Coffee on Crown

Coffee on Crown
3 Crown St
Newcastle
NSW 2300
Ph : (02) 40233118

Having read about Coffee on Crown in a Sydney Morning Herald article about top baristas in Sydney (and environs), a spur of the moment one day trip to Newcastle by aptronym to visit initialjh seemed to perfect opportunity for coffee nerd initialjh to try out their beans.

Situated a few minutes away from the Newcastle train station, and in the city centre, the cafe has a welcoming informal feel, with tables both inside and outside. There were a few people sitting outside on the morning of our visit, but we were the only ones inside, perched comfortably on stools at the window (chosen mainly because it was the best location for taking watch photos, of course).

Espresso – single shot. 

Coffee on Crown is owned by James Orpe, who started his own coffee company called Rare Roast, and fellow barista Justin Oliver. 

They use a Florence made La Marzocco GB/5 espresso machine, and grinder wise, use the Compak K10 Conic, Compak K3 Touch, and the Eureka Delipro deli grinder.

The espresso had a great aroma and beautiful crema but was slightly acidic. I think  that I will have macchiato next time - maybe a dash of milk may temper the acidity?

Speedmaster 145.022-68 (left on NATO) and Snoopy LE Speedmaster 3578.51.00 (right)

An above average hot chocolate with a good chocolate taste and sufficiently hot.

Accompanying our drinks were our own Omega (or specifically Speedy) mania, from the resident Speedy nerd. For your horological viewing pleasure : 

Speedmaster Mk IV 176.009 (left) and Flightmaster 145.013 (right)

Speedmaster Day-Date Automatic "Mk4.5" 176.012 (left) and Speedmaster Mk II(145.014)

Omega Speedmaster Mk IV 176.009

Omega Flightmaster Cal.910 (145.013)

Omega Speedmaster MK II (145.014)

Omega Speedmaster Day-Date "Mk4.5" (176.012)

From left to right: Speedmaster 145012-67, Speedmaster 105012-65, Speedmaster 145022-68, Speedmaster 105003-65, Speedmaster 3578.51.00

The Speedmaster 145.022 here is an interesting model. It is a transitional model. Being a 145.022, this marked the switch from Cal.321 to Cal.861 in 1968. The 145.022 from 1969 has a different dial to this 1968 version. Omega changed from the applied metal "Omega" logo to the painted white "Omega" logo.

Top Row, from L to R: Mark II, Mark 4.5, Mark IV, Flightmaster

Bottom Row, from L to R: Speedmaster 145012, Speedmaster 105012, Speedmaster 105003, Speedmaster 145022, Speedmaster 3578.51.00

Omega Speedmaster Cal.321 x 2 with see-through casebacks

If you have such a gorgeous movement, why hide it with a closed case-back?

Omega Speedmaster Cal.321 with custom see-through caseback

It was sheer coincidence, but we realised, when chatting to the very personable folks there, that we were in fact at the popular location of the well-known #Newcastlecoffee weekly tweet-ups. They also gave us a few taste tests of the Death Sauce that they stock - three different Scoville levels. Aptronym  purchased the one that was half a million Scovilles. It wasn't as hot as you'd think!

Coffee on Crown is a great place to drop into. Relaxed and friendly, if they go ahead with that chilli milkshake they mentioned, aptronym has decided that she will travel from Sydney to try it out.

[AP and initialjh]