Slow poached Hobba

My go to breakfast place in Melbourne has got to be Hobba Coffee + Kitchen. I absolutely now cannot leave the country without dropping by at least once for their slow poached eggs.
Poached eggs at Hobba
The eggs are cooked at 62.5 degree celcius resulting in a more translucent and jelly like consistency in the egg white than your typical poached egg. The result is a half cooked and yet solid egg with a yolk that is thick and spreadable. The eggs are delicious on their own or on toast (which come with a selection of spreads).

Toasted sourbread with spreads
I’ve also tried the muesli on a few occasions which comes with the milk separate allowing for adjustment to individual desires of crisp to sogginess. The muesli is pretty standard with fresh julienned apples and coconut and dried fruit mixed in with the oats and nuts. I think it depends on the season but the muesli has been served with additional fresh passionfruit pulp...

Muesli with apple and passionfruit
...or rhubarb on top (the extra fruit is not on the menu description). As you can see the oats, nuts to fruit ratio of the muesli was quite different between visits. I'm not sure if this was an adjustment due to customer suggestions or unintentional. But sometimes there are just too much dried fruits.

Muesli with apple and rhubarb

Another healthy alternative is the Smashed avo on sourdough bread which also comes with poached eggs. The avo is prepared with feta resulting in a more creamy consistency than chunky smashed avo dishes at most places.

Smashed avo
For a heartier breakfast then I recommend the Hobba breakfast (which also comes with the poached eggs). But you get a large grilled Cumberland sausage and thick slice of juicy bacon (non-crispy style). This is quite a large amount of food and the grilled mushroom and tomato completely makes it a balanced meal.

Hobba breakfast - eggs, tomato, bacon, mushroom, and sausage on sourdough bread
The hot chocolates are a bit of hit and miss. During one visit, the first hot chocolate I ordered was perfect. Lightly frothy but thick strong chocolate milk without been overly sweet. Then the second I ordered was like a child’s latte. More milk than anything. We did alert the staff and they quickly remedied the situation. But I've heard from coffee drinkers that sometimes this also happens with the coffee orders - so be warned.

Hot chocolate at Hobba
The mediocre version...

Hot chocolate - mediocre version
As you can see I have only been here for breakfast so I cannot comment on the quality of their lunch. But for breakfast there is no better temple for worshipping the poached egg at its best. As far as I’m concerned the avocado, bread, sausage and bacon are just garnish to the egg.

Sidebar
Food: Cafe style.
Must try: Slow poached eggs <= plural.
Setting: Old car repair convert gives it a warehouse feel.
Service: Very fast but is often packed
Damage: Breakfast is about $15-20 + $3.5 for hot beverages.
Hot chocolate: 80% of the time really good or else below mediocre.
Visit if: you want worship at the temple of poached eggs.

Hobba Coffee + Kitchen
428 Malvern Road
Prahran, VIC 3181
Australia
Hobba Coffee + Kitchen on Urbanspoon

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