A "coffee-filled" trip to Sydney, home to a unique cafe culture. Atsushi Sakao's top 5 recommendations

1. Specializing in coffee only. Sydney's number one coffee is "Artificer Coffee"

Sakao-san has a close relationship with coffee roasters in Australia, and just visited a cafe in Sydney in January. The first place he mentioned was "Artificer Coffee."

"There are as many cafes in Sydney as there are convenience stores in Japan. Among them, this is definitely the best in Australia," says Sakao, enthusiastically recommending the cafe. The reason for this is, above all, the overwhelming quality of the coffee.

"The shop is jointly run by a Chinese-Australian and a Japanese, and both of them have been chosen as the best barista in a barista championship," he says, guaranteeing the high level of their skills.

"When you think of cafes in Australia, most have an extensive menu, including food, that is almost like a restaurant, and they also put a lot of effort into their service. But this is a coffee shop that simply specializes in 'serving coffee.' That's why there's almost no food or other menu items. Everyone comes here to drink coffee, so it's the real deal."

In Australia, the mainstream way to drink coffee is "espresso + milk," but this shop also focuses on drip coffee. The co-owner is Japanese, so you can casually strike up a conversation and have fun.

Surry Hills, where the shop is located, is known as a cafe battleground, but it is also an area with many unique shops, art galleries, and stylish vintage shops, attracting young people who are sensitive to trends. Although it is a little far from the main area, we recommend using Artificer Coffee as your base to visit cafes, while also enjoying a walk around the surrounding town and window shopping.

2. Paramount Coffee Project: Experience the latest in Sydney

"This is a cafe on the first floor of a hotel that was renovated from the site of the movie production studio 'Paramount Pictures Studios.' In fact, the cafe came first, and the hotel was built as an extension of it," Sakao said, introducing us to the 'Paramount Coffee Project.' While it may seem like a new cafe in a new hotel, it is actually jointly run by the already popular roaster cafes in Sydney, 'Seven Seeds' and 'Reuben Hills.'

"They started the business with the desire to spread coffee culture to more people. It's a collaboration between two cafes that are leading the coffee trend in Sydney, so you can really get a feel for cutting-edge trends. The food menu, as well as the taste and style of the coffee, are all very Sydney."

This shop is located in Surry Hills, a hotbed of cafe action.

Located on the first floor of the hotel, it is always bustling with an international clientele, from hotel guests to fashionable locals. This is truly a cafe where you can experience the "now" of Sydney.

3. Mecca Coffee: Enjoy the Sydney vibe in an open space

"Mecca Coffee" is a small cafe that was founded in the heart of Sydney in 2005. It is a coffee brand that has created Sydney's coffee culture. To commemorate its 10th anniversary, the Alexandria store opened in 2014 as a roaster and headquarters. The bright blue door frame stands out against the block walls of a renovated old warehouse, creating a distinctive exterior.

Alexandria was originally an industrial area, but now it is a quaint area where the industrial area is mixed with cafes and shops that have been renovated from abandoned warehouses.

Mecca Coffee is also located in a former warehouse, with high ceilings and an open, spacious feel, which Sakao praised as "the ideal form of a roastery cafe."

"Of course, the coffee and food are of high quality, but the environment here is outstanding. Behind the cafe space is a roasting factory, where they carefully select and blend in-season beans. The speed with which they can serve those beans in a timely manner is also great, and best of all, it has a sense of openness that is different from the cramped cafes in the city."

This large warehouse-style cafe is something you won't find in Japan. Enjoying high-quality coffee and food in a comfortable space is the ultimate Sydney cafe experience.

"All sorts of people come here, from locals with their dogs to nomadic workers. It's cool to see locals using the cafe so naturally. It's close to the airport, so when I arrive in Sydney on a morning flight, I head straight here. While eating brunch, I do some people-watching and think, 'I've finally arrived in Sydney!' (laughs)"

4. If you want to have a morning coffee, you can't miss "Room Ten"

One of the joys of visiting a cafe when traveling is breakfast. If you can enjoy a local breakfast that captures the spirit of life at your destination, waking up early shouldn't be a problem. Another great thing about getting up early is that you can spend your day more efficiently. Sakao recommends "Room ten" as the best cafe for breakfast.

"This is an all-day breakfast cafe. The coffee is great, but the breakfast is also incredibly popular. The combination of coffee and hearty meals, such as avocado toast and sandwiches, is fantastic."

Also, because the store itself is small, the seats spill out onto the street in front of the store.

"That sense of freedom is what makes Sydney great."

Room Ten is a popular cafe located in Potts Point, known as one of Sydney's gourmet areas. Surry Hills is well known as an area with many cafes, but Potts Point has many shops that are popular with coffee connoisseurs, making it an area frequented by coffee lovers.

This is a hidden area with not only cafes but also many delicious restaurants, so it might be a good idea to look for a place to stay in the area. It looks like it will be a fun gourmet trip with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

5. Primary Coffee Roasters: A secret favorite among coffee lovers

"It's a really small cafe, but they serve really delicious coffee," says our recommendation, "Primary Coffee Roasters."

In the gourmet town of Potts Point, it is rare to find a simple shop that only serves a few types of pastries and coffee.

"I want you to enjoy the beauty and deliciousness of a flat white at this shop. The espresso changes daily with the utmost care, the milk is of the highest quality, and the barista's skill in making it a delicious cup. It's a rare place where everything is perfectly combined." This shop is quietly talked about among coffee lovers as "the spot to go right now."

"Flat white" is a style of espresso drink that is popular in Australia. It is basically similar to a latte, but the difference is in the milk. It is made by carefully creating a finer foam than a latte using a steamer, making the milk creamier. This allows the bitterness of the espresso to mix with the milk in just the right amount, allowing you to enjoy a perfect balance of bitterness and richness of milk. If you can order a "Flat White!" at a cafe, you will have joined the ranks of Sydney coffee connoisseurs.

From photogenic cafes that are unique to overseas to coffee shops of amazing quality, Sydney is truly a cafe paradise. There are also hidden cafes near cafes, so it is fun to walk around and search for cafes. Among them, the shops introduced this time are endorsed by professionals. We hope you will use these five shops as a starting point to enjoy a "cafe-filled trip" in the coffee town of Sydney.

Interview cooperation: Atsushi Sakao (Owner of ONIBUS COFFEE)

He moved to Tokyo from a town on the edge of Chiba, worked as a company employee, and then went backpacking for a year. Through this experience, he became fascinated with coffee culture and started working in the coffee industry. He now runs four coffee shops in Tokyo, including in Nakameguro and Shibuya.