The Grind @ Norwood

Definitely one of the best coffees I have had and I work in a café. Service was kind and flawless, coffee was brilliant! Little gem of a shop. 5 stars from me!

Of all the coffee available on The Parade this surely is one of the best, although it is not a large place and the coffee is not the best around, it is pretty consistent and David is always friendly and attentive. Lots of different coffees and teas to choose from as well to take home or have in shop.

My love for The Grind is two fold. Firstly there’s the easy access to great tasking coffee and then they seek the beans if you want to take them home.
Simple and clean aesthetic, perfect for on the run coffee stops when in Norwood.
They’ll grind coffee too if wish to take it home. The espresso blend I nabbed last time I was in was delicious

The Grind at Norwood is a hip, quick paced espresso bar that doesn’t muck around. It serves coffee, and serves it quick. I’ve stopped over a few times to grab a takeaway coffee in the morning, and it’s never disappointed.
The atmosphere is very cosmopolitan and big-​city-​ish. By this, I mean it feels like it’s purely a stopover on the way to work. There are a couple of seats inside and outside, it’s kind of crammed, but I guess that adds to the cosy feel. The interior is modern and bright, with splashes of red across the walls to match the coffee machine.
I’ve seen this place get absolutely packed, it was bursting at the door with customers lining up and sitting outside, so they must be doing something right.

I’ve stopped here once, briefly. Briefly, because like everyone else reviewing this place, it doesn’t feel like a place to sit and enjoy a hot drink. Yes, I know there’s seating, but it feels more like it’s just there as decoration, not for any practical purpose.
But the coffee is alright, the service is pretty quick and the people are sufficiently friendly. I bought a couple of the coffee making items for my own use at home, too, so there’s more than just a grinder and a coffee machine. Just not a lot more.

The Grind @ Norwood is purely a coffee shop. It distinguishes itself from many of the cafes by simplifying the experience to one usual suspect: coffee. There’s no need to be constantly teased by cakes and sandwiches whenever you sit down at a café; if you’re looking for JUST coffee, this is the place to go.
The Grind doesn’t quite have that café feel to it, and rather feels like you’re sitting in or outside a shop. Therefore it’s probably much more suited to takeaway orders, as there’s not a lot of atmosphere to soak up by hanging around. Many of the other customers seemed to work in the area and were doing quick coffee runs, so I get the impression that this place serves as a quick and easy coffee dispenser. I must admit, however, that I’ve had a pleasant coffee or two sitting outside the shop. To put it simply, it’s a nice place to hang out if you have a spare 20 minutes, but not the kind of place you’d want to sit around at for a two hour gossip session.
Now, let’s get to the coffee. After all, that is the angle The Grind is going for, right? I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed, and their barista knows exactly what he’s doing. The beans are dark, rich, and full-​bodied — none of that weak stuff, thanks! The shop also sells a large collection of coffee accessories, which are nice to browse for a couple of minuted whilst you wait for your hot beverage.

If I want a coffee to go I’ll make it at home. If I’m desperate, I guess I’ll even grab something from McDonald’s. But when I want to experience a coffee, I want to sit down and cherish it.
And you CAN do that at The Grind, but it seems more tolerated than encouraged. This is a place to grab a coffee and leave. This is a pick-​me-​up station you include on your route to work. It’s not the sort of place where you want to stick around and soak up the atmosphere.
The coffees are generally pretty good. The short black was rich and dark, and the latte wasn’t served too hot (as they sometimes are). Still, if you want to REALLY have a coffee, have it somewhere else.

Down The Parade in Norwood, there are a large number of restaurants and cafes where you can stop and have a decent cup of coffee and a bite to eat. But if you’re just walking past and want to grab a quick take-​away coffee then The Grind @ Norwood is a good place to go. It’s a small shop front but there are a few places you can sit if need be.
They also have a number of teas, teapots and the such for sale, which I always find is a nice touch. You’re able to buy the beans used in The Grinds coffee, which can even be purchased online.