Coffee lingo – it’s tough to keep on top of. Take the expression “natural processed coffee”, a term and technique the tiny Crown Street corner cafe Royale Speciality uses. “We only serve natural process coffees,” says owner Lucia Lenarduzzi.

So, what is it? According to Lernarduzzi, it’s an ancient method of processing the beans – and a more sustainable approach because it uses less water than conventional methods. (Other coffee specialists, such asSt Aliand Coffee Hero, also use this process.)

“Coffee comes from cherries and the natural process involves drying the full fruit left intact, rather than removing the bean first, which requires a lot of water. It’s the oldest and most eco-friendly way to process coffee,” she says.

The result is a bold, sweeter, fruity and sometimes winey flavour profile, says Lernarduzzi, who has been roasting and bagging coffee for Royale Specialty since she purchased the Brewtown Coffee Roaster licence last year. She also roasts for the Brewtown cafe inNewtownand its other wholesale accounts.

Surry Hills’ Royale Specialty sources its beans from key coffee regions including Ethiopia, Columbia and Brazil. These are available on rotation as single origins or blended coffees, in black, white, cold brew and batch brew.

But coffee’s not the only game at Royale Specialty – there’s a tea range too. “We work closely with a tea merchant to source as much Australian tea as possible,” Lernarduzzi says. “We think the tea selection complements our natural process coffee.”

Since coffee and tea are the main stars here, the eatery has gone with a short seasonal menu. Lernarduzzi isn’t loyal to one cuisine, drawing on flavours from the Middle East and Italy. There are dishes such as bacon and eggs onmanoush(Lebanese-style pizza) with hummus, tabouli and dukkah; and a selection of focaccias, including one with pastrami, pickles, mustard, cheese and hot-sauce mayo. A warm salad with roasted brussels sprouts and lentils goes perfectly with this wintery weather, as does a bowl of spicy-chickpea and farro soup.

Royale Specialty
536 Crown Street, Surry Hills

Hours:
Mon 7am–3pm
Wed to Fri 7am–3pm
Sat & Sun 8am–4pm

royalespecialty.com

Into knowing more about coffee? Check out thisBroadsheet的故事,From Crop to Cup: The Myth of Direct Trade.

This article first appeared onBroadsheeton July 4, 2019. Menu items may have changed since publication.