Five To Try: Brand New Sydney Cafes We’re Getting Out of Bed for in May. 

Detected Manipulations & Suggested Changes

Sensationalism / Appeal to Emotion

Use of emotionally charged or romanticized language to make ordinary experiences sound extraordinary.

Examples include: - “It’s rarely the alarm that actually wakes Sydney. Instead, it’s the intimate, bittersweet clarity found at the bottom of the coffee cup.” - “are here to lift that morning fog.” - “this is a real win for the north shore suburb.” - “An epic outlook and a possible dolphin sighting? Nice times only at Dad’s.” - “Marvel at the magic of a pour-over, sip back and enjoy the ride…” These phrases frame the cafes and coffee experiences in a romantic, almost poetic way, nudging readers to feel excitement or warmth rather than simply informing them.

4 suggestions

Replace highly figurative or romantic language with neutral descriptions. For example: “Many Sydneysiders start their day with coffee, and these five new cafes offer more options for your morning routine.”

Change “this is a real win for the north shore suburb” to “this adds another specialty coffee option to the north shore suburb.”

Change “An epic outlook and a possible dolphin sighting? Nice times only at Dad’s.” to “The van overlooks the ocean pools, offering scenic water views and occasional marine-life sightings.”

Change “Marvel at the magic of a pour-over, sip back and enjoy the ride” to “The brew bar allows customers to watch the pour-over process up close.”

Biased / Promotional Language

Use of value-laden, promotional wording that implicitly endorses the subject rather than neutrally describing it.

The article consistently uses positive, marketing-style language: - “this is a real win for the north shore suburb.” - “The delightful van can be found parked on the street…” - “Nice times only at Dad’s.” - “Signature sandwiches, aptly named ‘folds’, are another reason to pop in.” - “you’re guaranteed to find your soulmate whatever you’re into.” - “the star at this sweet little cafe…” These phrases promote the venues and assume reader approval, rather than presenting them in a neutral, informational tone.

4 suggestions

Replace subjective evaluative terms like “real win”, “delightful”, “nice times only”, “another reason to pop in”, “guaranteed to find your soulmate”, and “star” with factual descriptions of offerings, location, and features.

For example, change “The delightful van can be found parked…” to “The bright blue coffee trailer can be found parked…”.

Change “you’re guaranteed to find your soulmate whatever you’re into” to “The menu includes a range of tea, coffee, matcha and botanical drinks.”

Change “Ube pandesal … is the star at this sweet little cafe” to “Ube pandesal … is a key item on the menu at this cafe.”

Unbalanced Reporting / Omission of Key Information

Presenting only positive aspects and omitting any neutral or negative considerations that might matter to readers.

The article only highlights positive features (design, menu creativity, social mission, views) and does not mention any potential drawbacks or neutral comparisons, such as price range, accessibility, crowding, noise levels, or how these cafes compare to existing options. This creates a one-sided, promotional impression rather than a balanced guide.

3 suggestions

Include neutral practical details that matter to readers, such as approximate price ranges, opening hours, accessibility (e.g. stairs vs. ramps), and typical crowd levels at peak times.

Where relevant, add brief comparative context, e.g. “similar in style to other specialty cafes in the area, but with a focus on X.”

Avoid absolute positive framing; instead of only listing highlights, note any limitations (e.g. “limited seating inside”, “mostly outdoor seating, which may be exposed in bad weather”).

Appeal to Emotion / Narrative Fallacy

Using personal backstories and narrative framing to create emotional attachment and imply quality or virtue without evidence.

The article leans on origin stories and relationships: - “Hue brings together long-time Primary Coffee team member Jin and Double Cross’s ex-chef Min…” - “The solar-powered, bright blue coffee trailer was pimped out by Matt Lees, his partner Mya Martin and his dad Colin Lees.” - “Owners Lovely Kiah Borres … and Reinier Tan met while working at Love of Beans in Carlton…” These stories are engaging but subtly suggest that the cafes are inherently special or superior because of these narratives, rather than providing evidence about quality, consistency, or customer experience.

3 suggestions

Keep backstories but separate them clearly from implied quality judgments. For example, present them as context: “The cafe is run by…” without implying that this automatically means better coffee or service.

Balance narrative elements with concrete, verifiable details (e.g. roasting approach, sourcing practices, menu structure) rather than letting the story stand in for evaluation.

Avoid implying that a compelling backstory guarantees a superior experience; instead, state that it “informs the concept” or “influences the menu” where applicable.

Overgeneralization / Unsubstantiated Claims

Making broad claims that cannot be substantiated from the information given.

Some phrases overstate certainty or generalize reader reactions: - “you’re guaranteed to find your soulmate whatever you’re into.” - “this is a real win for the north shore suburb.” - “people are also lining up for lunchtime longanisa rolls…” (implies consistent high demand without data). These statements suggest universal appeal or guaranteed satisfaction without evidence.

3 suggestions

Qualify broad claims with more cautious language, e.g. “The team offers a wide range of drinks, aiming to cater to different tastes.” instead of “you’re guaranteed to find your soulmate whatever you’re into.”

Change “this is a real win for the north shore suburb” to “this adds another specialty coffee option to the north shore suburb.”

Change “people are also lining up for lunchtime longanisa rolls” to “The lunchtime longanisa rolls have proven popular with customers.”