The food, service and coffee was really good. Love the set up of the place :)
great coffee here. attentive and friendly service. it can get real noisy with the loud music and from the kitchen. Will come back to try more stuff on the menu tho.
Popular cafe in the suburban streets of North Melbourne, you could drive past and not realise.
Slide the large door open, and the cafe breathes into life. Industrial design, open kitchen, high ceilings, bench seats and contemporary touches throughout.
Strong latte has a decent strength, a smooth and rounded flavour, and a creamy texture.
Basic scrambled eggs are folded through in a perfect swirl and just set. It's just how I want my eggs, and surprisingly hard to find!
Mushroom ragout - the soft polenta is porridge-like, and the wild mushrooms are a quality gourmet mix (morels? porcini?). With a poached egg, it can get a little rich towards the end.
Potato and pastrami hash is crisp on the exterior and on the inside, a little mushy. The pea puree is nutty and creamy. A nice dish, but sits a little heavy.
I really enjoy a lazy brunch, well recommended.
Delicious coffee in a very cool cafe. The coffee was full of flavour and my latte was the perfect strength. I’m looking forward to returning to sample the food.
Nice design and good coffee consistently. Menu changes regularly and generally is more hits than misses. Smoked salmon dish is tasty, as is the mushroom ragout.
One of my favourite cafe in North Melbourne. Food and coffee are good. My favourite meal is the pastrami eggs Benedict. Tried couple other things on their menu and they were all so tasty. If you couldn’t finish your meal, you could ask them to give you a take away container. Highly recommended
Post workout brunch with the CrossFit lot!
We never venture to a different cafe however, I was adamant we needed to try somewhere new and so I chose code black!
The menu is great, varied and the cafe is cool and well laid out. The cafe was busy which is always a good sign!
The staff were great none the less. The food is beautifully presented and is very tasty!
I had the rare tuna which is something a little different for me. I enjoyed it very much! However I feel the dish was lacking a little bit with size and I left hungry. But it was tasty!
I would definitely go back and try something else
8/10
food: always tasty (both savory and sweet dishes)coffee: great cup, regardless of if you want espresso, milk, filter. top notch baristasambiance: relaxed but trendy. staff are always really lovely and friendly regardless of how busy it gets. great go-to place any time of the day.
Excellent coffee, possibly the best in this area. Poached eggs were perfect. Friendly attentive staff, nice space to enjoy a decent coffee and bite to eat.
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Dropped in for a quick bite while in the Market area. Greeted right away by a friendly smile, I was soon browsing an eclectic menu. With some helpful advice, my order was in.
I learnt that a Dirty Chai is chai tea mixed with a shot of espresso. I like that this place offers honey separately so we can sweeten it as we wish. The result is delicious blend with the spices of Chai, the slight bitterness of coffee and sweetness of honey. Have to try this more often for the aromas and flavours.
The miso cured ocean trout was particularly fun for the palette. Trout, scrambled eggs, radish, celery, confit black garlic and chilli piled on to a piece of toast, offering harmonious but distinct tastes and textures. Though the eyes were too big for the stomach when it arrived, it turned out to be a substantial meal as the server described.
Truly friendly and helpful service in this modern, airy setting. Love that the bi-fold windows open up on a beautiful, sunny day like this. A relaxing spot to grab a bite or hang out with friends.
Eat. Sleep. Create. Repeat.
+4
Forgot the dish name of my first photo, it tastes good if you are looking for some warm Asian elements in your plate. Coffee was great. My favourite was the venue, had a relaxing and lovely morning here. Will made come back if I remind of this feeling.
Name changed to Howard St cafe.
Spacious modern cafe with two open spaced floors.
Fresh menu with fast and friendly service in an ambient environment.
Code • Black • Coffee Green eggs and ham??, loved this beautifully created breakfast plate. Who knew how well peas and potato came together. With such a beautiful balance of flavour, you are left with your taste buds begging for more. Eggs benedict is something that’s everywhere, how do you up sell?? PASTRAMI! Oh and onion jam..... beautifully balanced as well, although the eggs were more boiled then poached, I still loved the balance! #foodporn
Awesome coffee and food is spot on. The ambience and fit out is great - plenty of room and your not sitting half a metre away like many other cafes. Loved the menu options and staff were attentive with fast service.
