Most of us are back into the work grind, returning to our regular routines after well-earned time off over the festive season.
Just like a fresh start to the new year, a morning coffee is often the key to unlocking a successful workday.
Luckily, Penrith has plenty on offer in the caffeinated beverage department, and after getting some opinions from locals, we’ve landed on the top four destinations.
Underground Coffee Roasters | 4/2187 Castlereagh Rd, Penrith
Underground Coffee Roasters is nestled in an unsuspecting lot off Castlereagh Road. You enter under a roller door which reveals what looks like a giant garage with a vintage van, world-class roasting equipment, and an industrial-style café within.
This seems like a nod to the humble beginnings of owners Tim Briggs and Shelley Borysko, who started roasting coffee beans in their Glenbrook garage before they began supplying to cafes across Australia.
Briggs said good coffee is well-roasted and well-made.
“We buy really high-quality beans, we’ve got an advanced roasting system, and a very smart roaster,” Briggs explained.

“Ashlyn, who’s making the coffees, has got a Master’s in Medical Science, so she understands the scientific stuff and she’s got great sensory perception as well.”
The competition-winning coffee makers also have an iconic mascot in the form of a ‘70s Citroen H-Van.
“We bought it in France and then we had the restoration in London and then the fit-out in Australia,” Briggs detailed.
“It’s been fitted out into a coffee truck.”
Percy Plunkett | 146 Station St, Penrith
Cosy is the word to describe Percy Plunkett, a café in a heritage house with a wrap-around porch and a sweet cottage garden.
The café was named after a man who lived in the house for 40 years from 1921.
It’s now owned by Phil Hallani and Aysha Elhouli, and the modern – yet, classic – café has no shortage of regular customers for their morning caffeine fix. It has become one of the go-to Penrith breakfast spots.

“Good coffee is good espresso, good beans, and you’ve got to have a barista that has a passion for coffee making and for the timing of things and for the way it comes out, because it can be changed by a gust of wind,” head coffee maker Wafah Hafda explained.
Manager Breanna Oakes mentioned customers and employees are well looked after at Percy Plunkett, and the joyful atmosphere is appreciated by visitors.
“Most cafés have stepped into the QR code system which takes away that one-on-one experience with the guest,” Oakes said.
“It’s difficult times and restaurants have to do it with the cost of wages these days, but we’re trying not to go in that direction because having that one-on-one with the customer is so important.”
High Street Depot | 488/490 High St, Penrith
On Penrith’s main street is the ever-popular High Street Depot with its recognisable and trendy branding – a bulldog and a pug in golden graffiti crowns.
The dogs feature on the staff’s t-shirts and on an indoor mural alongside Elvis Presley and Notorious B.I.G.
Owners Tim and Noreen Bryan have created a rustic feel and a delicious menu that has put their café on the map and made them a staple in many morning routines.
Barista Tayah Gulyas said the secret to good coffee is a fresh shot, fresh milk, love, care, and time.

“No one wants to wait forever to get a coffee but taking that extra couple of seconds to pour it makes a difference,” Gulyas explained.
“We like that little extra detail, and I think people notice that.
“We use fresh ingredients, we make everything from scratch, so you can just tell that it’s fresher and we put that little more time and effort into it.”
Mr Watkin’s | 467 High St, Penrith
A quirky café by day, and an old-fashioned bar and restaurant by night, Mr Watkin’s is a High Street hotspot. Blue panelled walls form the backdrop for the coffee shop, making the dark décor and potted foliage pop.
But the funky interior isn’t the only drawcard, manager and owner Jessica Jenkins said it’s the quality of the product and service.
“You’ve got to start with a really great product – a great bean,” Jenkins stated.

“We use Allpress Espresso, they’re super consistent and super high quality.”
Jenkins owns the business alongside Wayne Jenkins and Rod Parbery, and they pride themselves on customer service.
“We always focus on the customer feeling completely comfortable here – that’s our main priority,” Jenkins explained.
Consistency is also key, with all baristas trained through Allpress.
“We want a customer to be able to come one day and be able to come the next day and it’s going to taste exactly the same regardless of who’s making the coffee,” Jenkins said.

So, there you have it.
Some new coffee shops to add to your morning routine in 2025.
You could try the award-winning Underground Coffee Roasters, the homey Percy Plunkett, the chic High Street Depot, or the vintage Mr Watkin’s – whichever you desire.

Ally Hall
Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.