Mornings in Mosman mean sleek bob cuts glistening in the sun, fresh work-out gear and a large number of children on Razor scooters. At least within the confines of Myahgah Road this appears to be the case. One thing is for sure, your morning coffee is almost guaranteed to be hipster-free on the more gentrified side of town.
Street Bean Espresso is a hole-in-the-wall café set in the sunny pedestrian mall at the fork of Military and Spit Road. There’s not much to this it – the place is so small they can only fit two blades on their ceiling fan – just four courtyard tables and a tiny indoor nook if it’s cold out.
Unlike the expansive, high-end grocer and café at neighbouring Fourth Village, here they're keeping their operation very simple. But that doesn’t mean they don’t make a cracker coffee. They use AllPress beans and clearly they’re already considered the local caffeine tambourine man judging from the steady parade of council staff clutching paper cups to their chests like junkies waiting for their next hit.
They have a small sandwich bar here. Rather than a tower of bread and fillings like you’d find at say, Via Abercrombie or Malibu, these are your more functional sandwiches. Thin slices of deli roast beef, a sensible amount of cheese, beetroot, lettuce, mustard and some sticky sweet onion jam will sort you out at lunch, though we wouldn’t say no to some mayo to bind it all together.
The winning spoonfuls of the fruit salad are the ones with blueberries, but we struggle to detect even a hint of spice in the vanilla and cinnamon yoghurt. If you aren’t quite sure that it’s enough to hit the spot, ask for some of the toasted muesli on the side – the macadamias and cranberries amongst the seeds and grains add crunch.
Really, if you're after something more than a coffee on the run order the waffles. Perfectly toasted so that the outer edges are crisp, but still more cake than biscuit, two waffles come topped with sliced banana and strawberry and a drizzle of melted chocolate over the top. A scoop of vanilla ice cream completes this breakfast dessert of champions – nice one Belgium.
It may be a small operation at Street Bean but the coffee is good, the waffles are hot and the service is friendly. We're backing the little guy this time.