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Better known for their coffee, the spacious Axil Coffee Roasters café is the latest addition to the humble town of Hawthorn. For the owners David Makin and partner Zoe Delany, coffee is truly their life. Makin is a two-time Australia barista champion and World Championship Barista runner-up, and Delany previously served as head barista trainer for Michel’s Espresso and Sunbeam. In other words, these guys take their coffee seriously so you can too. But enough about coffee, I’m here to whet your appetite for the cafe’s other goodies, their all-day brunch menu! So feast your eyes, you little hungry tummies, and let your wallet go with the flow. 

Small tummy food: Bagels with poached eggs, ham, and lots of hollandaise. I fail to remember how much it costs. 

Gluten-free corn and haloumi fritters with avo, poached egg, and salsa rosso. $16. Super vegetarian and a tad bit crumbly. I prefer the ones at Mart 130 but we’ll save that review for another day. 

Baked eggs with goat’s cheese feta, dukkah, pepperonata sauce, and a side of toast. $14. AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS! It’s an interesting blend of savoury flavours. A yucky baked egg dish usually has overcooked eggs that taste like rubber. But these are perfect! This is IT for me. THE dish to come here for. 

Also highly recommended are their muffins which are freshly baked each morning on the premises. (Photo unavailable) They’re absolutely amazing! Warm and of good texture. The raspberry and white chocolate muffin is my personal favourite. $4.

Buttermilk pancakes with chocolate, pear, praline, and zabaglione gelato. $14. Nice gelato and sweet soft pear, but the pancake itself is quite a let down. Too thick and too dry I reckon. However, to each its own, so you can be the judge of that if you like.

Colorful merch and freshly roasted coffee beans of your choice! Keep cups are labeled according to function and color. Blue for full-creamers, yellow for skinny minis, red for soy. It helps with knowing customer preference apparently. They’re a good small size too because large keep cups are pointless. Too much coffee in one cup dilutes the taste and gets cold faster. $10 each. 

Axil Coffee Roasters

322 Burwood Road

Hawthorn

03-9819 0093

Opening hours: Mon-Sun 7am-4pm.