OK so for may of us caffeine is a serious business, whether you be living in London, Sydney, Melbourne, New York or beautiful Byron Bay. Getting your daily caffeine fix(s) forms a very important part of many of our lives. You see, it is not just about the caffeine; it is also about sooooooo much more! Like how welcoming the barista is, that feeling of community and a feeling of being connected. Yep, we do expect an awful lot from our baristas and like many places around Australia and the globe, Byron is thoroughly super spoilt for choice when it comes to bean roasters, milk marvels and all round barista awesomeness.
Now, I am going to admit, I am not a coffee expert nor am I a coffee snob …. ha ha yeah right! I am simply a latte girl from way back and for me, a latte needs to offer a sophisticated dance of caramel notes with a well rounded finish. Oh yes, and I want the milk to not be too hot …….. oh no now I am beginning to sound like the Goldilocks of lattes! But seriously, the milk structure is oh so very very important to the perfect latte experience.
So in no particular order …… here are 3 of our favourite places to grab a latte in and around Byron Bay:
TOP SHOP: 65 Carlyle Street, Byron Bay @topshopbyronbay
Open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch
(Top Shop Latte and Pain au Chocolate sitting pretty)
Top Shop is much loved by locals and visitors alike and for good reason. This relaxed and welcoming cafe is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of town and is where I often head when I am seeking to retreat, recharge and get connect with a great latte. The staff are always loooooovely and the coffee is always soooooo good, even when they are getting absolutely slammed with punters lining up out the door or when the little grassy area out the front is overflowing with people. The talented team of happy baristas simply do their thing, and boy do these guys and gals do it well using Single Origin Roasters as their partners in flavour and great coffee vibes. Oh yes, and you can also pick up a Pain au Chocolat here too, made by the clever boys at The Bread Social to devour whilst you enjoy your perfectly formed latte. Or head to the fridge for the tummy loving comfort of a cold Carrot, OJ and Tumeric Juice to sooth the mind, body and soul.
(The lovely Amy from Top Shop with their equally awesome Carrot, OJ and Tumeric Juice)
100 MILE TABLE: Unit 4 / 8 Banksia Drive, Byron Bay @100miletable
Open Monday – Friday for breakfast and lunch
(100 Mile Table’s rather marvellous Marvell Street Latte)
It would be fair to say that I kind of treat 100 Mile Table as an extension of my own home! Why? Well …. heaps of reasons …. one being their devine lattes. Oh yes, and lovely warm welcoming smiles too! Marvell Street is the coffee bean of choice here, and we for one couldn’t be happier with these rather fabulous local coffee roasters talent for caramel coffee notes. I don’t know how Marvell Street do it, but the flavour profile on their roast and beans is like heaven to me. I pretty much have a coffee here at least once a day and thoroughly admire and respect the consistency not only of the roast and grind, but the silky milk structure here too …. it is very much bang on each and every time. Oh gosh and let’s not get me started on the devilishly tempting slices, cakes and tarts looking at you lovingly on the counter as you order your hit of caffeine.
(100 Mile Table Brownies – pretty much impossible to say no to!)
DOMA CAFE: 3-6 Albert Street, Federal
Open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch
(Doma Cafe’s Kazuko and those lovely locally grown and roasted Moonshine coffee beans)
Yeah I know … crazy right?! Not only do these seriously gorgeous people make awesome Japanese food in their super cute cafe tucked away in Federal village in Byron’s hinterland. They also make the most dreamy lattes using Moonshine Coffee, which is grown in? …. YEP you guessed it …. Federal #localislovely. Making it super easy to grab your latte in the morning with an inari roll for breakfast OR one of the freshly baked treats sitting pretty on the counter.
(Doma Cafe’s inari rolls are worth getting in the car and driving out to the hinterland any day of the week!)
We’d love to hear where your top 3 coffee hang outs are in Byron Bay OR indeed your home town! Get amongst the fun of sharing the local love and let us know your favourite place in the comments below.
Cheers
T xxx