Overview
In botany, an axil is the point of new life. Stepping into Hawthorn's Axil Coffee Roasters, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd left Melbourne altogether — such is the pace of the place. It's a heady atmosphere for the uninitiated.
Behind the sleek and unassuming facade, you'll find what can only be described as a quintessential 'coffee barn' for the city that lives and breathes caffeine. A sizeable seating space for 75 is replete with an intriguing cupping room and a well-stocked retail selection of both beans and foodie equipment. Theatrical and buzzing but large enough to be personable and original, Axil has managed to build a thriving reputation in only a few short years.
As expected, the selection of coffee on offer is expansive, considered and consistently good. A changing list of single-origins, filter selections and a great house blend will keep everyone from the dowdiest drinker to the ultimate enthusiast pleased.
Maegan Brown
The industrial ambience spreads to the menu, which is a nicely balanced selection of breakfast and lunch favourites. With the middle meal of the day too often overlooked, Axil provides a welcome change. The Caesar salad with cos, parmesan, anchovies, croutons, boiled eggs, and chorizo crumb is textural and satisfying, while the smashed avocado with feta, mint, parsley and Murray River pink salt on grain toast is one of the more successful executions seen across Melbourne. Serves are hearty but manage to steer clear of typically overbearing sizes. Don't miss the orange juice either — you know you're on a winner when even the simplest things are stunning.
The staff are sharp and very well-practised. Commitment levels at Axil Coffee Roasters are high. You're assured an impressive experience that looks like the easiest thing in the world, with character to boot. Even if you aren't a local, it's worth visiting the other side, just so you can see, eat and experience the well-earned fuss.
James Butler
Appears in:
Where to Find the Best Coffee in Melbourne
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