The Refinery Espresso, Hornsby

Just walking towards the cafe, I got excited. My eyes were first drawn to the massive Triplette Mirage espresso machine attended by two baristas and the mass of customers waiting for their caffeine fix. It can only mean that this place is serious about the quality and uniqueness of their coffee. So much so, that they roast their own special blends of beans from Columbia, Cuba, Ethiopia and Brazil every week!

Inside the cafe, the look is simple and relaxed. Wooden tables and panelling and cute cushions on the seats adorn the cosy interior.

The menu offered a wide range of breakfast options including eggs benedict, Italian scrambled eggs, hotcakes and bircher muesli. I decided to order the huevos rancheros otherwise commonly known as baked eggs. I was apprehensive at first to see whether the eggs would be dry and overcooked but to my delight the egg yolks were still runny. They added a lovely texture to the aromatic, slightly spicy tomato salsa, along with the tasty chorizo, baked beans and potato cubes. The baked eggs were served with a slice of crunchy Brasserie bread. Indeed, this was tasty comfort food, ideal for a winter's day!

Huevos Racheros $14

Rather surprisingly and somewhat hilarious for a cafe crazy about its coffee, my cappuccino came in a glass as they had just run out of coffee mugs! However, the taste of the coffee was wonderfully homely and well rounded in flavour with a nice bit of milky froth.

'Cappuccino' $4

All in all, The Refinery Espresso is a great cafe if you happen to be in the Hornsby area with decent breakfast and lunch options and superior coffee.

The Refinery Espresso

10 Coronation St, Hornsby

5:30am-4:00pm Monday to Friday

6:00am-2:00pm Saturday