The service here is really professional. The space is also nice. I would say the prices are high but that seems to be the norm in North Melbourne so can be forgiven...however 20 dollars for French toast is too much in my book. I had the pastrami benedict, It was a nice dish, maybe the hollandaise lacked a little flavour but on the whole a nice combination of flavours. I would say in general the menu is nice, seems to be cooked well. The service is good and the coffee also, so a definite 4/5.......wouldn’t think twice about visiting again.
Great cafe offerings, between $16-$22.
Lamington french toast, $20, delicious accompaniments and flavours.
Pork belly burger, $20, big juicy cut with great enoki mushroom floss.
Affogato, $5.5, good coffee and lovely presentation.
coffee was good but the chicken was like common curry chicken and too salty. Desert is a little bit too sweet.
The environment is good,service is good too.Anyway, it’s a relaxing place.
Eating Away Melbourne
+4.5
Melbourne is all about avo on toast. Code Black's avo on toast is literally one of the best I have ever had. Just need to make sure you clean your teeth after having this dish cuz there are a lot of seeds and grains in the dish. Very healthy and yummy. Coffee is always nice as well. Service can be a bit up and down..
Code Black NM is quickly becoming my favourite brunch spot.
Absolutely love dining here. Comfortable relaxed seating, exceptional service staff, great selection off the menu.
At no part were we rushed through our meals through, making this an excellent spot to relax and actually catch up instead of being rushed out after a meal! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
great selection of fresh juices. We had the hot salmon with grain salad as well as the crumbed chicken - both delish! Will definitely be back!
Menu changed the second time I was here, had the seared tuna, poached egg, brocollini and olive soil and a toasted bacon schnitzel sandwich! Perfect
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Midweek brunch after appointment at nearby hospital. Staff were lovely. We sat at stools but staff did give us the option of a seated table since I'm heavily pregnant & resembling a walking watermelon.
This turned into one of the best overall brunches we've had in Melbourne. There was not one dish or drink that let the experience down.
Coffee & juice were served quickly. One of the nicest coffees we've had.
He had the Pastrami Benedict. A thoughtfully put together dish with fabulous flavours and thick pieces of pastrami.
I had the Bircher. I almost didn't order it after seeing it was infused with turmeric, thinking it might be overpowering. So glad I gave it a go! It was a light, subtle flavour amongst fresh fruit, coyo & micro herbs. Absolutely gorgeous.
He planned to get a take away cold brew but decided to stay & enjoy it at the table since everything had been spot on. Since we'd be there a while longer I ordered a hot chocolate.
Wow, that was some hot chocolate! Strong, silky & beautiful. Cold brew was perfect.
We'll be recommending Code Black Coffee to family when they come to visit at hospital. I'm pretty sure husband will be coming here for sneaky coffee breaks during our stay.
Definitely in our top 5 Melbourne breakfasts!
The Domestic Traveller
+5
On the way to the espresso Martini festival, we stopped in here. And even though the team were closing in the afternoon – they were gracious enough to let us eat a quick bite and grab a drink. And for that, they have already won my admiration. It was the closest cafe that was open AND willing to let us come in. I found it infuriating that other cafes on the street would turn us away. But literally their loss.
One of the few cafe that open 7am on Sunday. I came here to enjoy my last cup of Melbourne coffee before flying back to msia. Good service and the stuffs are really knowledgeable. Got the batch brew which was amazing. Ethiopian beans with wash process which gives out a fruity body with a delightful aftertaste of sour cherries.
The Coffee was excellent. Both long black and flat white. Pleasant warehouse roaster atmosphere with friendly and attentive staff.
Tried the spicy fried beans with pork belly and bacon schnitzel sandwich. Flavours were excellent and portion size were good.
Coffee - got a takeaway flat white. Taste is chocolatey and rich, with high notes of lemon citrus. The mouthfeel is satiny, but feels a bit thin and lacks depth, finishing quickly and with a slightly bitter tone.
The space was open, airy and had plenty of light. The staff were quick and efficient. Definitely worth a look if you're in the area.
The rating is for coffee，not for food.
