The Reformatory Caffeine Lab
Permanently Closed

The Reformatory Caffeine Lab

Permanently Closed

Coffee lab with unique decor, specializing in filter brews

The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab by null

Information

17-51 Foveaux St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia Get directions

$

Information

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17-51 Foveaux St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia Get directions

+61 422 011 565
thereformatorylab.coffee

$

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Last updated

Dec 11, 2025

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"Surry Hills' Caffeine Lab Brace yourself; this is not your typical java joint. The futuristic space—which features a slanted concrete floor, caged lights that run the length of the ceiling, and the outline of a comic strip on a solid black wall—looks like it could be Batman's driveway. Instead it's owner Simon Jaramillo's coffee lab, or reform school if you will. A fourth-generation Colombian coffee farmer and an overt Joker fanatic, Jaramillo aims to change (or at least aid) the public's understanding of coffee. This means tasting notes are written on the chalkboard beneath the coffee's name, and customers are invited to ask questions about the high-tech filter cones, chemex vessels, the spacey looking cold-brew contraption, and the custom espresso machine imported from Italy. Each style of coffee is also served a different way. Flat whites arrive in a mug with a diagonal-cut opening to enhance the aroma; the signature cold drip is delivered in test tubes, well, just for fun. For even more fun, ask Jaramillo about the cupping and roasting classes he runs in Botany Bay."

Sydney Cafés for Coffee Lovers
The Reformatory Caffeine Lab

Ferdinand

Google
Love everything about this place. I really like the decor of the place, with scratch of heroes of comic book all over the wall, while “Batman and Robin” movie is playing on the screen. My piccolo was good, temperature and creama was perfect and I like the batch of todays coffee beans. Service also friendly, they remembered name of 2 regulars queued in front of me.

Jeffrie T.

Google
There are specially coffee shops and there's a specially coffee shop. Seriously good, albeit standing room only, feels like Tokyo. And their croissant too, enjoy me fellow caffeine addicts.

Rattan M.

Google
Fantastically clever place run by very friendly and genius dudes. The awesome art and good coffee sets the place apart from other Surry Hills cafes. If you're a fan of superheroes check the place out for the artwork and grab a coffee and the chocolate croissant

張朝勛（Frankie）

Google
If you like drink filter coffee, you definitely love this place. The staff very friendly and knowledgeable. Close to Central Station. No seats, only have few tables, and standing enjoy your coffee. If you only want drink coffee this place definitely my first choice.

Zahra

Google
The best pour over coffee in Sydney. I’ve also tried white coffee here and it’s amazing. They have great single origin coffee beans. The staff are very friendly. Convenient location as it’s very close to central train station.

John L.

Google
Visited here in feb this year and it was a fantastic coffee experience, you can taste the amount of time and practice it takes to extract that perfect brew. Hopefully be able to travel here again!

Randy

Google
machine : la marzocco Gb5, synesso mvp hydra, grinder : 2 mazzer robur,2 victoria arduino mythos one, mahlkonig ek43, lynn weber coffee : reformatory brew method : espresso, clever dripper, v60, chemex at last i can visit reformatory, the cappucino was good, their cup design is so unique, designed to the drinkers so we can smell the coffee aroma, bought the beans, but got the one with vegetal flavour :(. apart from that i have very good time in here

Anna L.

Google
Love everything about this cafe. The interior design is so cool and interesting. Coffee is at high standard. Will definitely come back again in the future. Highly recommended.
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Vincent Q.

Yelp
Reformatory is my favorite coffee shop in Sydney. Getting a proper pour over is hard to find in Sydney where most places do a batch brew. That isn't the case here and they have a wide selection of beans to choose from to meet different flavor profile preferences. The espresso based white coffees here are also really good and among the best in the city. This isn't the best place for chatting with friends and having brunch. However, if you want really good coffee this would be my first choice.
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Sarah C.

Yelp
This is a coffee lab with a huge huge range different filters and you can get cold brew, cold drip, normal latte, cappucino etc. They have lots of coffee brewing and it smells amazing. They don't have a great deal of food, just cakes - but it is a coffee lab. Employees were super helpful and nice. Coffee came out presented beautifully in a little bottle with some sparkling water. Tasted nice and smooth and chocolate like. Would be cool to try the degustation.
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Ferdinand W.

Yelp
Coffee degustation? What? Yup you read me right! They have specific Geisha coffee for this. They have range from $25-$75-$90 it depends on the coffee beans. After i asked all information, they will be serving 3 coffees 200 ml each, so you will have to have partner in caffeine to enjoy this. 600 ml coffee is not a joke! You might get a heart attack soon! Hahaha Anyway, I did order Picollo, and this place is deliver super good coffee. My Picollo has a smooth yet have a big kick in caffeine. Love also the decor of the place. Anyway, who wants to have degustation Geisha, please let me know!
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Tamer M.

