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Just Open: Rough Diamond Coffee, Warrnambool

Leanne Clancey

Recycled timbers interiors add warmth to Rough Diamond cafe.
Recycled timbers interiors add warmth to Rough Diamond cafe.Rob Gunstone

Warrnambool's office workers and coffee diehards have reason to feel rather smug with themselves since local lad Henry Bird launched his smart new brew bar, Rough Diamond, in the town's commercial centre.

Bird's previous cafe ventures (Pepper in Flemington, Brightbird Espresso in Warrnambool) paved the way for his avid passion for the bean and he's made plenty of savvy choices here: Small Batch coffee beans, Schulz organic milk, Mörk hot chocolate, plus a shiny new La Marzocco machine to bring it all together.

The food offering is deliberately uncomplicated (think pastries, toasted sandwiches, house-made granola), though with talented local pastry chef Chris Beard (ex-Stokehouse, Comme, Panama Dining Room) in the kitchen, things are next level on the grab-and-go morning tea front. Baked on-site daily, treats such as Beard's flaky croissants, salted caramel cruffins and raspberry cheesecake doughnuts have locals swooning.

The lemon and toasted marshmallow cruffin at Rough Diamond.
The lemon and toasted marshmallow cruffin at Rough Diamond.Rob Gunstone
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With seating for around 20, the 70s-era ex-office space has had a stylish makeover at the hands of Bird. Interiors are a mix of recycled timbers (salvaged from a recent home reno), parquet flooring and glossy white tiles, plus there's a sheltered courtyard out front for sunny breaks.

Open Mon–Fri 7am–2pm.

203 Koroit Street, Warrnambool, (03) 5560 5707, roughdiamondcoffee.com.au

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