Really recommend their coffee！
Had avocado on toast. Whole avocado…too much for me. Multigrain toast was good. Poached eggs were medium. Added crispy pork belly that was a disaster. I would say it was over-fried pork belly left from last night and re-fried for you
After the last few times that they forgot our food order and forgot my tea take away when I ordered two we haven't been eager to go back. But weather has been so nice and they have the best outdoor seating for morning patrons. For the visits in the past week service was very friendly and quick. Food was just stunning. I have been having this Avo on toast three times in a row. Coffees were amazing too.
Great coffee and brunch - definitely one of the best options in the inner city area. The space is nice and open, the mezzanine space is brilliant and gets you above the bustling ground floor. The eggs are some of the best around.
Had their Bacon Schnitzel Sandwich and Green Eggs & Ham. The Bacon Schnitzel Sandwich was great as the bacon schnitzel was smokey and unique. It was flavoursome and it combined very well with the piquant sriracha mayo and tangy pineapple relish. The Green Eggs & Ham was also equally delicious as the bacon lardons went well with the potato tots and green peas to give it a very wholesome dish. On top of that, the coffee was great too!
My new favourite brunch place. Not too far from the city and far enough to be secluded and not too noisy. I love the ambiance there, and the food was DELISHHHHH 👌🏼.
The waitress who looked after us was super friendly as well! Ace ace ace. Def coming back!
Absolutely delicious lunch, considerably exceeded my expectations for what was meant to only be a typical Tuesday outing in North Melbourne. Tuna and beef were cooked perfectly, all the garnishes and extras were not only delicious but beautiful to look at. At about $20 a meal this was very good value considering what came out. Service was great and so too was the coffee!
The atmosphere and setup of this place is awesome. I'm still yet to try the food. Staff are friendly. Not a big fan of their long blacks though. Not for how expensive it is anyway. But still a good place.
Wonderful coffee and food. Went to Code Black North Melbourne three times over the past thirty days and coffee quality was always up to satisfactory, and 2 out of that 3 times, amazed. If you like specialty coffee, you can't miss this place. Best part, plenty of parking spots around.
OMG loved everything even a visiting spider, but seriously the bacon schnitzel was amazing and excellent coffee. I'll be back to try the pastrami apple slaw roll.
Boom! Yes we loved the hell out of this place today. Lovely wait staff, interesting kitchen staff, smoothie was quick and so good, iced choc hit the spot, great vibe (although with competition like the super lame cafe next door any vibe is good). The food was such a perfectly filling serve- my coffee rubbed lamb was so before we left, vegan bar and lemon slice both top notch. All in all i cant really fault this place.
Delicious coffee as expected , however could have been 5 degrees warmer ... Bacon schnitzel was cooked perfectly , yum! Well executed. Interesting combo of super tasty spicy beans , goats cheese and pork belly , the mouthful was perfectly balanced . The only thing was the over buttered toast, it would have been better if the butter was on the side. Overall the lunch was tasty and delicious , a fresh modern spin on the Melbourne lunch 😍
I went here for the first time. The food was yum and pretty cheap, compared to other brunch cafes. Their coffee is great too. But they may need to train their waiting staff more.. my table was asked to order 3 times... even while my friend was talking on the phone... But overall it was good.
One of my favourite places to go for breakfast! I like their creative menu...and the coffee is always spot on! Staff are always friendly too.
A Chronicle Of Gastronomy
+4
Back when I started university, I made a list of potential cafes to visit during my breaks, dreaming all the food adventures I could undertake. Code Black Coffee was one of these, but like many on the list, I never actually made it in the end. I find myself here during a catch-up, quite a number of years after making that list. The interior is spacious and stripped back, and splashes of colour on the walls keep it from feeling too sterile.
MelbourneFoodPaparazza
+3.5
Came to Code Black in North Melbourne with a friend for lunch and ordered the Pastrami Benedict and a coffee, while my friend ordered a salad and coffee. I was initially hoping to order their smoked salmon dish as per the menu on Zomato but it looks as though the menu has changed and they didn't have it any more. The Benedict was well made with a generous serving of sauce although the Pastrami did make it quite heavy. The coffee however was excellent, as you might expect from specialist coffee roasters. Prices were standard for Melbourne cafes (ie. not the cheapest around), at $19 for the Benedict. However the service and ambience was good. A decent cafe.
