Cafe Harris, Ultimo

Toby’s Estate coffee. 456 Harris St, Ultimo. Immediately next to the Ian Thorpe Aquatic centre you’ll see the umbrellas, or at least tables and chairs of this place. There’s a lot of seating here, indoor and outdoor, and a comfortable, lounge-room style arrangement of furniture. I’m pleasantly surprised to find they have a decaf grinder. …

St James coffee cart, Sydney CBD

st james coffee cart, sydney Toby’s Estate Coffee. King St, Sydney. Outdoors, in the shade of one of Sydney’s oldest churches (which, incidentally, looks like it’s pretty high Anglican with its talk of Eucharist and healing ministry), is this coffee cart, with its umbrella-covered outdoor seating. Having walked past and seen a line of suits, …

Epi d’or, Kirribilli

Epi d’or, Kirribilli. Toby’s estate coffee. Shop 11, Bligh st, Kirribilli. A short walk from Milson’s Point station, this tasteful, hole-in-the-wall shop sells a range of breads, freshly ground-to-order coffee, and a variety of french food. Coffee is well made: a bit hot and delicate at first, but the more you drink it, the more …

Toby’s estate, woolloomoolloo

Toby’s estate, woolloomoolloo Toby’s estate coffee. 129 Cathedral st, Woolloomoolloo. This was the café where toby himself sold me my current coffee machine, many years ago. It’s also the place where I took a couple of espresso courses – I’ve even used their machine when learning how to make an espresso correctly. It’s a place …

Town hall café, sydney

Town hall café, sydney Toby’s estate coffee. Corner kent & druitt st, sydney. Adjacent to the library, this is a place where office workers grab a cup on their way to their desks, either in this building, or in the surrounding area. There’s lots of natural light for eating in, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows …

Atomic espresso, neutral bay

Atomic espresso, neutral bay Toby’s estate coffee. Shop 3, 148 Wycombe rd, Neutral Bay. A little hole in the wall affair with a galley kitchen in the back, but decorated in true style. Rows of patterned canvases line one wall, and there’s enough light to make the space seem welcoming. Coffee is made quickly, the …

The old man’s hat, Glebe

The old man’s hat, glebe Toby’s estate coffee. 197 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe. Something of a new player in the crowded glebe point road space, this cafe’s point of difference is the organic food. A range of menu items, seafood, pasta, as well as sandwiches. The café itself feels like an upmarket loungeroom: soft piano …

Barefoot coffee traders, Manly

Barefoot coffee traders, manly Toby’s estate coffee. Wood floor, green tiled walls, this place has a hole-in-the-wall feel, seating only nine on some converted tree stumps. A lone barista keeps the place running, stern-faced but friendly in temperament. Coffees are all $2.50, even for an affogato, which is quite a find in an area like …