Yelp
So I've heard a lot about this place, so decided to go there for my afternoon coffee. The coffee here is fantastic. It is a much more darker bean then surrounding cafés. If you want a more lighter bean don't come here. But if you love a dark roasted coffee experience come running! The staff truly love their coffee and you can taste it. Just a warning, there isn't really a place to sit so this is more of a grab and go kind of place.

Jonathan M.

Yelp
Reformatory has one of the most impressive collections of world class coffees that you will ever find in a cafe. I have visited many cafes around the world, and this is easily one of the best. Also, the staff are extremely friendly and willing to share about the coffees and the various brewing methods available. Highly recommend!
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Halide T.

Yelp
While visiting different cities in Australia, I was on a mission to sample good coffee, as I heard so much about the coffee culture here. I normally drink espresso with a decent amount of milk (cappuccino) because that's the only way I can balance the acidity of coffee.I had no clue what to order, so I ended up getting some help from the barista. The most important thing for me was low acidity with still full flavor. The barista suggested a certain type of bean (can't remember which kind) and I ordered with minimal milk. I had a piccolo latte that had a really smooth, yet strong aroma with minimal acidity! I ended up getting the best cup of coffee I have had to this day with a tiny touch of milk. If everyone serves coffee like these people, I could become a full time coffee drinker!
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Timzero B.

Yelp
This place is all about the coffee.. and it's excellent.. great fruity single origins.. Highly recommended along with the filter. I didn't try there house blend but judging the black coffee Im sure it's excellent. There isn't much food, but your missing the point if you go there looking for it, this place number 1 priority is the coffee!
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Eugenie C.

Yelp
Would I travel across the harbour bridge to the city, and make my way across to Surry Hills, purely for the coffee here? Yes, and I have, time and time again. Thank you Yelpers for your reviews and bookmarks! Had it not been for seeing this on my Yelp news feed, I would have never known about this cafe. Best coffee I've ever had!!! I'm in love. Super strong, rich flavours, bitter but in the way that shows off the true taste of the bean. The froth is just as perfect - creamy, rich and generous. The coffee as a whole was smooth. Didn't know if the cafe would be overhyped by Yelp but the Yelpers were true to their word! This is not for those who like their coffees weak. Also there's no seating area, it's just a coffee bar that has a small entrance and is a little hard to find.
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Panagiotis T.

Yelp
It's highly recommend for filter coffee.. These guys are the best at what they do and it shows both in the way they treat their coffee and customers
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Adam J.

Yelp
Recommended by one of the biggest coffee geeks in Melbourne, I was here within an hour of her recommendation and I came here 3 times while I was in Sydney. Their presentation for filter coffee is good, they give you a small amount of the ground coffee to smell which is great to give you perspective on the coffee. Custom made serving boards, milk based coffee cups were an 'interesting' choice. No seating which I wasn't too bothered by. The fit out is very interesting. I kind of like it but not somewhere I find too comfortable. My issue with this place was all the coffee i had was just alright, not good or bad, just alright. My last visit i opted for the high end filter coffee which i have had before and knew what i was in for but it was let down by the barista. It was a bit sour and not as complex as it has been before, and at $15, i expected better.
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Alexandra L.

Yelp
Such great coffee place! No seating, but will definitely love the coffee culture here. Oh, and I love how they present the coffee! an artist with passion!
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James F.

Yelp
It is unfair to compare the Reformatory against other Sydney cafes. This it the only cafe I've ever been to that at times has a filter coffee board filled with 90+ coffee. On average days it's filled with geshas, naturals, honeys, and everything else under the sun. You truly are spoilt for choice here, and as Simon would say, "Because we can". You can also have the coffee made in any fashion you like.  The only coffee I haven't had here is a Turkish coffee, but I can live with that. I'd recommend that when you come here you have a couple of espressos, a couple of filters and a cold drip (for starters). This is a cafe that is passionate about coffee, so be sure to ask what the staff think you should be drinking. They won't lead you astray. And when you come, don't be surprised that it is standing room only. This is a place to drink coffee, not lounge around in. Passion: 10/10 Crema: 10/10 Coffee: Reformatory Caffeine LAB
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Ari B.

Yelp
This place is for the true black coffee lover. While they also have excellent options for those that like milk in their brown caffeine a dark coffee snobs dreams are cold drip brewed here.
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Angeli Y.

Yelp
Rich dark roast, come here if you like your coffee strong! The staff here are friendly and great for takeaway coffee.
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Helena T.

Yelp
Best coffee in Surry Hills! Close to my work, so it's a twice a day visit. Great coffee at a great price.
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Steven R.

Yelp
Excellent coffee and delightful cinnamon scrolls and cronuts. The staff are friendly and clearly know what they're doing. Favourite place for a quick coffee in Surry Hills.
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Susan Y.

Yelp
I really didn't like the coffee here. It could be just me, as these guys have really good reviews and are known to be pretty good. But I just personally did not like the taste. Only went the once, so perhaps I need to give them another go. Interior is very cool (though it's very much just a coffee place - I don't think they have tables and chairs).