Melbourne Coffee Review Baraza Review

Ok, I admit, I was wondering whether the whole Baraza thing was a good idea, and whether our web gathering would really translate into a flesh looking at flesh situation…

For those that are unaware, we had our Melbourne Coffee Review Baraza last night at Café Trubi. It was a wonderful night, made exceptional by Kelly & Frank of Café Trubi. Thanks very much you two.

The idea for an event of some type was born of the fact that a little bit of press we got in the Herald Sun, the IT Section of the Australian and the snippet in Channel 7’s today tonight, had translated into a, not insignificant following of readers, Google clicks, and random emails to me at all hours of the day and night. Clearly our reviews tugged at something intangible but important in our readers. Our readers by the way are spread throughout the world, including Canada, Mykonos Greece, Mexico and more. We are however still not sure what ‘bell’ we ring for our readers… perhaps that’s not a bad thing.

So, the Baraza was at least a celebration of the cord we struck with all of our beloved fellow coffee fans, lovers of latte, enjoyers of espresso. It was also an excuse to meet our biggest supporters and get to know some of you in person.

My takeaway impressions of the night were as follows:

The discovery; that many of us are as passionate about our chocolate as we are about our coffee. The two seem to complement each other in more ways than just the occasional Mocca. Thankyou to the leads I got for some hot choc places, I will be endeavouring to graduate from Max Bremmer.

The notion that one cannot get a “coffee and cream” in Melbourne. A fellow Baraza attendee (impromptu albeit) recounted the story of an ex-pat Australian (if I recall correctly), describing the outrage associated with his inability to get a simple coffee and cream in Melbourne. I protested that surely a black coffee is something available to all, however I realised that fresh cream is not something readily available in my experience. Maybe its time for something old rather than new in the Melbourne Coffee scene.

This same gent and lover of his coffee, made me aware of the ‘fact’ that perhaps we Melbourneites aren’t as savvy and sophisticated as we think we are. That we swallow our coffees indiscriminately, and would not know a decent shot if it hit us between the eyes (words mine). I think that perhaps the small but passionate readership of MCR is a representative sample of a small but important group of people who are indeed clear about what they like and do not like coffee wise.

Having written that, I have to say, I was left flabbergasted today (Sunday) whenthe woman next to me ordered a “strong decaf latte”…. What the hell is that? Which bit do they make strong?

That aside, the Cubana’s (spelling?) short coffee shots that were filtered through with sugar and created a great taste sensation for all who braved them. I’ll be looking to spread the word.

So thankyou so much for those that managed to brave the Friday night and get together with us, and I hope that meeting, will inspire some of you to submit your own reviews on occasion.

Peter Christ

MACCHIATINO – 3/601 Lt Collins Street. Melb. Australia.

I’m thinking that determining what actually constitutes a 1,2 or 3 beaner is highly subjective, bordering on an art rather than a science. We have agreed that like wine, we know what we like and we know what we don’t. I have looked for that fine balance between aesthetics and customer service, wifi, other facilities and of course great coffee to make my final call. That is why I took my time, and was somewhat perplexed with Café Macchiatino “Life’s too short for bad coffee” on Lt Collins Street.

No doubt, the service was friendly, and the coffee damn good,.. but there was something else. There’s a passion about the Barista (I’m sorry, I don’t know the gentleman’s name yet) that is quiet and focussed, a rare but not unheard of trait in the Coffee Capital of Earth Melbourne. I heard through the grapevine (coffee branch?) that he is a formally trained barista (good, me thinks), and very serious about delivering a great coffee. I have visited a number of time’s and the consistency is awesome, and for a coffee on the run.. this place is worth a detour.

Ahhh a 1 beaner, I hear you say… well.. yes,… but there is a human side to the business that got me. He (and whoever is partnering the venture) also sponsors a couple of kids through world vision. Its not done in an, ‘in your face’ way, just something they have chosen to do as a small business. For me, it is something wonderful, and worthy of praise. Thanks for the coffee, and a great deal more for those kids.

2 beans

The Bean Bar - 610 Collins St, Melbourne Australia.