Been here twice now. Both times great food, great coffee, great service and beautiful surroundings. I will return again for sure, loads more menu options that I want to try.
Looking for a new place to try we ventured out (not far) to North Melbourne to try Code Black. Things started out worrying as the menu had changed from what was on both zomato and their website, and the coffee didn't inspire confidence when we saw it (see the photos for what I mean ... :-)
Fortunately it tasted great (lil awkward) which bode well for the meals. On the updated menu, I ended up selecting the donut French toast and the missus had the avo toast customised. Wow, was I impressed. Amazingly enough, the French toast ended up tasting like I was eating a jam donut (and a tasty one at that). The fried banana was nice, but served to perhaps neutralise some of the sweetness from the dish (probably a good thing). In any case, it ended up being one very happy brunching an experience, but don't take my word for it, try it yourself.
After all, this is just a solo review, not necessarily the baseline!
[UPDATE] They have returned to their former glory! Coffee is always excellent. Staff are busy but attentive, and the food, while a bit pricey, is excellent. Good to have you back for about a year now CodeBlack (North Melbourne)
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This place has completely lost it! I work nearby and this was my regular stop for coffee and the occasional tasty lunch. No more! An apparent recent changeover of staff has ruined this joint for me.
They forget orders, their coffee is weak as dishwater and the previously friendly and competent staff have been replaced by pretty incompetent morans. A shame.
Dish ordered:
Hot smoked salmon
I like spacious cafe and here it is!!
Located in a quiet neighborhood, it is good for morning jogs and then coming here to catch up with friends.
My friend highly recommends this dish because she likes crispy food. I am not so into it but overall it is a nice experience.
Came here after yoga, the venue was nice and spacious and not too packed. I ordered the seared tuna with a side of bacon, perfect for a post yoga meal, light and full of protein.
The fried egg was still runny inside, perfect! This place also provides almond milk, so it ticked all the boxes for me! Will definitely come back to try the other items
Green egg & ham was definitely so tasty. coffee was always align with code black's high level. Also love the decoration. While the menu has not been updated?(see their new menu at another branch) Saturday is always busy, it will be better come in weekdays. :)
Address: 119 Howard St, North Melbourne VIC 3051; Phone: (o3) 9329 1810 (also have one in Brunswick). This was probably the biggest failed attempt at brunch I’ve ever had. Except for that one time I forgot I organized brunch my friend and didn’t even show up. It was a failed attempt this time because I poorly planned the time of my doctor allergy assessment and the brunch time with my housemates.
Love the mushrooms option with brioche and goat cheese! Add an extra egg and you are set for the weekend, good atmosphere and service was great! The coffee was above average and we definitely would come back for more
Coffee is fantastic. Their cold brew is wonderful. I go there nearly 3 times per week. Roasted mushroom on toast is my favourite too. Staff are super nice and friendly.
One of our favourite brunch places in North Melbourne. Natural and minimalistic deco. The same theme transient across their menu selections that focus on the taste of raw ingredients and subtle garnishing. The salmon and mushroom dishes are must tries. Very friendly staffs and child friendly.
I don't visit Melbourne often, but every time I do, I strive to find a new brunch and more importantly, a better coffee place! The flat white was to perfection and the food was generous and beautifully presented. Delicious and simple. The venue was spacious with a clean and stylish design of wood, steel and concrete. This will now be my go to brunch place when staying in the CBD! Love!
A quick lunch trip finds me at code Black around the corner from work.
Walking in I'm created immediately asked if I'm taking away or staying, decided to stay, ordered a poached chicken,avo and wombok slaw roll - great fresh choice. Within a few minutes my cappicino arrives, then when paying purchased a salted caramel cookie, just a lovely experience.
Found this place for bunch on the weekend. Food was delicious. My avo on toast was excellent - the poached egg was cooked perfectly and the bread was delicious. Boyfriend really enjoyed green eggs and ham dish. Shared the banana butterbing from the cake cabinet after - it was delicious. Looking forward to coming back!
Best coffee in town. Friends and I enjoyed what we ordered. The vibe was great, we loved that the cafe has an open kitchen where we could watch the chefs make magic. Would definitely come back again
GlutenschmootenMelbourne
+3.5
Coffee. To die for! Food...? Pretty good, they had some good gluten free fodmap friendly options but I'd have to say the coffee was the highlight
Best iced latte I've ever had. This place is in a great quiet location and I love the vibe in the cafe. Code Black Coffee has some of the best espresso beans in Melbourne.
