When Melbourne transplants Teresa and Nick Sharp arrived in Miami, they soon discovered a culinary void. While Cuban tostadas, French croissants, and New York bagels run rampant, authentic Aussie eats are hard to come by.
The couple decided to blend their native city's coffee philosophy with fresh food to hatch Threefold Cafe in Coral Gables. This new spot offers an all-day breakfast menu that's truly unique not only for this area but also for the 305.
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"Where we come from, coffee culture is huge. We missed good coffee and breakfast that's creative," Teresa says. "You eat through your eyes, and we wanted to bring something different to the Gables." The couple teamed up with Colombian co-owner Diana Dubon to open this shop quietly last month, but word is quickly spreading.
The menu features Australian-inspired dishes such as the "Phenomenal Funghi" -- sourdough bread topped with pick-of-the-day mushrooms, black or white truffle oil, goat cheese, parsley, and a squeeze of lemon ($14). Though for breakfast you might not normally eat mushrooms in anything besides an omelet, one bite of this or the "Smashed Avo" might make you reconsider. For the latter, you'll find earthy roasted mushrooms hidden under a decadent layer of creamy avocado. It's unlike any other breakfast dish you've ever tasted and undoubtedly something to try. Both can be topped with a perfectly soft poached egg for an extra $2.
Other unique dishes are the "East in the West" -- a Turkish baked egg in a spiced tomato base with dukkah and sautéed spinach ($16) -- and "Not So French Toast," composed of egg-soaked bread filled with prosciutto, basil, and ricotta ($16). Looking for vegemite? Yes, they have that too. Eggs are produced from happy hens residing at Lake Meadow Naturals, bread is delivered by Zak the Baker, and coffee is straight from Panther.
"Panther Coffee is the best coffee in Miami hands down. The day they roast the coffee is the day we get it," Teresa says. Although not a barista by trade, she, along with all coffee makers at Threefold, has been trained by Panther. That schooling, coupled with equipment she calls "the Maserati of coffee machines," equips them well to brew one of the city's best cups of joe. Ultimately, that is at the top of the café's priority list.
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"Some people have lost focus of what coffee is supposed to be. We want to bring people back to its origin," she says. For that reason, your server at Threefold will probably ask you upon ordering: "How do you like your coffee?" That's to make sure you know what to expect from a real macchiato (only a small amount of milk) or a proper cappuccino. You won't find any syrups or flavors on the menu, and you won't need them.
For nonjava junkies, the shop imports T2 teas from Australia and serves Florida-based Lakewood Organic juices that rotate weekly and come in a variety of flavors, such as pineapple-coconut, lemon-ginger echinacea, pomegranate-lemonade, and cold-pressed mango.
It's clear this place is popular among families, most likely because of the play area in the back corner. Teresa admits its creation was selfishly motivated. A mom herself, she understands the simple joy of sitting and sipping a coffee without worrying about keeping the children entertained. They even offer kid-friendly options such as vanilla waffles and buttermilk pancakes with butterscotch sauce and vanilla-bean ice cream, served in colorful plastic dishes.
Open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Threefold also has special lunch offerings, including sandwiches, soups, and salads. Because the café caters to the neighborhood's busy business crowd, all the food can be taken to-go. Future plans include hosting high tea, selling house-made muesli in bulk, and participating in the next edition of Giralda Under the Stars with an Australian dinner menu.
For now, if you're not a breakfast person or perhaps never found a breakfast dish that suits you, it's time to give Threefold Café a chance. Perhaps the Aussies can change your mind.
Connect with Cassie Glenn on Twitter @cassieinmiami.
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