Windows - Old Rockmans Regency

It’s been a bitter cold week, but I got loured to the corner of Exhibition and Lonsdale, to what was some groovy new coffee place for me to review. Well, looks like what was the old coffee bit of the old Rockmans Regency, is now the groovewa Café Di Manfredi Windows café. Well, my opinion of CDM is always glowing, but I am thinking that they may have sold out on this one. Granted it’s an ok place, but, the talent behind the bar was barely passable. They are hotel staff,… my god they are used to filtered coffee pouring into small cups at breakfast for business, not delighting the coffee pallet of the Melbourne coffee aficionados!! Sorry,… no bean.

Dundas & Faussett - Vic Ave Albert Park

Apparently this place has new owners. We are doing breaky here with friends. The coffee vote around the table indicated "average" at best. These people are too busy being hip and posh to make a descent coffee. No beaner.

Cafe BonBon - Centre Way - Melbourne

Café BonBon is quite possibly the smallest buat of a café in Melbourne. Based in the middle of Centre Way, up from Degraves, this little gem of a place needs to be experienced. The kitchen is tucked under the stairs, and if you plan on sitting in the back, you’ll virtually step over the till. Regardless, they make a decent coffee, and if I’m not mistaken, its an all lady affair operations wise. The service was great, the staff very friendly and courteous… definitely a solid 1 beaner.

Postal Hall - Crn Lt Collins & Russel Melbourne Australia

Today I wandered up Russel to find some place new. I had just feasted in the food arcade on the corner of Swanson and Bourke, so Paul and I were looking for a new place to fulfil the coffee pangs. We found “Postal Hall” on the corner of Little Collins & Russel. The face at the front trying to entice people in was a blast from the past. Simon (I assume an owner) used to manage the Limmerick Arms in South Melbourne during my Bachelor days, so I had enjoyed a few beers with him on the other side of the bar both before and after closing in the late 90’s. BUT, can he make a coffee?? They use Genovese,.. so chances were good. Thankfully what emerged was a delightful brew, made with passion and flair, both of us were happy. It’s definitely a one beaner at the moment, but we’ll be visiting again.

DJ's Bourke St Mall - Melbourne Australia

Checked out DJ’s basement café in Bourke Street Mall today,… my wingman, Paul and I felt that there was a sliver of a chance we could be surprised and delighted given the money these people spend of TV Commercials. The signage was kinda ok, and the Baristas rather attentive. They even have a semi comfortable bar for the café drinker to rest against while sitting on one of those stools and could only be moved by a small nuclear warhead.

Without a flinch, they hurried off to make the coffees as we waited and discussed our recent reading exploits mine “The Alchemist" and Paul, 5 people you meet in Heaven. As we shared what was for both a great experience (mine by a philosophers nose), the coffees arrived. A few sips later,… the verdicts was not as favourable as Jacko’s… ok… but was it worth the $3? Nup… Nice place though… but there is more to coffee culture in Melbourne that just looks..

L'Aperitivo Cafe - 340 Glenhunly Rd, Elsternwick

My girfriend (girlfriend.com) had recommended to her this cafe so she (we) could taste one of Melbourne's "best italian hot chocolates". To my delight, the taste was amazing! Strong taste, with a custard texture and aftertaste, the hot chocolate definitely sent the taste buds craving to attend the nearest Mrs. Fields.

However, whilst the coffee caused much of a stir amongst the two of us, the ambience was left wanting. Service was less than acceptable, leaving the place with an static feeling.

Although the taste of the chocolate still remains on the ends of my tastebuds, the service killed it. No beaner.

The Were Street Food Store - Montmorency

The family (wifeandkids.com) and I were out and about on Sunday morning, and I convinced them all to help me out on a MCR mission -- to find the best coffee in Melbourne. We ended up in Montmorency, in the outer North-East of Melbourne.

The Were Street Food Store (located in Were Street oddly enough), is a cosy little place with a relaxed atmosphere. It's got a really neat blend of retro and country-style decor and you can have your coffee at the breakfast bar, seated at a table or elfresco. The coffee was really good ... not sure which blend they used, but it was hot and they also had brown/raw sugar, which makes the coffee taste all better. We had lunch while we were there too, and my Steak and Guiness pie was served with the most gorgeuous peach and currie relish. Definitely worth a visit if you're out that way. A solid 1 beaner.

Cafe Trubi - Lt Lonsdale and Hardware St. (Upgrade)

You know, I try and be as objective as possible, but sometimes, the places I like best, I am the hardest on… I have been frequenting Café Trubi now on and off for a while, and as I have said before, Kelly & Frank are a passionate, professional team, and pride themselves on an exceptional coffee. They recently took a chance with their coffee choice…, which has, in my opinion, paid off. They certainly deliver the goods in terms of service and environment, and they are always working to make the experience of their customers better. I’m promoting them as of now to a solid 2-beaner joint.

MCR First Podcast...

Howdy, this is our first attempt at a PodCast... please be kind and I would welcome feedback!!

Pete

Rive Gouche Café - Southbank

Rule #200303445 for reviewers… never be flippant with Barista re his/her ability to make a ‘Good’ coffee. I forgot myself and jokingly asked the barista, whether he could make a good coffee. The indignant look on his face, along with his question back at me regarding the quality of my work, suggested to me that I may have failed in communicating the light hearted intent of my question. I proceeded to order said coffees, and waited for their delivery like a school boy waiting for the strap (yes, I remember)… I only hoped that he didn’t spit in the coffee… they were in fact ok coffees… thankyou Rive Gouche Café. No bean for you…

Vanilla Bean - ASX Building

The coffee here is 'asseptaboul'. This is a coffee place tucked in the corner of the center of the Aussie trading universe. Its full of stuffy finance dudes playing havoc with our financial lives. They use METRO coffee,..... Something is not doing it for me.... I know its not the Metro coffee.... the coffee is ok,..just not as good as I would expect for a place like this...

The Avenue Foodstore - 69 Victoria Ave Albert Park

My daughter and I did an MCR raid on the Avenue Foodstore on Sunday avo. I had been studying, and wife.com (copyright D. Moss) was up for some solitary time, so we did a “hit and run” in Albert Park. They use Dimatina….... It’s nice… I like… as Borat says… The service was great, as usual,... I say that as I lived in Richardson Street for some time in 1999, 2000. What great memories that place has,... I wish I still lived there. Well, it was a great day to cruise with one of my favourite ladies down beach road,… café late in cup, wind in hair,... smile on face... a solid 1 beaner of an experience...

Laurent Passion

I feel like an Aussie Jack Kerouac when I get to coffee up stairs at Laurent in Lt Collins. This place reminds me so much of Vesuvios in San Fransisco (the outside of it). If only they had a book store next door!!

The "Mr Barista of Melbourne" here, Leon Gotsis, treats all who appreaciate their coffee like royalty. The atmosphear is electric, happy and very very busy. Exellent place to loose yoursef in your thoughts.



I headed in through Block Placce, on my way to Laurent, and it was a hive of activity too. Today was an amazingly beautiful Melbourne day...