Five senses coffee (Crompton Rd blend). 6/12 Wharf street, Forster. Head far enough out of Sydney, and it’s a safe bet that you can despair of finding a good cup of coffee – pass the F3 to Sydney’s north, and your standards immediately lower. So imagine my surprise when driving through Forster when I see a cafe that looks like it would fit comfortably on the streets of Sydney.
Step inside, and it’s a place crowded with options – a range of 12 inch pizzas, a broad range of breakfast and lunch options, and some delicious-looking cakes and slices.
The menu board is really playful in its style, but somehow the space isn’t intimidating or hipster – families with kids and the full spectrum of age ranges are comfortable here, happy to enjoy the coffee, or a freshly poured beer on tap (tartt is licensed).
They’re family-friendly – high chairs are available, and the babycino was well received.
The coffee is the real winner here. The decaf lattes are really good – worth a visit just for that, but it’s the ability to have a serious conversation about coffee that I really enjoyed. These guys are trying to bring serious coffee to a community that isn’t used to it – it was possible to see owner Michael’s relief when I was able to articulate the difference between an espresso and a double ristretto! The need to drive back to Sydney in a single day made me break my normal decaf habit and try a single origin – an Indian Veer Attikan. It was just as described, a fantastic, well made double ristretto that made the next few hundred kilometres fly by.
A gentle walk from the Forster-Tuncurry bridge, this is a must-visit if you’re in the area.
Thanks for your review Dave….come again soon!!