The Flavour Report: Jaffle Shack serves up good coffee and decent food — but perhaps not at the same time

It’s often a difficult choice when reviewing a cafe as to what to try off their menu.

However, with the Jaffle Shack, the answer is very much in the title — it’s got to be a jaffle. After all, if they can’t do that right I seriously doubt they are going to hit the mark with anything else.

So, today’s offering was a Brekkie Jaffle and a cappuccino, nice and simple and straightforward. The jaffle boasting a filling of bacon, egg, pesto, and mushrooms, with a choice of different breads.

First and foremost, the decor and ambience of the Jaffle Shack is awesome, albeit a bit small, but the Jaffle side of the cafe is warm and welcoming, as is the service. I have never had anything but a smiling face serve me at the shack, with the servers always ensuring the full selection of bread, milks and so on is always offered. Today was no different and I opted for the wholegrain and the soy milk.

I was quite frustrated with the timing of the orders. Despite not being that busy, the coffee took 10 minutes to come out and the jaffle 10 on top of that. This is slow service for a cafe of this type and if you want to drink and eat at the same time, one of your orders is most likely going to be consumed cold.

The coffee — which I had to drink straight away — was good. Smooth and with a nice amount of foam. The choc sprinkles were a bit over the top and almost turned the top half of my drink into a mocha. But overall the Jaffle Shack do a nice cup of Joe.

The jaffle was a decent effort but surprisingly slightly burnt on one side and cooked perfectly on the other — I didn’t even think a jaffle maker could do that? The filling was full of flavour, with the pesto providing a real umami taste. It could have done with some more moisture but that was easily fixed with a side of sauce, which the server was only to please to provide.

Coming in at $17, the meal was reasonably priced. But looking over the menu if I was to choose some other options, I might be pushing my budget somewhat.

The Jaffle Shack is very popular and for good reason. It appeals to most people with their shabby chic efforts. Their success has been proven with their expansion on the foreshore and into Perth.

If waiting for your food while sipping your coffee is your “thing”, then will be impressed by Jaffle Shack’s fare. But if you do like to eat and drink with all your family, then I would make sure you tell then that when you order. Either way you are in for some excellent coffee and some decent food.