Good coffee and decent service. I probably come in here every second weekend and the place is busy and still get my take away coffee in a timely manner. Wouldn't mind having some more quick takeaway snacks for a breakfast on the go but overall happy to spend my money there.
Great coffee and even better breakfast or brunch. This is one of my favorites near the cbd for breakfast. The space is so inviting and fresh that it makes for a good place to start your day.
Perfectly decked out cafe with delicious food. My favourite dish is Green eggs and ham. Coffee is excellent also. Get there early and you won't have to wait.
I only had a chai here.
The service was impeccable. I can't fault it. The waitresses were very attentive.
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy my chai so much, it was lumpy.
They also don't do split bills on weekends, which was a bit inconvenient.
Good location with a clean and beautiful building. The coffee is great and I shared the cheese toastie (one of the best toasted sandwiches I've ever had!) and a 'eggs Benedict' style dish with chorizo or sausage. I can't remember the full details but that was beautiful too. Should've grabbed one of the muffins that kept staring at me from the counter on the way out too!
Slumped into this establishment after exhausting night shift with some hesitation as Code Black usually meant someone's getting a wee bit stabby at work, but had a great time with attentive staff and really great breakfast! The salmon and potato rosti was truly a gem, and the pastries are amazing!
Be careful though if meeting up with friends, someone will inevitably end up at the wrong Code Black, e.g. Brunswick. Haha.
A very stylish joint that's cool and comfortable with professional service. The menu reads very well but the food didn't quite meet expectations. I'll be back to try again.
Went there a while ago with a friend. The menu design is quite interesting. Nice Filter coffee. Food was not bad but not very surprising either.
First time and certainly not going to be the last!
Just had time for a quick coffee - but a superb one at that. Only minor issue was that it could have been a little hotter, but I know for next time.
Friendly staff and a superb fit-out.
My local, I am so lucky! Nothing beats the sweat tastes of their coffee beans! One of the nicest avo on toast too! The staff are very professional yet very friendly. I really can't pick a fault with this place! I love it!
Nice little place for breakfast. Little bit of a wait but over all not too bad. Food was nice, coffee was a bit hit and miss for my liking. Atmosphere was great we got in early and would recommend to do the same seem to fill up around 10am.
I came into code black today with a friend and we ordered the hot smoked salmon and black bean with jalapeno cornbread with added pork belly. We were ignored by the staff for a fair bit, even though it was not busy at all. The hot smoked salmon was ok, I mean you generally can't go wrong with potato cake or hollandaise, but overall there was nothing particularly special about this dish. However, the black beans were a little disappointing. The cornbread was a little dry and we couldn't really taste any jalapenos. The pork belly had a nice crackling but overall it was quite ordinary. Overall, my friend and I had a pleasant experience but it wasn't spectacular and worth raving about.
A great new addition to North Melbourne. Amazing food and coffee. I have been here a few times now, the service is friendly and the space is on point.
Don't claim you have visited Melbourne before you visit this place. Great coffee, beautifully served food, awesome plating and friendly services.
Code Black Coffee is a cafe and specialty coffee roaster in Brunswick who have opened up a second outpost in Howard Street North Melbourne. Like the original location the Code Black Howard Street roasts its own coffee but the roasting machine is really more for decorative purposes as most of the coffee is still roasted in Brunswick.
Great coffee, great breakfast, great service, great atmosphere and great location. I had the best black pudding for years and years. We'll be back!
Great coffee. Food was really good. Had Ploughman's Brekky and Black Bean and Cornbread. Both really tasty.
Service was GREAT. Attentive, but not intrusive. Very friendly. Would definitely come back.
Acai superbowl. First time to have breakfast here on a monday morning. The long black tasted a little sour, but overall the tempature was good. Aftertaste was reasonable. The acai bowl of superfood. My goodness. Perfect in every way. The sofa was a bit awkward though.
Code Black Coffee is a cafe and specialty coffee roaster in Brunswick who have opened up a second outpost in Howard Street North Melbourne. ..The food menu has a similar quirkiness as the Brunswick menu and takes inspiration from the fact that the space used to be an old car garage. I’ve explored some of the options over several visits.
