As the colder months settle in, there is no better way to indulge in a quintessential winter treat than with the classic Einspänner; an espresso-based delight topped up with a dollop of whipped cream. This delicious drink originates from Austria and is named after the one-horse-drawn carriages of Vienna. In the past, the Einspänner was a favourite among travelling coachmen, as the cream kept the coffee warm and minimized spills during their journeys.
Whether you are a coffee connoisseur or simply new to this treat, these cafes offer not just a drink, but an experience – an escape into the cozy corners of bustling atmospheres where every sip brings comfort. Below is a list of five of the best cafes in Perth, carefully selected to offer you the chance to savour this delightful cup.
Northbridge
Hidden in Northbridge’s Nicks Lane, lies the tiny Giant Coffee which opened end of July 2022. Giant Coffee is a South Korean-owned specialty café developed by partners Claire Kim and Ethan Son. Claire transitioned from a career as a dental hygienist to hospitality after moving to Perth in 2018, while Ethan has spent a decade in the coffee industry in Perth. After working together at Duotone, Claire and Ethan decided to open their own café, aiming to share the coffee expertise they’ve acquired over the years. The name “Giant Coffee” is inspired by Claire’s nickname, “Giant,” from South Korea and their aspiration to cultivate a large customer base.
Giant Coffee is renowned for its Einspanners, offering both hot and cold versions that allow patrons to enjoy perfectly calibrated coffee topped with homemade whipped cream. Claire notes that Einspanners are included on the menu to help non-coffee lovers gradually get accustomed to specialty coffee through the sweetness of the whipped cream. In addition to traditional Einspanner coffee, Giant Coffee serves innovative options like the Milkspanner and Matcha Spanner, with Ethan noting that the Matcha Spanner is particularly popular among younger patrons. Patrons can also enjoy a selection of cold brews and filter coffees sourced from local roasters such as Daylight Coffee Roasters and Twin Peaks, as well as international roasters like South Korea’s Momos Coffee. For those interested in sampling different flavours, the filter taster or cold brew taster is recommended, allowing you to experience three different filters or cold brews made from various single-origin coffee beans in one sitting.
The coffee menu is not just the only special treat at Giant Coffee for this winter season. Giant Coffee partners with Layers Bakery in Subiaco for freshly baked croissants turnovers, and assorted pastries. Holy Bagels are available and can be paired with popular fillings such as jalapeno cream cheese, spring onion cream cheese, and blueberry cream cheese. Among the best homemade treats at Giant Coffee is the muffin selection, with the banana walnut muffin being a standout recommendation, developed and crafted by Ethan and his friend.
Serving as a cozy spot for baristas, coffee connoisseurs and café hoppers, Giant Coffee is indeed a haven for those seeking a speciality and innovative coffee experience.
Northbridge
Located at Lake Street, Northbridge, Café Tiara, stands as a testament to family dedication and artistic passion. This Korean-owned café, run by Hyoson and Jiho Kim along with their daughter Christine Kim, opened its doors in May 2022. The café’s welcoming ambience is enhanced by its handcrafted renovations and décor, done by the family themselves. One of the first things you will notice is the adorable teddy bear at the entrance, serving as the café’s beloved mascot.
Inspired by Disney Princess Tiara who dreamt of opening a restaurant, Christine named the café to reflect her own aspirations of creating beautifully decorated cakes. Each cake at Café Tiara symbolises grace and elegance, just like the café’s namesake. The menu, which is hand drawn by Christine and her friends, adds a personal touch to the café’s openings and showcases the café’s delightful offerings.
Café Tiara offers a unique selection of drinks and desserts, with Matcha drinks being a staple and their Einspanners and Matchaspanners currently trending. Christine explains that their Einspanners are a modern twist on the traditional recipe, featuring three blocks of ice inspired by a South Korean concept to keep the drink slightly cooler, making it a perfect winter treat. Unlike the traditional way of topping up with a dollop of whipped cream, Matchaspanner at Café Tiara acquires a matcha-infused whipped cream making it creamy and well-balanced.
Einspanners and Matchaspanner are not the only unique drinks at Café Tiara. Café Tiara has a wide range of options when it comes to drinks, desserts, and cakes. Bingsu, a milk-based Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings is popular at Café Tiara. Aside from the traditional Bingsu such as Injeolmi (Sweet rice cake), Christine recommends trying the cream cheese series including the Strawberry Cream Cheese Bingsu and Blueberry Cream Cheese Bingsu.
For cake lovers, Christine suggests trying the Apple Crumble Cake, which is crafted solely by her mother, Hyoson Kim. This cake has become a recent favourite at Café Tiara and is selling quickly. Christine recommends that for the ultimate winter treat at Café Tiara, patrons should indulge in the Honeybread paired with the Matchaspanner. Honeybread, or Honey Butter Bread, is a popular South Korean treat, made by dividing thick white toast spread with honey butter, divided into 9 pieces and topped with whipped cream, caramel syrup and cinnamon powder.
Willetton and Northbridge
Nestled in the heart of Willetton, Cake by Cake first opened its doors at the end of May 2022. This charming café quickly won the hearts of locals and visitors alike with its unique offerings and warm atmosphere. By early March this year, Cake by Cake expanded, launching a second café, CBC, in the bustling neighbourhood of Northbridge. The mastermind behind these delightful spots is Hyeona Noh, a passionate pastry chef who moved to Perth a decade ago, bringing with her a deep love for creating innovative and delicious treats.
