In Short: Cornerstone & Co. is everything I look for in a legit community friendly café. It checks every box on the foodie front and does it with a human touch that brings you back time and again. Tip: check out the cutest presentation of chai in town!
As many of our followers would know, I love the experience that only truly local cafes can offer a community. There’s a very special vibe they have. Slipping into a booth at a local café is akin to slipping on your favourite pair of comfy shoes or jeans. Comfortable, relaxed and you feel at home… That’s the magic of a community café.
Cornerstone & Co. in Melbourne’s beachy, and leafy suburb of Hampton is the epitome of a modern, quality-focused local café. It does all the essentials of coffee and café fare to a standard befitting that of any of Melbourne’s best, but it does so with an attention to creating a welcoming environment that is a meeting place for the neighbourhood.
Popping in for a quick cup and snack on a gorgeous late summer Melbourne day was our first experience, but definitely not on our last. That first cup comes in the form of rich and creamy Mocha with a base blend of a perfect espresso pull. Despite being a cheeky little mocha, as we felt like an afternoon treat, the coffee notes lead with way with smooth and bold flavours giving way to a silky froth.
For our light arvo snack, we sampled the Kinoko Soba Salad. As huge fans of anything Japanese, this was the obvious choice, with firm soba noodles crowned by shimeji, oyster mushroom, cherry tomato, cucumber, nori, and a delicate Japanese influenced dressing. The perfect combo of fresh and satisfying.
Time for tea! We saw this serving of Chai land on a nearby table and couldn’t resist the inventive presentation with the cutest tri-coloured tea timer. Looks aside, the chai was ideally sweet and spicy, and played right into our plan for a sweet ending to this delightful Hampton pit stop.
With a plethora of delectable treats beckoning from the Cornerstone & Co. front counter, we deliberated and finally selected the Matcha and Oreo cupcake. Yup! Matcha and Oreo… and before your start over-thinking that mingling, let me just tell you, this is a marriage made in cupcake heaven. The buttery frosting brought the two distinct flavours together like a duet singing harmony. Brilliant!
Cornerstone & Co. is everything I look for in a legit community friendly café. It checks every box on the foodie front and does it with a human touch that brings you back time and again.
[…] Coco & Vine’s visit to Cornerstone & Co […]