Friendly staff, yummy food & excellent coffee! Visited this lovely cafe on a Saturday morning and was served straight away with recommendations of what to order. If you're ever in North Melbourne check it out.
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Code Black infiltrates North Melbourne - and it's a winner!. Reading the reviews on here and seeing a few from people who didn't like it, has surprised me, as this place has become my new local, and I just absolutely love it! Everything from the decor (light, fresh, sleek, yet homely all at the same time) to the staff and the food is on point. The staff are super friendly, and given how busy it gets on the weekends here, I applaud them for always keeping their cool, as I can't say friendly staff is a common occurrence in Melbourne cafes! The food, so far, I have found to be delicious, fresh and reasonably priced!
The north melbourne menu has a decidedly different feel from its brunswick counterpart. A bit more relaxed, lighter, yet with always with a modern twist. The ricotta hotcakes are delicious - and gluten free might I add! My absolute favourite meal on the menu is the bircher muesli (i know, i'm one of those people now who orders muesli at a cafe) - but it is just the right amount of sweet, crunchy and muesli-y, topped with rhubarb that's not been cooked within an inch of it's life - it's the perfect light breakfast! The coffee is superb - and so far I have found to be pretty consistent!
For me at least, I struggle to find anything to complain about with this cafe - and I would highly recommend it to anyone who's passing through the area! (just make sure to go early, as it gets packed from around 9.30/10am - you'll be waiting a while for a table)
We had a wonderful brunch experience at this Code Black cafe yesterday. The spacious and airy place relaxed us while we enjoyed the excellent coffee and tasty food. I had the flavourful pulled beef toasties while my wife had the fresh rockling fish burger. In between munches she gushed, "This is so good. We must come back again soon!"
This pretty much sum up our experience... excellent coffee, great food and warm friendly service. We'll be back soon!
Known for their great coffee beans, loved for their food. Code Black in North Melbourne offers an enjoyable brunch experience for all in the area. I had the kimchi waffles that came with a nice portion of pork belly. This place can get busy on some days, but is worth the wait. Come here for coffee, beans and brunch.
Easter Sunday. Delightful cafe, just popped in for a coffee even though it was brunch/lunch time.
Lovely ambience; friendly, smiling, happy staff doing everything they can for you; service was top notch. Even though it seemed they had a full house, there was enough staff being kept busy, but not 'harried', they had everything under control.
I enjoyed my coffee and just 'people watching' while I was there, just watching the staff going about their tasks was pleasant.
Looking forward to another visit when I'm going to actually order some food, from what I saw being prepared and delivered to patrons, it looked and smelled divine.
Amazing Coffee! One of the best in town in my opinion. Delicious food offerings as well. We gave all the coffee a try. A spro, flat white, long black and filter and i am blown away by each one of them. Give them a try!
This place does coffee really well. Picked up a utterly divine single origin - some really unique flavours. Also given a small side of hot water to make your long black how you like it which is a lovely touch. The scramble was tasty. Will be back.
I’ve been to a few of the Code Black locations and I can say this with confidence that you’ll always get good coffee and some pretty yummy food.
I wouldn’t say that it is the best cafe Melbourne has to offer, but it’s a pretty solid option.
The coffee is certainly the star of the show! I appreciate how many options they have and how well made they are!
Gooood good and coffeeee.
Coffee was smoooooth. Highly recommend.
Food was good too! Had the pork belly - it was super tender. What made it all the better was the mash, the vegetables and the sauce with it. The roasted vege to me was the standout of the dish. Nicely caramelized and well cooked.
I suppose overall it could do with a touch more salt, or some balsamic vinegar to give a touch more tartness. But otherwise - a good dish. My mates completely enjoyed it. I could be just picky. 😜
The chai latte though - was an absolute disappointment.
Stick to the coffee. You won’t go wrong with this roaster.
Also had the cold brew to go - that was the bombs! 😋😋😋
Great food with multicultural elements, like Korean kimchi and Philly cheesesteaks. However, just a friendly reminder, seasoning bottles don’t have labels, and in the meanwhile, I’m having salted flat white now. Lol :)
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