Coffee Warehouse – 17-35 Parramatta Road Homebush
Homebush has gone through a renaissance of sorts since the 2000 Olympics. Once a the heart of suburbia, Homebush can almost be classified as inner city now as the Sydney sprawl extends 50km in every direction. With that classification, new apartment blocks are reaching skywards, new shopping centers are springing up and now a brand spanking new Coffee Warehouse has opened on Parramatta Road providing residents with a cafe, a roaster, deli and pizzeria. For you first time visitors, the main parking area is behind the Coffee Warehouse. If you are coming in from the west, you will need to turn into Underwood Road for parking. If you are coming from the city, you would pass Coffee Warehouse and turn right onto Underwood Road.
There are few places where you can have breakfast or lunch and then walk around pick up your olives and other deli items, select your pasta, fresh vacuumed sealed meats and then proceed to collect you freshly ground and roasted coffee.
I am quite used to the cosy sometimes claustrophobic cafes in the city yet here at The Coffee Warehouse it’s the polar opposite with a spacious layout that can easily seat 50 people without you feeling you’re in someone else’s lap. The moulded metallic chairs are comfortable and a nice touch are the wooly wraps on each chair to keep you warm on a cool winter’s day.
My cappuccino arrives in a cavernous cup, much to my delight. My cappuccino is made using the house Caffe Di Stefano Fairtrade Organic blend which is a medium roast. The tasting notes suggest citrus flavours though I don’t get that coming through but I notice that it is smooth with a light lingering finish. It is a very pleasant coffee that has the perfect temperature and nicely balanced flavours. What I also like about Coffee Warehouse is you can request a specific blend for you chosen coffee.
Food options here at the Coffee Warehouse are exciting. Depending on the time of day there are a quite few tantalizing choices. I sample a Ranchio crab burger. For me this is the hero of the day. A crab patty that is sweet and full of the flavour of the sea. It is complemented by roasted sun dried tomatoes on a soft bun. It is case where less is more with this standout burger. I try the wife’s wagyu burger and it too is delicious. The burger patty is nicely spiced and seasoned. An open burger, it comes with a perfectly cooked egg, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, beetroot and bacon. Both burgers are priced at $15 but are great value.
Service is friendly and we don’t have to wait long at all for both our coffees and our food. The open kitchen is novel and is cool to see the efficiency of the crew as they tend to a busy lunch service.
The Coffee Warehouse, seems like an ambitious concept that I am is sure to succeed. I particularly like it’s one stop approach where you can dine and shop. It reminds me of Fratelli Fresh in that regard. The Coffee Warehouse also boasts a barista school, and speaking of barista, the resident coffee whiz is the 3rd best in state!
Recommendation : It is refreshing to see cafe ventures springing up in areas other than the city. The Coffee Warehouse is a great place to spend a morning, afternoon or evening at.
Thank you for a great review. We are very glad you enjoyed your visit and I really loved reading your post. Its like I was sipping the cappuccino with you