Reclaim Your Life?

Reading the latest edition of Australian Men's Health (March 2005), I came across a small grab that suggests ...

"to reclaim your life ... go to your local cafe - with your co-workers. Researchers at the University of Bristol in the UK discovered that when stressed-out men consumed caffeine by themselves, they remained nervous and jittery. But when anxious men caffeine loaded as part of a group, their feeling of sress subsided."

This research supports my own belief that coffee is more than a drink -- it's a social experience! This manifests itself in a number of ways for me ...

• As I wrote in an earlier post here, "doing coffee" can be a family outing;
• It is often time spent with colleagues and clients musing over business opportunities and the latest 'bush-fires';
• It is an essential part of networking and maintaining relationships. I meet weekly for coffee and breakfast with x2o - a group of contractors and solopreneurs.

Can coffee really help reclaim your life?

MCR Goes Regional Again (Wilson's Prom)

We headed off to Wilson’s Prom this long weekend, and of course I couldn’t help but comment on the coffee. I bumped into the espresso machines in a few areas, including Berwick, Yanekie, Tidal River (in WP) and then on the way out in Fisherman’s Creek. I can collectively say the following; good on em for offering us coffee maniacs at least a coffee that resembles quality. It was palatable, but maybe it’s the old “any port in a storm’ thing. They were generally weak, i.e. Milky and a little too hot, but overall ok. The best being Fisherman’s Creek believe it or not, in a little place called “The Orange Roughy”. Vittoria seems to be the coffee of choice out there.


Orange Roughy does ok!!

Caffe Volare on Packo

Italy comes to Geelong! Caffe Volare on Packo (Packington St. -- Geelong's answer to Chapel Street) is a delightful little cafe nestled in the turret of a heritage style building. It's easy to miss. It's virtually a hole in the wall, and has all of 2x3m space to work with inside.

This is definitely one for the purists, especially lovers of the short black! The coffee is perfectly brewed in traditional European stlye by the owner Michael who lovingly removes the coffee from machine so that the beans aren't burnt by the excess water that machines tend to do when left to their own devices. The result is a truly 'short' black coffee with pure bean flavour. Michael claims that if he had the choice he would only serve short-blacks. Unfortunately, demand does not allow him to do so yet.

The only downside to Caffe Volare on Packo is that the alfresco seating is not conducive to the Geelong weather (which is worse than Melbourne!), nor is it somewhere you're able to sit in a quite corner and conduct business.

Undoubtedly this is the best coffee you'll find in Geelong. Well worth a visit.

Decoy, 308 Flinders Lane

What a little treasure. This place has great ambiance and does a killer BIG coffee. The service was good, efficient; you would do business there or merely update your memoirs.

I will check the coffee out again as this was my first time, but after the big one I was a shaken a little…overdose.

By the way, they must have the second biggest clock in Melbourne hanging off those high ceilings…

MCR goes regional and finds Fetching Treasures - Heathcote

My Wife, baby and I headed to Echuca last long weekend. We passed through Heathcote. After a quick bite, we entered what seemed to be an antique dealership, it was however a cunning cover for “Fetching Treasures”, an antique, cum lodging place cum coffee house of choice.

The owners claim of the best coffee in town was met with a sceptical eye by yours truly. After a few moments he emerged with a great cup of coffee, worthy of any of the better ones in town. God one, and 1 solid bean for you. Worth a visit!! (Main Drag in Heathcote, near the bakery).

Syracuse - 23 Bank Place, Melb.

I’m a big fan of Syracuse in Bank Place, near the Miter. It does a killer saganaki and wine and of course tapas. But, when I put my coffee goggles on recently with my buddies from AXA, I have to say I was less than impressed. The food was ok, but there was little love in the coffee. Don’t know what they use, or what they are getting wrong, but I have had better coffees in New Deli. The service was better too.

Sweet Moma’s Café Bar, 225 Bourke Street

Handy, ok coffee… great on a sunny day (most of the facility is under a tarp) seem to not always be quite with you, probably because they are flat out all the time. All those government workers; Target and Coles workers, eager for a caffeine fix.

Nice but no bean..

Pete

An old favorite- W22 - 22 William Street

They used to call this place W22, given that’s the address. It was my first entrée into the coffee scene in Melbourne as I worked in the building when I returned from San Francisco in 1997. It then Moylans were where I fell in love with coffee.
This place has changed hands and the coffee has always been good but I think they have moved into the kick ass area now. Its kinda echoy but doing business there is a no brainer esp if you secure table 1. The service is fast and good and you can even get a beer there, but they take the coffee seriously. I like that.

