I don't cry. I eat and drink...at Juju Espresso

Are you one of those people I see in the city every work day between the times of 8am and 9am walking swiftly, bag in one hand and the oh-so-important coffee in the other? I am. Well, on some days. I used to buy a coffee each day before work until I calculated how much 1 (or sometimes 2!) coffees a day will cost me in a year!

So I started to get picky with my coffees and with so many cafes and espresso bars around Sydney CBD I am spoilt for choice. I think if I were to investigate closely I’d find about 20 cafes and espresso bars within 2 kms from my office! It’d be unfair if I stuck to just one of them because isn’t variety the spice of life? 

One of my favourites near my office is a newbie AND a goodie – Juju Espresso (27 Macquarie Place, Sydney near Pitt and Bridge Streets). A classy little joint nestled in one of the few remaining sandstone buildings in Sydney, Juju serves up some very good coffee and food. I believe that this used to be an old Kwik Copy shop as the sign is up there. It’s hard to miss Juju as their window display includes a whole lot of glass coffee drips and some huge vases filled with jellybeans and Turkish delights. Even though their dark furniture gives the espresso bar a very cool city feel the woven colourful coffee bean sacks and casually arranged collection of bottles and teapots give Juju that down-to-earth and friendly touch so it doesn't make the place seem like your cold typical city cafe.

the drip coffee equipment 

I come here for coffee quite often especially on the those days I really feel like a treat because it’s such a classy little place and I feel like I’m spoiling myself when I go there. I have tried a variety of their coffees and I have to say the texture is always smooth and my favourite so far is the Belgian Hot Chocolate. It’s just thick enough to go smoothly down your throat without being too rich. It’s not nice when your hot chocolate feels like you’re swallowing a melted chocolate bar which tends to give me that sick “too sweet and rich” feeling (I’m sure some of you sweet tooths might beg to differ!) Another drink to try as well is their affagato (and it can be a takeaway one too!) which is perfect for Friday afternoons when you’re winding down the work week and setting yourself up for ‘weekend mode’. I haven't tried their sweets yet...homemade caramel tarts, coconut jam slices and biscuits are just so mouth watering to look at (this place only opened less than a year ago so I'm pacing myself, ok?)

what to choose for lunch?

Juju has a great variety of savoury treats for lunch as well such as filo pastries, pizzas, salads and boule de pain. On a chilly autumn Friday I opted for their spinach and fetta filo and my lunch buddy chose the chicken boule de pain. Mine was delish~ the spinach and fetta hit the spot and my lunch buddy was very impressed with the toasted boule de pain. 

Yes, I see you eyeing that MASSIVE chunk of rare roast beef above! We were told that this was roasted for a good 4 hours!! Too bad I wasn’t very very hungry…Maybe next time. But it will depend on fate as Juju seems to like mixing it up every week as I always find a different mix of food in their glass case every time I go there and you know how much I love surprises :) As long as they’re consistent in giving me good coffee and surprising me with good food it’s all good with me!

After lunch I decided to have one of their ‘drip’ coffees and I was told that I should try their cold drip coffee ($5 and comes with a bottle of San Pellegrino to wash your palette.) The idea of cold coffee without cream or sugar made me a bit nervous but I decided to go for it anyway….and I have to say cold coffee is surprisingly delicious! One of the baristas had previously told me that the drip makes the coffee taste better and he was right! It’s hard to describe how and I think you’ll just have to taste it for yourselves. The only word I have for it is "fresher". Maybe this is what ‘pure’ coffee is meant to taste like?

Another thing I like about this place is even though it’s a small espresso bar it is still one of those places where you can sit comfortably inside for a while. The staff are super friendly and funny and if you feel like sitting outside Juju’s outside seating area is perfectly set under a tree (What? You can sit under a tree in the city without going to Hyde Park or Botanical Gardens?)

the outdoor seating area- isn't the tree so
pretty against the sandstone building?

Before long winter will be in full swing so I’ll be sitting out here as much as I can in the next few weeks. 

So, do you have a favourite go-to place for coffee everyday before work? If so, please share (especially if it's in the Wynyard area I would love to go check it out)! 

Have a great weekend and to all you mums, have a fabulous Mother's Day!

love,

idontcryieat

P.S. Please excuse the not-so-great Iphone photos. I should make it a habit to bring my camera everyday cos you never know when i'm not gonna cry and go eat :)


P.P.S. Yes,  will return for more of their drip coffees! Perhaps a hot one in winter.