There’s a new kid in town! I’m doing some work near Spencer Street (no, not the new station), and I was looking for some new talent,.. coffee I mean. Well, there’s a wee place called the “Bean Bar” in that little alleyway before Spencer. Its actually right opposite from Minx (the boys can’t be happy). I tried a latte there today as a warming round for a review. I’ll let you know about the coffee after I have a few, but initial impressions are good. The dude knows his coffee, and I can confirm his passion. To me it looks like a valiant attempt at a new franchise,.. and hey why not?

I’ll bean them one way or another soon.

MCR Podcast No 2

This week I cover, the upcoming baraza, the reviews that were done in the last few weeks, and properly acknowledging our favourite Barista's.

Click here for the MCR Podcast 17072005

Enjoy!

Peter

Signatures Cafe 741 Glenhuntly Road, Caulfield South

Upon entering the cafe, I became quite sceptical. The atmosphere was very flat, and unbelievably quiet, its noise level being comparable to that of an empty library. With such atmosphere, one can assume that it is not an ideal location to conduct a meeting.

Coffee was served, and my eyes lit up by its appearance. Great temperature, right amount of froth. However, the taste was a major let down.

The latte tasted very thin and runny, feeling as though there was an abundance of water. Whilst the coffee makers skills where fantastic, the mix of water and milk did not create an indulging coffee.

No bean.

The Beanery Church St Brighton.

I picked up a quick latte to go from the famous Beanery in Church Street Brighton (Uttered as posh as possible). It was an ok coffee, but as usual, its rare for me to be impressed with the coffee of a teenage girl. Something about a barista who is somewhat older and takes their coffee making seriously that results in a great coffee (generally). It was ok considering; I’ll have to review again for a bean rating.

www.melbournecoffeereview.com

We finally got around to it! We have migrated MCR to www.melbournecoffeereview.com. It absolutely needed its own URL. To celebrate that, and the fact that MCR has become so popular over the last 12 months, with two newspaper reviews and one TV review, along with an ever expanding list of subscribers (you) we're inviting all registered readers to an evening of nibbles, wine and good coffee.

We have limited places, so please ensure you RSVP via email helen@melbournecoffeereview.com to secure your place at what will be a great evening!

Click Here for your invite to our MCR Baraza on the 29th July 2005

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Peter Christo

Brunetti's City Square

So today I finally chose to do a review on Brunetti’s in the city square. Everyone raves about this place, and it seems to be the default place to film for any of Melbourne’s ‘noreality’ lifestyle shows. So I gave it a crack. The result,…? an efficient people machine that results in a good coffee… a very groovy ambiance and place to hang,… it has however nothing on Melbourne’s back streets and atmosphere. It’s great for the tourists that don’t want to work too hard to see the heart of Melbourne. The staff was nice enough… the coffee was acceptable for a 1 bean. I don’t know what all the whoo haa is about. Oh yes.. the cakes…mmmm.. bloody excellent.

MCR in the press

MCR got a bit of press in the Australian IT Alive section today. Our 1 little Podcast seemed to go down very well with the local press. If your really interested in Podcasting, feel free to visit Tony Goodson, the man to whom I owe much in this arena! Thanks also to all those who emailed feedback on the article.

Peter

Richmond Hill Cafe & Larder - 48 - 50 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC Aust.

What took us so long? The Fam and I hit the Richmond Hill Cafe & Larder again, to reconfirm my rave about it, back in February. Man, it was better than I remembered. The service was exceptional; these people take pride in what they do. The food was to die for, and yes we went the melted cheese option, I'm only human. The coffee, well... lets just stop here. I drink coffee all the time, and in most places I frequent, the coffee ranges from ok upward. This place, does a damn descent coffee, and what's amazing, is that they do everything there excellently. The coffee was right (got the order right), fast, and presented excellently.

When they were taking the very empty breakfast plates away, I was asked if everything was in order.. joking, I said, the food was not up to scratch.. "I'll let the chef know" "No. no,.. kidding.. look at the plates.. they are empty.. you may not need to wash them!!" You get the picture. The Richmond Hill Cafe & Larder contributed significantly to improving my post uni blues (just finished MEI)I'm still a little dumbfounded its actually over. Nothing a few more cafe lattes won't fix.

My first 3 beaner.. Congrats Guys!!!