Corellis Cafe

Scores:
Coffee: 13/20
Whole experience (cafe + coffee): 26/40
Bean: Vittoria

As I'm leaving the Inner-West for a while to live in the Inner-East I thought I'd let you all in on a favourite cafe of mine right in the heart of Newtown. Corelli's on King Street must be one of the coolest, rudest, most average coffee shops in the area.

Oh, Corelli’s… the music is always to loud, the random art which adorns the walls of questionable, the customers are mixed bag, you know the types; loud in-your-face girls and guys, and it never feels totally clean. It's Newtown captured in a café. How could you not love it?

Today, after cleaning up my old unit, I grab a seat inside the café. While the outside seats go fast there are always some awkward little tables inside which seem to fill last and free up kinda quickly (there is really nothing wrong with them). Surprisingly, if you know the place, the service, on this instance was fast (for them), using this key opportunity, I order a long black and an amazing meal.

My Vittoria roast long black came quickly enough and is exactly as you'd ever hope to find it. Presented well, with a nice touch of a tiny teddy sitting on the side. The coffee’s creama works really well, just like you'd hope the Vittoria roast would show and it sits at a nice level in the cup.

The aroma is a strong roast, touches of everything we know Vittoria has. Chocolate and fruity essences mix it up with the dominant roasted aroma from the beans. The first sip is no more or less disappointing than any other from this bean, but sits OK on my pallet. The tiny teddy may be the saviour here a solid sweet hit, somehow created a level of balance. Maybe I'm just loving the Tiny Teddy?

Look I'm no food expert, but it's the food here that plays the main show. Big, bold, cheap and simple, the food’s range, size and quality make it an instant winner. Personal favourites include: sticky date pudding, ‘Byron Breakfasts’ (the one I got this morning) and nachos.

While I'm tucking into my meal, Missy Elliot's 'Work It' blares out the speakers and two staff members break into dance. A girl with her boyfriend beside me matches their dance, much to her boy’s embarrassment. As I said its all part of that Newtown thing.

The coffee does not get much better or worse with age. Left alone it seems to become initially smoother and less acidic to the mouth followed quickly by a sour hit.

Overall, there are few places I'll miss more in Newtown than this cafe. The coffee while average is always there from 7am to 12pm every night. Staff at times far too chilled, but friendly, just take a paper in and wait it out. And food never disappointing. If you like Newtown, chances are you'll like Corellis. If you don't like Newtown, I reckon you should stay clear.

Scores:
1. Coffee score
Style (look and feel): 7/10
Experience (taste and smell): 6/10
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Coffee total: 13/20
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2. Cafe score
Style (what’s it feel like): Newtown
Cool?: 8/10
Service: 5/10
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Cafe: 13/20
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Whole experience (coffee + cafe): 26/40


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