First Love Coffee

Overview

The sourdough masters at Rustica might be best known for their cult-favourite breads and pastries, but they've also got a soft spot for great coffee. So much so that the team launched its own specialty coffee roaster, First Love Coffee, which has been pouring at the brand's local cafes for the past few years. And now, it's got its very own home, with the opening of First Love's flagship store in Collins Arch.

Sporting a chic fit-out full of peach- and green-hued terrazzo by Fiona Drago Architect, the pint-sized standing room-only espresso bar is both a caffeine pit-stop and retail space, heroing First Love's globe-trotting menu of beans.

The coffee lineup features single origins from Brazil, Ethiopia and Nicaragua, alongside the popular house-blend Polaroid, while the food menu runs to a selection of easy grab-and-go items.

Swing past for the likes of a classic brekkie roll ($9.50); a smoked mushroom sanga loaded with taleggio, baby spinach and truffle mayo ($14.50); and a poached chicken salad with Vietnamese slaw, toasted coconut and a nam jim dressing ($15). Rustica's signature breads feature throughout, too, and, if the mood calls for something sweet, the brand's legendary pastries will always be in strong supply.

Images: Rebecca Newman