2 Beans.

Another from Daryl Cook - Give us today, our Daily Coffee!

When I work in Melbourne, which is usually a couple of days a week (altenatively its Geelong), I get an early start, so I make sure I start the day with a decent brew. I tend to get my coffee from the Ocean View Cafe which is conveniently located next to my office in the Pier 35 Marina (Lorimer St. Port Melbourne). They make a decent take-away latte -- nice and hot just how I like it. Its always good to start the day with good coffee and friendly service.

Aside from getting the morning coffee, we often use the cafe for brief business meetings and the occasional lunch (they do a great Sushi), although it can get very busy -- which is not really conducive to meetings after mid-morning. We've also used them to run corporate events (and catering), which was well organised and reasonably priced.

The atmoshphere is unusual. Its a bit 'industrial', a bit 'funky' because it gets a large clientel from 'Globe' (the skate Gear company) headquarters across the road, and a bit 'casual' because of its Marina location and river vista.

Its probably a little out of the way for most, and doesn't warrant a 'special' trip. However, for me it's convenient and comfortable.

Daryl Cook

A Post from my mate Daryl - A Place to be human -

_ A Place to be Human _

Peter wrote, in Place to Escape that a coffee shop is a place to be human for a brief moment between a very hectic and demanding life. For me, this place is Volumes in the leafy suburb of Eltham 20 km north-east of Melbourne.

Usually I make kids (and Donna) pancakes at home on a Sunday morning, but when it's time to just get out of the house, we usually end up at Volumes. I guess you could call it out favourite coffee hang out. Why?

Well, there is no one 'thing', but here's a couple of good reasons ...

* Its oozes a casual ambience and provides a relaxing atomoshere, even though its always _busy_
* It's family friendly. They don't look down at you for dragging the kids along. Besides, that the kids also love the fantastic Baby Cino's!
* Its more than just a Coffee Shop/Cafe -- it also has Books, CDs, and a small gallery space that exhibits local artists for your browsing pleasure
* They make great coffee and serve fantastic food, including all day breakfasts ... Mmmmm breakfast


So, if your're ever out Eltham way, I recommend that you drop in and check it out for yourself. Tip -- it'd be the perfect spot to stop for a coffee on the return journey from the Yarra Valley wineries! 2 Beans

Daryl Cook

Announcement!

Melbourne Coffee Review is commencing our coffee lovers night. This will be periodical session and a notable (worthy) coffee venue to meet fellow coffee lovers, entrepreneurs, and possible dangerous liaisons. I’ll keep you posted. Make sure you are registered!! (see the bottom of this blog)

Pete

cafe Doppio - Top of the Escalators - Australia on Collins.

Went to café Doppio today, on the second floor at Australia on Collins. I was assured by my spies that the coffee was exceptional. They sell illy, and yes it was very good. Problem being that I went during lunch, and was kept waiting, then seated then re-seated. Food came rushing out, then the coffee, and yes, it was nice. Maybe early morning there would be better, and as for doing business, I don’t see it. No WiFi, no cosy little place. Maybe what I was after was a place to be by myself? Is that what we want now? Trully, its always insane if I go out between 12.30 and 1.30,.. so my bad. Give me the sweet 7am hot cappa joe on a cool Melbourne morning any day. Except Sunday when I am in bed watching Jana.

This was a preliminary recon mission, I will be visiting again. They deserve that. Bean rating suspended, but they should get a 1.

By the way, looks like we have spawned more discussion on coffee internationally.

http://cafegeek.com/beta/

http://reilly.typepad.com/cameronreilly/2005/03/coffee_snobs.html

The Spotted Dog - 260 Centre Road, Bentliegh

I went out with “FOS” last night, an ancient secret society dedicated to liver destruction via pub crawl through the back streets of Fitzroy. No coffee was involved. This morning, my condition was, shall we say, marginal, and my wife and daughter were kind enough to drag what was left of me to the Spotted Dog. I killed several lattes, along with a killer post booze breaky. This place rocks for the lashings of food they serve up at breakfast, but the coffee passes for good, but not great. That's probably because of the ditzy little teenage girls they hire and call waitresses. No matter, it was welcome in my state, and the Dog rocks overall…and based on historical performance.. 1 Bean.

XML - Plaza off Flinders lane, b/w William & King.

Groovy music all the time, process, process, process,.. makes for an efficient well run and one would assume profitable little business. This place has a woman’s touch. Great food, but the coffee is rather exceptional.

Its rather nice I have to say having done a few coffees here. This place is good for a bit of time out from the craziness of old Melbourne town, but I wouldn’t do business here.. just not the right layout for me.

Great coffee, drink here or take out. 1 solid bean..