Not Just Coffee

Stopped in here today on my way to the city for a coffee to go. Great service, and AMAZING coffee. and i’m not just saying that because it was free (thank you Unilocal!). The café itself is not the easiest to find as it’s down a hidden alleyway but I kind of prefer it there in a way… makes it unique and quaint.

We were in Darlinghurst for a optometrist appointment and wanted good coffee. Got Unilocal out and it showed me this one. Have to say, pretty great option. Such a small café from the outside, and then leads into a massive courtyard. So nice. Lovely coffee, heaps of friendly staff and some quirky quotes. Food was good (we ended up getting Samurai breakfast — yum). We don’t often come into this side of the world, but if we do, we’ll be back.

Wow. Wow. Stumbling home from paddington markets, a quick Unilocal search for coffee shop nearby got us down the alley way hiding this gem. Super friendly and a fun environment across split level dining. Long black was smooth and dirty delicious. Green smoothie had that real green taste, thanks to the avocado and parsley element, mmmm yummy. My partner has rare dietary requirement and the staff were more than happy to bring out the packaging for the gluten free bread for him to check for a particular ingredient. The fruit toast with figs was both gorgeous and gloriously tasty. And finally, the prices are as friendly as the local dogs, happily sitting with their owners enjoying their meal. What a lovely place!

We found this café one morning in a terrible rush, and sadly couldn’t linger.
The Fruit Toast Make Over includes fruit toast with dried sour cherries through it and served with ricotta topped with citrus peel. I hate citrus peel normally, but love-​love-​loved this. And I got three large slices, which I thought was a huge serve for the price!
My mother had toast with jam, and that’s one of my only issues — they definitely need to get a jar of jam and serve it in a small dish rather than those rip-​open square sachets they are currently using.
The second morning, I ordered the Wakey Breaky — two perfectly poached eggs (though they weren’t as hot as I liked; a minor issue) with perfectly gooey centers, served with the most delicious sauteed mushrooms, several pieces of sliced avocado and two slices of toast. It was amazing.
I also had an orange juice both mornings — fresh squeezed and with ice, and perfectly chilled. Nothing bugs me more than warm juice XD — and sampled one of their muffins, strawberry and pear. Both were amazing.
This is an amazing little café with super friendly and helpful staff that I cannot wait to frequent on a regular basis and work my way through the menu. ;)

What a nice find, I love back alley eating experiences. This café is tucked in down Perry Lane the next street over from the Imperial Hotel in Paddington.
It was an accident of discovery as I turned down the alley to view some Zombie pics chasing a dog and herd noise… That kind of noise that makes you go hmmm… without fail the curiosity in me headed towards the light I tell ya the light!
No seriously it was a beautiful spring morning in Sydney, saw the board of specials outside and walked into a courtyard. Art on the walls, sun streaming in (because there was no roof), little boxes for seats and funky arranged bench seats. outdoor heaters everywhere, I was in the mood to feel on show so I sat in what I called the stage area (and because everywhere else was full). They also had a lounge area across from the stage area that looks down into the courtyard.
Small but intimate. The menu is exciting full of fresh produce and excitingly presented breakfast and lunch. Admittedly I only ordered porridge, however it was the best dam porridge I’ve ever eaten!!! It didn’t look like normal porridge either it was cranberry porridge served with yoghurt, roasted almonds and honey and the serving was spectacular presented and great value with a side order of Quinoa and Linseed Sourdough… YUM!
The food that was coming out of the tiny open planned kitchen — I had some serious food envy, the type that makes you question what you ordered.
Now I know it says it’s not just coffee and it truly is not just coffee. The coffee is lovely but it’s certainly the food you come to eat here for sure. Best value Paddington breakfast I’ve had in a while.
Coeliac’s it serves the new and improved country life gluten free bread so no complaints really.

So guess what Kit & Yuen used to do before starting Not Just Coffee? A biochemist and a pharmacist. Meaning they have brains the size of Pluto, which they’ve used to establish what is damn near close to the perfect little café in Paddington.
Ready for this? ‘Cos here we go:
An ever-​changing menu, like a science experiment. Sugar in small labelled glass beakers, and a brunch and coffee experience that left me somewhere between speechless and begging for more.
They’re dog-​friendly. So crucial for people like me who think dogs are little four-​legged rainbows, furry little smile-​factories that make the world a better place to live in. They post photos of their customer’s dogs up on their facebook page. I know, brilliant.
They also support the local arts community, displaying artwork and photography from talented locals, and are looking at live acoustic music.
Hey, all other cafes: be more like Not Just Coffee, because they are crushing it, and I am crushing on them.

A cute and cozy place in a Paddington alley along Oxford Street. There portions are also «cute,» meaning their a bit smaller than the average but I could have been extra hungry.
Kind of feels as if I’m in someone’s backyard and well, you kind of are, which is a bit funny but makes it all the more interesting when a resident walks out of his place and has to pass through to make his way out.
Good food and great service that I would continue to go and try something new.

I’ve officially declared man flu today.
O F F I C I A L L Y
But I managed to drag myself out and go hit the Oxford street op shops, with my beloved girl, and sweet heart, you honestly are going to kill it in those cowboy boots.
So we’re done after a few hours I’m feeling horrid (still am feel sorry for me), and we decide we need a reboot.
We stumble across NJC its accessed via the alley way down the side of 264 Oxford Street. Shout out to NB whoever you are I found another one of your dalmatians!
You enter into a courtyard of a typical Sydney Terrace house, I really loved the layout its cool, has hand drawn kids pictures up on the walls, real shady nice ambience about it.
We sat up on a balcony overlooking the main courtyard so it was nice and calm which is highly suitable for someone as ill, as I currently am.
Ordered a mixed berry and banana smoothie and also a apple juice both absolutely beautiful, the staff were lovely as well really friendly and genuine, it was particularly hilarious when I said I would not be eating de to my ailments and my girlfriend explained it was man flu and both ladies brazenly erupted into laughter. I faced the ridicule with dignity and bravery.
Also ordered the Grilled vegetable stack with pesto, capsicum and cheese, beautifully plated and delicious to boot.
I really recommend you check this one out Unilocaler’s it shows a lot of promise, I’ll be back to feast upon a wider array in the near future,
IF I recover from this man flu…