Fonzie Abbott Espresso

A cup of sweet FA is what you get when you order a locally roasted coffee from the tongue-in-cheek baristas at Fonzie Abbott Espresso Bar in Hamilton.

The small outpost was the first in the Fonzie Abbott fold, which now encompasses a growing wholesale business, a cafe on James Street and Fox Street Roastery in Albion. It was here in 2011, using a small coffee roaster, that owner Daniel Pappas created his three signature blends: Highside, The Boxer and The Drifter.

The coffee has proven so popular that operations have outgrown the space, with all beans now roasted at the Albion headquarters. The signature blends remain the mainstays of the coffee menu, along with a handful of single origins and the Blend of the Month. Coffee beans are sourced from around the world and directly from family-run farms in Indonesia and Colombia.

You can linger over your brew at one of the few seats on offer, but Fonzie Abbott is mostly geared towards those swinging by for a takeaway. Likewise, the food is made to eat on the go. Grab a Brekky Wrap, a croissant filled with ham and cheese, or a muffin or pastry baked in-house each day.

The interior is constructed from recycled materials, including 150-year-old timber panels and salvaged furnishings. As you wait for your coffee, gaze at a vintage map of the world and appreciate just how far the beans have travelled to fill your cup.