Emma Macdonald spills on Canberra's Coffee Culture
Updated 10 Dec 2024
By Emma Macdonald
Associate editor of HerCanberra
Want to know the best spots to get a coffee in Canberra? Emma dishes on her favourite cafes for a brew around the city.
Start on Lonsdale Street
As a committed caffiend and fiercely devoted resident of the inner north, top of my list of Canberra’s best coffee establishments is the pared back and uber-friendly surrounds of Barrio Collective Coffee on Lonsdale Street. Using their own roasted blend, the baristas prepare all manner of brews served in Canberra region Sawpit Studio ceramic mugs. And nothing goes better with a Barrio coffee than a toastie (that will be cheese and pickle for me please and thank you.)
Visit a Braddon icon
Across the road is Lonsdale Street Roasters, an institution which helped kick-start Canberra’s coffee revolution more than a decade ago when founder Alistair Evans put his new roastery on a street formerly known for car yards and mechanics. Now his brand of coffee is sold all over the region.
For a fresh & homely experience
If the queue is too long there, I’ll often head over to the picturesque corner of NewActon that is home to Močan & Green Grout, where the smell of freshly ground beans is matched only by the aroma of herbs in giant tubs growing outside. The dining experience is as
intimate and pleasurable as hanging out in your friend’s kitchen as they whip up something memorable while you watch in awe.
Enjoy an award-winning brew
If I ever leave Lonsdale Street, it’s usually only to be lured away to my office in the nearby NewActon precinct, passing The Cupping Room en route in City West. A concept café from Canberra’s very own international barista champion, Sasa Sestic, The Cupping Room delivers a steady stream of ONA coffees to the eager masses - alongside a thoughtful menu.
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