Hyeona’s journey in the world of patisseries is as inspiring as her creations. The name “Cake by Cake” itself, suggested by her supportive husband, encapsulates her dedication to the art of pastry making. As both the owner and chef, Hyeona ensures that every dish is of the highest quality, reflecting meticulous attention to detail and commitment to consistency.
The menu at Cake by Cake is a testament to Hyeona’s creativity and expertise. Among the diverse selection of drinks, Einspanner Coffee stands out with its signature homemade whipped cream, known as the CBC Cream, which adds a delightful sweetness perfect for the winter season. The Malcha Latte, made with premium matcha imported from Jeju Island, South Korea, is another crowd favourite. Excitingly, Hyeona plans to introduce a new drink called Malchaspanner, which promises to be just as popular.
Aside from the delicious beverages, Hyeona has curated a menu of delectable cakes, desserts, and Korean fusion dishes that cater to a variety of tastes. For food enthusiasts, Café Tiara offers a range of options including the Prawn and Raw Fish Egg Carbonara, Chili Chorizo pasta for those who enjoy a spicy kick, and Sweet and Spicy deep-fried chicken. Pizza lovers need not worry, as Hyeona has mentioned that a new vegetarian pizza is on the way.
For those with a sweet tooth, Cake by Cake offers an array of cakes and bingsu options. The Sweet Potato Cake, a hit in South Korea, is a must-try with its balanced sweetness and the light, fluffy signature CBC Cream. The Tiramisu cake is another favourite, uniquely crafted with sponge cake instead of the traditional ladyfingers, ensuring a non-soggy base. Additionally, Hyeona’s version of Tiramisu is made without gelatine or kahlua, making it suitable for wider audiences.
Highgate and Cannington
Artem Coffee has its roots in humble beginnings. Darren Ho, one of the owners of Artem Coffee, brings over 15 years of culinary experience, having worked in various kitchens including fine dining modern Australian, Italian, and baking establishments, and even serving as head chef at North Perth cocktail bar The Classroom. Darren then developed a new passion for coffee roasting. This led to the beginnings of Artem Coffee as a pop-up cart in 2017 before Darren and his partner Tracey Koh moved Artem into a permanent home in Mount Peasant in 2019.
The café name, “Artem Coffee”, shares a symbolic meaning. Artem has its roots in Greek mythology and is derived from Artemis, the Goddess of the Moon. This is even depicted in Artem Coffee’s logo, which shows the Moon and its complementary, the Sun, symbolising both Darren and Tracey.
In March this year, Artem Coffee launched their new exclusive Einspanner series. Drawing inspiration from the classic Einspanner, Artem has managed to create amazing variations; Einspanner (iced long black base), Milkspanner (iced latte base), Thai Milk Tea spanner and the Matcha Spanner. The Thai Milk Tea Spanner at Artem Coffee is unique, being the only one of its kind in Perth. Cha Yen, or Thai Milk Tea, is a staple in Thailand made from Ceylon black tea, milk, condensed milk, and spices like star anise. For those looking for something simple yet sweet, I recommend trying both the Thai Milk Tea spanner along Artem’s signature doughnuts which are made fresh every morning at 4.30 am.
Aside from the Einspanner series, Artem Coffee is a renowned specialty café and roastery. Current house beans at Artem are Asprounion – a Colombian–based cooperative of direct–trade farmers and coffee producers, established by Mauricio Velasquez of Fremantle’s Micro Lote Coffee, and roasted at Lathlain café and roastery Laika to Ho’s own recipe. Single origins from different roasters are also rotated each week on batch.
In addition to being a specialty café, Artem takes pride in making food in-house, such as their Chili Scrambled Eggs, which feature a house-made chilli sauce fermented for three weeks to achieve the perfect flavour. Darren, renowned for his expertise in smoked meats, makes Artem a must-visit for foodies, with standout menu items like the classic Reuben sandwich, available exclusively on weekends and showcasing his mastery of smoked meats.
Perth CBD
Tucked away just off St George’s Terrace, Howard’s Groove is an underground café born from a partnership café between Smooth Operator and well-known local roaster, Twin Peaks (internal link). Morgan, one of the co-owners proudly shares that the café is twice the size of Smooth Operator, boasting a contemporary design that seamlessly blends a neutral, tonal palette paired with dark grenache colour on the ceiling. Pops of colour throughout the space create a comfortable yet moody atmosphere with curves and rounded edges of the interiors cleverly referencing Howard’s Groove logo. At Howard’s Groove, Twin Peaks coffee anchors the core selection, ensuring top-quality brews.
However, it’s not just the striking interior that makes this café stand out. Howard’s Groove is renowned for its unique iced oat Mont Blanc. While Mont Blanc coffee, inspired by Korean coffee culture, has become popular in the Melbourne coffee scene, Howard’s Groove brings its own twist. It is served with equal parts caffeine and is a sweet treat similar to an Einspanner, however, the difference lies in the coffee body itself. Mont Blanc coffees are commonly served with cold brew and whipped cream, with orange zest and spices such as nutmeg. At Howards Groove their iced oat Mont Blanc features Twin Peaks cold brew topped with an oat whipped cream accented with orange zest and nutmeg. The result is sweet, balanced and delicate coffee that is both refreshing and indulgent.
For food options, Howards Groove mirrors Smooth Operator’s focus on grab-and-go items and toasties. Toastie lovers will enjoy “The Italian”, a delightful combination of basil pesto, sundried tomato and cheese. For a sweet treat, the cornbread pairs perfectly with the iced oat Mont Blanc.
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