Workshop Espresso

Where: Workshop Espresso, 500 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

Coffee Bean: Toby’s Estate (special blend called Kenya)

I’ve always had my eye on Workshop Espresso. Located just across the road from the QVB, corporate and retail workers alike have long made it part of their weekday morning ritual. It’s a sleek little shop front with a small, dark interior fitted with wooden panels and industrial-style finishes.

So, after accidently arriving half an hour early to meet a friend in Town Hall, I finally had an excuse to try it out.

Workshop Espresso

Workshop Espresso is a pick-up-and-go kind of place: they’ll give you takeaway unless you ask for have in. There is limited seating inside, with awkward bench seating the only option if you want to sit down with a mug and read the paper. But you probably don’t want to. Hectic morning crowds, traffic/pedestrian noise pouring in from George Street, and limited space mean you’ll probably struggle to focus.

Caffeinated drinks are clearly Workshop’s forte, but there is also a small range of treats and snacks on display.

I went with a flat white ($4.00).

It emerged within a couple of minutes. Temperature-wise, it was spot-on – hot, but not undrinkable. It was in a take-away cup, so no latte art or nice aromas.

Flat White

The taste surprised me. Given the corporate following, I was expecting punchy, robust flavours to power even the most apathetic businessperson through his morning routine. Instead, it’s a really mild and sweet blend. I didn’t find it bitter at all – incredible for a Toby’s Estate bean! This could be down to the lid on the cup, concealing the aroma. Regardless, the drink still packs a powerful caffeine hit and will wake you up. You just don’t get that full-bodied tang of slightly bitter coffee flavour.

I enjoyed the coffee, but I suspect that the flavour was somewhat diluted by too much milk. $4.00 is very steep for a regular-sized coffee. However, to be fair, this is quite a decent-sized regular – only slightly smaller than some large-sized coffees. Another negative: black texta on the take-away lid makes it a bit tricky to drink without getting ink on your nose.

If you prefer mild-flavoured coffee, Workshop Espresso does it well. Service is extremely efficient and staff are friendly. Morning coffee-rush chaos is definitely a thing, but there seems to be a really good system in process to help deal with the crowds.

Yays:

• Nice interior and décor
• Convenient location in the CBD
• Good, quick service

Nays:

• Overly milky coffee
• Cramped space, not good for sitting-in
• Expensive for a regular coffee
• Busy in mornings

Overall experience:

75% – Distinction!