there is no doubt that south melbourne is flush with great cafes. many i’ve visited, but there are some (plenty!) that are still on my ‘to try’ list. deadman espresso was one of those and whilst i’ve attempted to visit once before i didn’t have time to wait in the weekend line – the place is pop-u-lar! so a couple of weeks ago a girlfriend and i headed down for breaky to check it out.

first impressions were great. just off clarendon st the cafe is a fantastic space with a big outdoor heated area out the front and plenty of wood panelling… and i have serious decor-envy for that metal lamp shade over the main table.

deadman serve st ali coffee which undoubtedly is fantastic – strong, vibrant and the perfect early morning pick-me up. plus how awesome are the coffee cups!?

scrambled eggs with bacon. my friend was keeping it simple this morning with scrambled eggs which were creamy + fluffy, fresh sourdough toast and a generous serving of bacon with perfectly crispy grilled edges.

the wild porridge with almond milk, quince compote, poached rhubarb + buckini

this porridge had great texture with plenty of grains, packed with shredded coconut and the almond milk gave it a great nutty flavour. the buckinis added a lovely crunch on top + the poached fruit was soft and sweet. with the addition of maple syrup poured all over… this was a delightful winter dish.

the menu has a good selection of traditional breakfast options – not only eggs and porridge, but also a bircher, toast and croissants, and a yummy sounding bacon + egg roll. there are also some more contemporary options such as a chicken + waffles, green pancakes, or the campfire breakfast: bacon, black pudding, beans, tomato, mushrooms, hash with a fried egg… attempt that one with a substantial appetite!

overall, this is was a pleasant local breakfast stop, although i did feel that the service could’ve been a bit more attentive + friendly. i did however appreciate that they’ve gone to a lot of effort to create a unique and memorable setting – the skull emblem on the coffee cups + the ‘glamping theme’ in the metal crockery are a welcome point of difference to the current abundance of black, white + grey. and with stiff competition in the area it is the tiniest details that make a big impact.

verdict: a unique + memorable difference – no monochrome here!
find: http://www.deadmanespresso.com.au/