Double Tap Coffee

If the Double Tap brief is to service locals with great coffee and inexpensive (but high-quality) food, this family-run cafe nails it.

Before opening Double Tap, owner Daniel Karaconji helped set up influential Marrickville roaster Coffee Alchemy. Here, he’s roasting Double Tap’s own house blends and single origins on a tiny Probat roaster at the back of the cafe – all of which are available to buy from the neat retail section up front.

Along with its friendly service, Liz Karaconji’s sandwiches and salads have also earned the cafe a hardcore following that includes some of the city’s best chefs. In the sandwich category, the mortadella with olives and provolone jostles for attention with za’atar flatbreads stuffed with tomato, mozzarella and mint.

There’s also a tight selection of brekkie classics including avo on toast and granola with poached fruit. In the cabinet, you’ll also find croissants (sometimes from Penny Fours), and cakes made by Karaconji’s mum; perhaps a plum torte and a lemon-yoghurt cake.

The cafe sits on one of Marrickville’s proper industrial backstreets. It’s a sunny spot, with seating out the front, and a bright-white dining room with a large feature wall mural done by Karaconji’s brother Alex, who was reportedly paid for his artistry in doughnuts.