Sorry for the delay in putting anything up for a week (been crook). My resurrection from coughs and sneezes was rewarded today with a real find. Knock Box at 390 Lt Bourke Street looks like an innocuous little place, but as I walked past, trying to tap into the Coffee Zen force which would guide me to the next big MCR post, I noticed a little book in the window of this place “Coffee, Sex and Health”… well,… how could I resist? They either had a sense of humour or something was up.
The place was nice, cosy, but I thought, it was more food than coffee… I persisted, ordering the obligatory lattes… I then noticed a pamphlet in the window promoting the Barista Institute’s Coffee Appreciation Courses. I haven’t heard of these guys before, but they were singing my song. Ok… the coffees arrived, and Paul and I took a sip…..
.. then something remarkable happened, that in my 39 years of knowing Paul, has never happened…. Paul said “Mmmm…this is nice I don’t think I need sugar!” Personally, I don’t have sugar with my coffee… if I do is that I want the coffee but its real bad… but generally, sugar I find kills the taste of the coffee. Paul on the other hand, pours 5 satchels of sugar into honey-flavoured coffee just in case… this was a unique moment.
This was a smooth blend.. well made… with a great deal of care…I’m thinking we have a solid 2 beaner here, but I’m not calling it until I have a few more try’s.
Back to the Barista Institute,.. There web site suggests a very new venture… I’ll be investigating to make sure they are not all talk… for all our sakes… after all, this is Melbourne, we have a reputation to uphold.
I’m a recent regular to the Knock Box. Having often frequented the Torro Cafe around the corner on Queen Street and finding it often too devoid of charisma, I chanced a new location. At first I walked past Knock Box (which until recently was Dragstar Cafe) thinking it might be just another sandwich place that was trying its hand at coffee. But then I double-backed and went inside. By Merlin’s Beard I’m glad I did. This is a rare find in the otherwise bleak landscape of Melbourne CBD coffee. A double-shot is standard. What’s even better is that they’re giving away a free slice with every coffee I buy this month. Mmmmm hedgehog.
My regular is the Knock Box. I go there because it has that ‘Cheers’ appeal where ‘everyone knows your name’, but mainly because of the coffee.
I have just finished a coffee appreciation course. Ricky and Rita showed us the good, the bad and the ugly about coffee. I now know what a good coffee tastes like, and it is heaven.
A good coffee needs to be made with time and skill — something these mass produced coffee lines cannot achieve.
Rick and Rita make an awesome coffee, and they won’t bring someone in for temp help who can’t. I’ve been going there since I started working in the city about 6 months ago, and now won’t go anywhere else.
As a coffee nazi, I am seldom satisfied in the CBD, especially around the “reputable” Hardware Lane.
For a guilty pleasure, try the Choc Mocha Freezocino, with a double-shot of real coffee added. I’m a double-espresso kind of guy, but this tempts me away from my true love about once a month.
I also recommend their 4-part coffee courses. I’ve done parts one and two (part one I re-did with my wife) and found it a blast. Free training with free nibbles – how can you go wrong? I’m now making coffee at home that has turned one friend away from commercial coffee houses for good!
Rick and Rita need to be congratulated for taking their passion and sharing it with those interested in Coffee Culture.
The attention to detail applied by this couple to ensure that each customer is treated to a “Coffee Experience” with each order is a credit to them both.
I would rate the Knock Box as one of the best Coffee’s in Melbourne and suggest if you are in the CBD then drop in at try it for yourself!
I went to go to knockbox the other day but found they have changed. Surprisingly the new place is just as good if not better. I have been there a few times now and I especially love their Affogato which on a hot day is just perfect when you dont feel like a hot drink but still want a good coffee taste. I also found that they have made big changes to the menu, their sandwhiches are amoungst the best I have had, and the pasta is better then most restaurants I go to. But anyone serious about coffee has to give it a try.