Café review – Coffee tea & me, Redfern

By Corridor Kitchen On April 26, 2011 · 9 Comments · In Cafés

Killing two, three or possibly even 10 birds with one stone has always been my bag. Thus I’m always on the lookout for good coffee and, simultaneously, good cafés to feature on Corridor Kitchen. So when I noticed a partially constructed hole-in-the-wall coffee bar on Redfern Street about a month ago, I have to admit I started stalking it.

I was looking up City of Sydney planning applications that very day to try and figure out when they’d get permission for outdoor furniture – I figured that’s when they’d open. I walked past most days ‘just to check it out.’ Soon a tantalisingly nonspecific ‘coming soon’ sign materialised. I checked out other cafés, but I wasn’t interested in any other cafés. I wanted to check out Coffee tea & me.

Then one morning I walked by and miraculously, it had opened. And, true to form, I didn’t have my camera on me. Blast! I grabbed a coffee anyway and it was pretty damn good. Campos, which contrary to popular opinion is not the best coffee in the whole of Australia but does ensure a level of barista training and screening that few brands adhere to.

I returned a couple of days later. The place looked like a hipster paradise with only enough floor space for coffee and sandwiches. As the Redfern Street area continues to gentrify with the likes of Baffi and Mo, Eathouse and Pitt St Diner, it’s hardly a surprising location for a teeny-tiny espresso bar.

Coffee tea & me is literally on a bus stop and next to a hardware store. It’s easy to spot its scattering of battered vintage school chairs, bicycle seat bar stools and laminate tables to perch on. I was there around 8am and not surprisingly most orders were takeaways. It’ll be interesting to see what the vibe is like on weekends.

The coffee was good, syrupy and golden as I’ve come to expect for Campos. The two guys working there were friendly as a clump of eager takeaway customers awaited their coffees. Overall I was impressed and will definitely return.

Coffee tea & me
93b Redfern Street,
Redfern NSW 2016
(02) 90087121
Monday-Sunday, 6:00am – 6:00pm

9 Responses to Café review – Coffee tea & me, Redfern

john@heneedsfood says:

April 26, 2011 at 6:23 pm

Vintage school chairs hey? I sat on those bum-numbing things for the best part of the 80’s so I guess that makes me vintage as well. I love that I can now rely on you to sniff out the good java.
Fredrik says:

May 1, 2011 at 10:10 am

Good coffe is a start but great coffee is a rare blessing! The setup and location for “Coffee tea & me” is great and just around the corner from where I live so high marks for convenience. Still that coffee needs some more work and maybe the Campos beans is the restriction?
Lau says:

May 1, 2011 at 10:22 am

@ John – I’m pretty sure you can find your own coffee, judging by your recommendations so far ^_^.

@ Fredrik – To me, Coffee Tea & Me is a solid coffee choice. I think the thing with Campos’ Superior blend is that it had a very syrupy sort of flavour profile (that’s the best way I can think to describe it) so if you’re not big on caramel flavours in your coffee, it won’t be for you. To be honest, it’s not my absolute favourite blend either. It’s a blend renowned for its consistent flavour though.
- Fredrik says:
  
  May 15, 2011 at 8:06 pm
  
  You are right, there something almost chocolaty about it.
  Still I have now been back three times and I am slowly converting or the coffee is getting better? Either way works for me!
dave says:

May 19, 2011 at 3:16 pm

Great little coffee shop, good tasting coffee BUT can get very busy and the barista rushes a bit resulting in luke warm coffee most of the time… needs a little more love and attention.
- Lau says:
  
  May 20, 2011 at 8:45 am
  
  I can’t agree or disagree with you there Dave as if somewhere is busy, by and large, I just don’t go there! I’ve only ever had coffee there before 8:30am on a weekday. At peak times they do seem busy.
Chanel says:

September 1, 2011 at 4:21 pm

I’ve been watching this cafe when my bus to the city goes past it each Saturday morning and back at lunchtime (different route on weekdays), and it’s getting busy! It’s on my list to pop into, though I’d be there more for the tea part
Chanel recently posted…Bayleaf Brasserie, Crows Nest
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