The Galeries Victoria, 500 George Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000
The wanton cafe-goer will have noticed Sydney’s emergent shift from the Italian coffee-scene we imported, just over a decade ago, from Melbourne. More cafes are trending towards a unique house blend and daily single origins, towards individual spaces and less coffee-house branding. It’s passionate yet low key, gastronomic but not poncy – and Workshop Espresso makes it distinctly Australian.
Corrugated iron and timber create a kind of schmick shearer’s vibe, and with barely enough space to swing a sheep (at just five stools and a counter), it’s vibrant, warm and urban ocker. There’s a sandwich list and Sonoma bread, but the George Street crowd is here for the coffee.
My house espresso punches in with under-ripe berry and underlying acid, until the lush crema delivers a mellow mid-palate of light wood and earth (much like the decor, minus the iron). The macchiato is deftly structured, with the oily shot predominant and just a touch of milk to develop those woody notes.
Phone
+612 9264 8836
Trading Hours
mon - fri: 6am - 5pm
thur: 6am - 7pm
sat: 8am - 4.30pm
sunday closed
Cafe: 23/25
Coffee: 22/25
Workshop Espresso
