Sergio and his team make Cesar’s what it is. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
I’ve heard so much about Cesar’s Cafe in Florey – from its conception as a coffee van outside the Florey IGA, it’s now settled into its own welcoming space in the building opposite.
Knowing that the owners (also brothers), Cesar and Sergio Orlas, hail from Colombia, I am keen to put my 1930-day Duolingo Spanish streak to good use.
Sergio tells me that he arrived in Australia to take over the business from his brother Cesar, knowing not a skerrick of English.
“I had six months to learn how to manage the business and also speak English like my customers!”
At that time, the cafe was transitioning into its permanent location, and the brothers took on the huge project with a very hands-on, DIY approach.
“We built it together, all of it. This was a real estate office, so it didn’t have plumbing. Of course, for certification, we had plumbers and electricians, but everything else, we did ourselves!”
By the time Cesar moved back to Colombia, the cafe had officially launched, and he knew he was leaving it in capable hands.
Sergio has worked in hospitality since he was eight years old. His mum ran a sole-trader business selling Colombian-style fried empanadas, waking at 3:40 am and going to sleep at 11 pm.
“She wasn’t getting enough sleep,” he remembers, “and I thought, ‘I’m going to help you.’ That’s how we learned. That’s how we came to understand business.”
Fall in love with empanadas! Photo: Kazuri Photography
From the moment I enter Cesar’s, it is obvious how much love exists between patrons and staff – everyone greeting each other by name, with plenty of teasing and warmth. The bright thrum of Colombian music wraps around us, adding to the sunshine.
As I head up to order my coffee, the treat cabinet waylays me. There’s Colombian cheese bread — molten, cheese-stuffed buns that are naturally gluten-free. I see alfajores: buttery shortbread biscuits sandwiched with dulce de leche and rolled in coconut. Years ago, a beloved family member would delight us with alfajores, so I have to get one.
I browse the selection of empanadas, with flavours like cheeseburger, spicy beef, spicy pork chorizo, and portobello chicken, plus vegetarian options. They tempt you to order more than one.
Definitely the best empanada pastry I have tasted. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
Online reviews rave about the coffee here, and I’m keen to try it. Their house blend is 50/50 Colombian and Ethiopian coffee – the everyday favourite. The other blend is 100 per cent Colombian, which Sergio describes as smooth and rich. Both are especially roasted by a friend, making them entirely unique to Cesar’s.
I start with a mocha. Beautifully creamy, no sugar’s needed thanks to gorgeous Belgian chocolate within its deep caffeine folds. Rich, smooth, and indulgent. Honestly, the best mocha I’ve had. I have never been a mocha girl, but I love this one.
The Colombian coffee is just as Sergio described. It’s not as strong as what we might expect, but it’s incredibly smooth. The more I drink it, the more I love it. And after I come back later in the week to grab another coffee, I know for sure that this is my new favourite coffee place.
Rich, smooth and indulgent mocha. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
I settle on two empanadas: chicken and jalapeño, and spinach and cheese. I badly want the guava and cheese, but it sells out so quickly that I have not yet managed to taste one.
The first thing I note is the pastry. Definitely the best empanada pastry I have tasted. With a flaky exterior and a tender inside, it is so flavoursome that you can happily eat it on its own.
My spinach and cheese empanada has a perfect ratio, with enough cheese so that there’s no soggy spinach leakage. Delicious and oozy!
The chicken and jalapeño is beautifully spiced. I had expected to taste pickled jalapeño, but it is fresh jalapeño bringing an earthy heat to the savoury beef. It’s gorgeous. I love the spice hits here! I love the pastry. It’s perfect.
Cesar’s Cafe, you have totally sold me on Colombian food and coffee. ¡Muchas gracias!
Cesar’s Cafe is located at Unit 1/43 Kesteven St in Florey. It is open from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm on weekdays, from 6:30 am to 1:30 pm on Saturdays, and from 7:30 am to 1 pm on Sundays. Follow Cesar’s on Facebook and Instagram.
