City central. Early morning. A mix between the eerie silence, and the first signs of bustling from those wanting to get into work already. This has always been a familiar sight and experience. With all that in mind, one of the most common rituals that goes around is groggy workers trying to get their cup of Joe first thing in the morning. In an intersection between Eagle Street and Queen Street - right up at the top end of town - a much smaller and streamlined approach to that has gotten heaps of attention
One morning I was awoken a bit earlier than expected. My house mate has been working for a charity over the Christmas period, and it was very nearly crunch time for him. A whole lot of material needed to be collected from around the city, and moved to another location before it could get ticked off and shipped off. By that, he needed a bit of help and I had nowhere to be that week - and certainly not on that day, and I also have some muscles to spare for hauling, so I was roped into helping some less fortunate.
By now, he definitely knows my weaknesses. One of these so-called weaknesses is coffee. Also, it was early in the morning and most of us can't function without getting some coffee first. From the first post, he had managed to get there a little bit earlier than expected and there was some time to spare. Close to this post were a couple of possibilities that I had heard about and sounded good, one of them being Coop Espresso. There was another possibility, but in considering the time being money this was seen as more efficient and ultimately got selected.
Coop was one of these places that I had heard about, and that they did some of the best coffee in the CBD. For a long period, I had work way on the other end and getting to it would have proven difficult. So that had lapsed from memory for a long time, and the opportunity to tick it off the list was finally there.
The term "hole in the wall" has a certain image in mind when mentioning it, and sometimes I swear that there are places that are challenging the term to become virtually literal. This would be one of those times. This is right down an alleyway, with the cafe - for lack of a better word - being within a dugout area of the far wall. Around it is a bunch of street art, and depending on how busy the place is at the time, there may or may not be tables out on the pavement. It was early days when my dining buddy and I were here, so not much was going on then.
Coop Espresso is hard to miss going by with the characteristic green structure right outside it. I could not tell whether it was meant to be a seat, or some sort of artwork - but that is your point of reference.
Also to brighten the day is the service. You are met with some chirpy young souls, and it is all done quickly. They are to the point for getting the coffee out, since between ordering the coffee and them calling out the name there might be enough time to begin writing an email - just don't count on it. This really quick, smiling method of service works in its favour as people want to go back because it is efficient, and people want to go back because they are lovely folk.
Getting to what they serve, it is essentially coffee. That is about the end of it. Four different sizes are available, and at certain times of day a bargain can be gotten with more for less - the idea is to bring colleagues and friends along. The coffee that they use is from Mocapan beans, which certainly sounds familiar but it is not one I am well-versed in enough to truly give my take on it. From this coffee, it was decent enough - the doppio that I had was rich, hot, well-extracted and came with a nice crema on top of it all. The flavour in it was complex and had a few different notes.
Also, as well as all the coffee at any time during business hours they will be offering something in addition to it. Rumour has it during the lunch rush it might be jaffles or quiche, and in between times they have muffins, pastries, and all the ilk. At that moment, there were a few muffins, and a whole loaf of banana bread. It was going to be my first bite of the day, and something on the side of coffee is always sweet - so I ordered some banana bread.
Banana bread is one of those kinds of things which really are what they are. Not a fan? I can't convince you otherwise. Anyways, with ordering the banana bread the usual questions of toasting and buttering were given to which both received a yes, and when eating it it hit the spot. Really, I needed something to eat and this was filling enough. Plus, hot, soft and moreish on the palate. With a thin crust over it from getting toasted, it was the right balance of textures right there.
So, that is Coop. The coffee was certainly decent, and smooth. It got me awake which is definitely something to be said. I will give it credit that it is good quality, and I enjoyed the flavour of the coffee. There are not really any gripes that I have with Coop, it is just an instance that I have been to many places like it before. The coffee was good, the banana bread was good - they both were what they were. Which is where I justify a 4.0 score.
Stepping back for a bit, I would see this place more as a way of getting the best and most efficient way of service beyond trying to best their competition for the best coffee. The coffee is not fallen by the wayside, where they still care for quality. A bright spot in a dull place, the credit and well-wishes need to come as they are deserved. Well done so far, and best of luck furthermore.
TL;DR: As far as coffee places go around town, this won't necessarily be in my favourites but it definitely has a number of strengths. Getting into the lane ways idea that is prominent around Melbourne, Coop Espresso is a bit hidden from the main street and utilises the area to its best degree. It gets a bit of a ghetto look to it, that is sort of out of place from its surrounds. Still, to give it credit it does look characteristic within a more bland part of the city. They do well to focus on coffee, as well as provide something to go with it, and in looking at all the business suit wearing folk frequenting here, something is certainly being done right.
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