Benji Salim is hoping to bring Indonesian coffee into the limelight in Australia. At The Q on Harris, he roasts the green coffee beans he imported from Indonesia. The Q is also home to a cozy cafe serving an all-day menu.

The Q Coffee

Benji imports single-origin green beans from various parts of Indonesia, working directly with the farmers to show off the coffee of each origin.

Indonesian coffee has copped a bit of a bad rap, but Benji is trying to change this one bean at a time. He notes that it’s a slow process in Australia to raise the profile of Indonesian coffee that can be traced back to its region.

We try the Solok Black Honey as a filter and I’m loving the chocolatey notes. Benji praises it as the best Indonesian coffee he has come across. We also have a go at the Sulawesi Toarco (Toraja Arabica Coffee) Jaya and Java Frinsa Estate in the form of milk-based coffees. They’re all excellent drinking in my books (though I don’t classify myself as a major coffee connoisseur – just an amateurish one).

The Food

But what about the food? There’s a smoker in the courtyard used for smoking salmon and meats in-house. The salmon tartine is a fine example of their house smoked salmon, served with dill cream, rocket, pickled fennel, cucumber, red onion, toasted pine nuts on sourdough.

My zucchini and corn fritters with lime cream, feta, roast tomato, and poached egg have a nostalgic hint of Indonesia. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it’s some kind of spice (I think maybe coriander seeds?).

Taiyo Shima, who’s the one cooking up all the deliciousness in the kitchen, brings out his matcha cheesecake with an oreo biscuit base. The smooth, creamy texture is unreal and if you like a matcha fix you’ll love this. Previously baking up a storm at Lorraine’s Patisserie, Taiyo’s forte is baking, so expect some amazing baked goods at The Q.

PS. In case you were curious, Taiyo tells us that only Lorraine knows the recipe for her famous date tart, and she’s the only one who bakes it at the patisserie. It will be a secret forever!

Disclosure: Eric and I were invited to dine at The Q on Harris and I went to high school with Benji in Jakarta.

The Q on Harris
597 Harris St, Ultimo NSW
Mon to Sat 6.30am to 3pm