Cafes to try for that perfect coffee

As long as the beans are fresh and the crèma is good.

Politics. Religion. Coffee. These three topics are destined to cause controversy and upset, in any social discussion. So let’s skip the easy first two and just focus on coffee and the endless search for that perfect brew.

As long as the beans are fresh and the crema is good.

We can thank our post-war European immigrants for introducing real coffee to the Australian way of life. (First argument: better than the awful watered down version favoured by most Americans, yes?)

But we acknowledge that coffee is an intense personal choice and everyone has their own opinion about black or white, short or long, frothy or espresso. As long as the beans are fresh and the crèma is good. (Second argument: should your beans be sourced from organic, fair-trade and rainforest alliance growers?)

You can't get more local than Forster's own Little Street Roasters.

It’s no surprise to find good cafes all over the Barrington Coast, afterall we are a tourism destination plus a foodie destination. We also have a lot of well-travelled residents who demand good coffee.

Here’s a list to kick start the robust discussions about which café serves the best coffee. For coffee bean purists, we’ve identified the brand of bean served, maybe you’ll discover something tasty and new. (Third argument: should it be locally roasted or from far far away?)

So let the arguments begin and may the best crèma rise to the top.

You’ll need to do your own taste tests so tick all these off your Best Coffee Search list. And of course let us know if your favourite should be added to this list.

Blueys Beach:Kembali Cafe (Seven Miles Gusto)

Bulahdelah:Myalla Magic Cafe (Amoré), Cafe on Main (Vittoria)

Diamond Beach:Bronte Belo (Adore Coffee Roasters)

Forster:Beach Bums (Doppio Or Nothing); Bostin Brew Co (Seven Miles Roasters); Nineteen 59 (Allpress); Paradise Marina (Amoré); Plunge (Drumroll Roasters); Tartt (Little Street Roasters); The Sicilian (Amanti); Cafe Toscano (Amanti); Wingman (Little Street Roasters)

Gloucester:Roadies (Seven Miles The Cat’s Pyjamas); The Common (Single O)

Harrington:Beach Street Dispensary (Artisti Coffee Roasters)

Hawks Nest:Nest Cafe (Sprocket)

Nabiac:Greenhouse Cafe (Merlo)

Old Bar:Buyi Espresso Bar (Artisti); Flow Bar (Seven Miles Gusto): Village Cafe (Glitch Coffee Roasters)

Rainbow Flat: Not actually a cafe but it's home to one of our local coffee roasters Journey Made Coffee with awesome special blends to order online

Stroud:Billy T Cafe (Single O)

Taree:Bohemian Cafe (Coffee Works Black Mountain); Cafe Giardino (Amanti); Cafe Thyme (Vivo); Centrepoint Cafe (O Organic Espresso); Wild Cosmo Flowers (Allpress)

Tea Gardens: Mumm's on the Myall (Cherry Seed Roasters); Seagrass Cafe (Sprocket)

Tuncurry:The Deck (Holy Goat)

Wingham:Bent On Food (Doppio Or Nothing); Garden Grub Cafe (Campos Superior)

Wootton:Hardwood Espresso (Bun Coffee Byron Bay)