almond milk mocha and it was amazing. Strong, flavoursome and smooth. Great atmosphere and neat décor.

I happened to be in desperate need for a drive and a coffee one Sunday afternoon, so decided to check out this place — soooo glad I did. After having read Judd O’s review that this place is part of the St Ali coffee fam, and being a HUUGE fan of St Ali in Melb, I bookmarked and drove straight here.
So this café is right near some pretty spesh places, A Tavola, Messina, Mr Moustache to name a few and its fairly easy to spot — DARK interior with contrast white seating outside, one continuous bench running the length of the space and a wall of beautiful hanging plants. Far from beachy, but hey, theres loads of beachy cafes so full credit to Sensory Lab for breaking the mould.
Well, wasnt Mr Barista a tall drink of water??? After having a mini brain snap, I focused enough to order a skim piccolo to have in. Sitting down on the inside bench, despite there being no cush for the tush, I just had this ‘ahhhh’ moment — I was comfortable, surrounded by that typical coffee scent you get in specialised coffee places and there was metal playing in the background. I felt like I was finally at home (minus the metal music). I was THAT at ease, I floated across the room to pour myself a glass of water and by the time I returned (who knows how long I was gone for) the coffee was waiting for me. That first sip is all you need to tell you if this was going to be a good or a great afternoon. This was going to be a GREAT afternoon — coffee was the perfect temperature and had the right level of punch. I was savouring each drop, smacking my lips after every sip. Sunday afternoon sessions winning!
Alice in Chains was playing at the time and if I wasn’t already wired from the exceptionally pulled coffee, then this certainly pushed me over !!! This place totally lives up to its name — Sensory Lab indeed — sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.
Note to self: reading Four Noble Truths while metal is playing in the background does not make for relaxing «me» time.

Good service, good place. Had English breakfast tea and possibly the best banana bread I’ve had in Sydney all for $ 8. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a warm drink and afternoon treat

«Bigger is better», as they say, is as American as apple pie. Well, if that pie were deep-​fried and arrived at the table courtesy of a 2-​for-​a-​$ 1 offer from McDonald’s, because there’s nothing more quintessentially American than gratification via Sybaritic excess.
I bring this up only because, as an American, I confess to having a certain bias towards things that are the same price but just bigger. The implied value proposition is written into my DNA. As an Asian, I’m doubly afflicted.
When the friendly cashier at Sensory Lab presented me with two options — the house-​recommended 6 oz. or the industry-​standard 8 oz. cup, both $ 4, I couldn’t help but opt for the larger cup size (like every other male when asked to express a preference about cup size).
That turned out to be a mistake. My soy cappuccino had some hints of acidity but lacked depth and body. It overfloweth with milk. I fear the barista must have been channeling Dolly Parton in this match. I guess that’s a lesson learned. Steer clear of «Bigger is better»; you might just find the result a bit … top-​heavy.