You know those minimalist, hipster cafes where the lighting is always on point and every surface is perfect for taking photos? Where the menu is as on-trend and wholesome as the clean-lined aesthetic? Well, that’s the Paramount Coffee Project in a nutshell.
Situated in a wide, open space filled with lots of natural light in the back streets of Surry Hills, the Paramount Coffee Project is a conoisseur of all things coffee, with a separate brew menu and shelves of specialty blends for retail sale. The pale white, wooden and grey interior is lined with pops of exposed brick and concrete; the communal tables and stool seating lending, a relaxed, casual ambience.

Pop by for a cronut and cake with your coffee, or bask in the ambiance while you tuck into something more satisfying. The menu here takes its inspiration from all-American favourites with a contemporary, fusion twist. Pulled pork buns with chilli caramel feature alongside Buttermilk Fried Chicken Waffles, Scorched Tacos and Lucky Charms cereal. Among the lighter options are Vegemite and sesame butter on avocado toast, as well as signature crumbed eggs with pork hock and kale.

The drinks menu is just as innovative and mouth-watering. How about a peanut butter, dulce and honeycomb ‘latte’, or a licorice, mint and pineapple iced tea? The ginger soda is refreshing and sweet, with a hot gingery kick to every sip.

Let the child in you indulge in one of their many calorific milkshakes. The salted pistachio and nutella milkshake comes in a stout cup sprinkled with chopped nuts and a mega spoonful of nutella. The icy cool milkshake isn’t too heavy on the nutella – most of it is stuck on the spoon dunked inside  – and there is a slight pistachio aftertaste which makes this drink not too sweet nor heavy. It is definitely milkshake heaven. Other flavours include caramel popcorn, peanut butter and jelly and, or course, coffee.

The Paramount Coffee Project shakes up the conventional cafe menu of typical salads, sandwiches and bacon-and-eggs, making it an ideal spot to enjoy something a little out of the ordinary. It’s not just a cafe, but also a proud coffee purveyor, with a rotation of guest coffee roasters to make every visit exciting. It’s far enough away from the busy streets of the city to be relaxing and calm, but close enough for a visit once you’ve filled your belly, if you don’t mind going for a bit of a stroll.

With good looks and delicious fare to match, we can’t wait to come back to try more of the mouth-watering items on the menu.