You may mistake Drip Expresso for a café that has been well established for many years. With so much experience packed into the cosy space, it’s hard to believe that the Bayswater cafe is less than a year old. Walking into the warm, inviting space, you feel as if you’re entering a good friend’s lounge room — if your friend is from (or inspired by) Morocco, that is! Full of different designs and textures, Drip is a space where everyone feels welcome to sit and relax — and that’s exactly the feeling Abdul Belhassan was aiming to create. And I literally mean “create”, because most of the furniture has been proudly hand-built by the Moroccan-born Abdul himself.
Drip Expresso is very focussed on their coffee. As a Bayswater resident, Abdul found he had nowhere to go for a local caffeine fix. What better way to change that than to establish your own espresso bar? When they first opened, Drip concentrated on having the best coffee menu possible, which meant they only offered a limited food menu. At the request of many loyal customers, the dine-in menu grew and evolved and they now offer a delicious brunch menu fit to tempt anyone’s appetite.
My husband (whose palate needs no tempting when it comes to brunch) experienced déjà vu when he read the menu at Drip. He couldn’t quite place where he had viewed the dishes before, until I reminded him that Abdul is also responsible for the newly opened Secondeli on Beaufort Street in Mt Lawley. That was where we spent last Sunday morning, reluctantly trying to wake up after Saturday night. But more on Secondeli another time?
Here at Drip, you can’t go wrong with the ever-popular Berber Breakfast which is served with Moroccan meatballs, rich tomato ragout, fried egg and thick cut toast. Or, if sweet is what you’re after, the coconut pancakes have an exotic twist with their salted caramel sauce, banana and crunchy hazelnut topping. This is breakfast in Bayswater, but you can’t help imagining that you might be in a little Moroccan village by the Mediterranean…
Quality characterises Drip, from their fresh cold pressed juices to their deliciously enticing handmade sweets and treats made from secret family recipes. They also offer a wide range of gluten free options. I can highly recommend the upside down banana cake. The beautifully caramelised banana cake paired deliciously with a juicy and satisfying Dark Horse coffee. You can’t help but be disappointed when it’s gone (especially if you had to share!)
Abdul’s considerable knowledge of the hospitality industry means that Drip’s coffee equipment is perfectly synchronised with everything else the café offers. Their house blend, Dark Horse, is expertly prepared on their 3 group Synesso. Their Mazzer grinders mean they are also able to serve seasonally rotated single origins — the Tiga Raja from Sumatra as a long black was full of pleasant citric acidity and sugar browning characteristics with a velvety mouthfeel and a long lasting finish.
If you feel like visiting a café as an under-caffeinated stranger and leaving as a relaxed friend, Drip Expresso certainly fits the bill. And there’s not a drip in sight!
Drip Expresso
1 King William Street
Bayswater WA 6053
Opening hours
Monday to Friday 6:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday 6:30am – 2:30pm
Facebook: Drip Expresso
Instagram: @dripexpresso
© Photos provided with permission by Matt O’Donohue from Abstract Gourmet. All rights reserved by photographer
