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The sun is shining, the leafy Armadale boulevards are sparkling and the Coin Laundry is humming — not with the sound of washing machines but activity.
A few poor souls wandered up with bags of dirty washing in the early days after the cafe opened in the former laundromat but the transformation from washing to grazing has generally been a tranquil one.
Owners Matt Vero and Steve Rowley have been working seven days a week since they opened a month ago. They're hoping to take a day off soon but they hadn't reckoned on being so busy. In fact, they say business is double what they imagined in their wildest dreams.
"We wanted to open a place where people could come down, have a coffee and catch up with friends without breaking the bank," Vero says. And it seems like the Armadale set was patiently waiting for this to happen.
The coffee and the house-made food are the drawcards. Prices are reasonable for a place that's just at the back of Armadale train station and a hop, skip and jump from trendy High Street.
There are three types of Allpress coffee on offer: the Supremo blend (a mix of mainly Colombian with PNG and Guatemalan beans), decaf (Colombian Swiss Water's chemical-free) and a single origin that changes every two weeks. Allpress coffee started in New Zealand, then moved into Sydney and recently dipped into the British market.
Rowley says they wanted an easy-to-drink coffee that wouldn't alienate drinkers in terms of robustness. The Supremo blend is mild and smooth, with smoky overtones and a gentle flavour. The beans are delivered every Wednesday from Sydney and are at their peak by the weekend.
About one in 10 customers opt for decaf, which is ground to order. Rowley says most cafes offer pre-ground decaf but grinding it fresh makes a big difference.
The cafe is an ideal pit-stop for commuters; the owners (who used to run Window Espresso in St Kilda) have learnt how to handle the early takeaway queues. "Speed is of the essence; those morning minutes are much more important than afternoon minutes," Rowley says.
They want breakfasts to be hearty and nutritious. Chef Eddie Atkins, who worked at Il Fornaio and Ramsay's in London, cooks all-day brekkies, a small lunch menu and some cakes and breads. Other breads are by Noisette, the eggs and chicken are free-range and the cheese is from Calendar.
Brekkie offerings include house-cured ocean trout on potato rosti with spinach, beetroot relish and poached egg; ricotta and sweetcorn fritters with poached egg, avocado, corn and tomato salsa; and caramelised French toast soldiers with Canadian maple syrup and bacon.
The Coin Laundry is a bright, cheery space with a high ceiling, white tones, green tiling and pretty cushions. It's a breath of fresh air in the back streets of Armadale and, hopefully, Vero and Rowley will manage that day off soon.
Coin Laundry
Where 61 Armadale Street, Armadale, 9500 1888
When Daily, 7am-4.30pm
How much $3 black coffee; $3.50 regular coffee
Check out The decaf, which is ground to order.
Found a hot new coffee spot? Email epicure@theage.com.au
More details
- Phone:
- 03 9500 1888
- Address:
-
61 Armadale Street,
Armadale,
VIC
View on map - Hours:
- Daily, 7am-4.30pm
