Cibo Espresso

Quick service. Delicious strong iced coffee. Yummy biscuits. Lots of variety to choose from.

Cibo is great for a takeaway coffee. I have never eaten there but get a coffee at least once every two weeks. The service is always quick and friendly. The staff always know what they are doing and are super polite. I love that when they call your name out to collect your coffee they say «thanks, Sarah!» as opposed to just calling out your name. The extra bit of politeness always makes me smile.
Overall, good coffee and excellent, quick service.

There are three things that stop me and make me go in to Cibo.
1. The Iced coffees, especially if you ask for a small one and it’s stronger.
2. The Piadina Boscaiola toasted. Yum!
3. The Cheesecake. Apricot, thick, creamy, baked and divine.
The coffee can be a bit hit and miss, mostly good though. The service is order at the counter, they take your name for your drinks and you have to go back to pick them up. One thing I don’t like about Cibo. If you have kids, handbags, shopping bag or food already on the table… you have to get up leave it and go grab your drink :/​Not a fan of that.
The place is always busy, has a nice fitout and a nice vibe. Service very much depends on who serves you. It can range from really friendly to just tolerant. Not sure why this happens, maybe I just get someone at a grumpy moment. However overall it is a pleasant spot to stop for a quick bite and drink. Plus the benefit of the gelato bar.

When strolling around Merthyr Village one usually has the sudden urge for a coffee. Why wouldn’t you when you see plenty of people doing the same thing around you? I usually go to another coffee shop around the corner, but one day I decided to try out Cibo.
As it turns out it is quite a popular place. There are a decent amount of tables and chairs in the alfresco section, but all squished together. I went to collect my two small cappuccino’s for me and friend and walked over to the tables. OH goodness! It is an extreme challenge walking through those tables with two cups in hand. I tried a few times, then gave up. I walked around instead and handed over the coffees to my friend over a railing. We had our coffees, but I wasn’t impressed. First of all their small, was miniature! Three sips and your done– pretty much. It tasted super bitter to me.
The service on the other hand was brilliant. Really wonderful staff, who love to have a chat with customers in between taking orders and making coffee. I had high hopes for their coffee, unfortunately, misguided. Maybe next time I’ll order a tea instead.

Merthyr Village was my local shopping centre for years, and usually also my local weekend breakfast spot.
Strangely enough I’ve never eaten at Cibo (my flatmates always preferred Vue and I’m a New Farm Deli kinda gal) however I would generally get 3 takeaway coffees a week there.
The coffee is good, not exceptional but more than passable, and it makes a Saturday morning grocery run with a hang over HEAPS easier. The service is also incredible, regulars have their names and orders remembered and no matter how many people there are waiting the turnover is quick, quick, quick.

Doing my groceries at Merthyr Village can be trying. An ocean of screaming children, trollies, dogs, people carrying flowers and old men walking whilst reading newspapers often test my patience. By the end of it all I either need a sleep or a coffee, and given the fact that it’s frowned upon to have a nap in a shopping village, I usually head to Cibo for a cup of brew to regain my sanity.
The coffee at Cibo is great. Generous in body, flavour and acidity. There is also free wi-​fi so if you’re one of those people who take your iPad or laptop grocery shopping with you (who does that?) than it’s a good place to set up shop. Cibo also does fantastic fresh sandwiches and wraps. When I worked close by I used to purchase my lunch at Cibo at least a couple of times a week because the ingredients were super fresh and reasonably priced. Plus it could save you shopping on an empty stomach.
If you’re in need of a pre or post grocery shopping cup of sanity whilst at Merthyr Village, then head to Cibo. It’s impossible to escape from the noise, but atleast you can escape from the crowds.