Shop 6/19-21 Wellington Pde
Williamstown VIC 3016
Boxing day breakfast with the family, always a bit of a gamble, anyone there, will they, won’t they? Oh what the hey, time to whip out the iPhone and head out west to look for some serious caffeination over the bridge, especially after all the requests from everyone: Your wish is my command!
It’s always a bit of pot luck heading out west….that damn bridge, so unpredictable, so lucky today the roads were empty, looking for some holiday joy, a feed for the troops and some quality caffeination!!
This one’s a bit of a tongue in cheek recommendation, as you all know BeanScene is also my coffee magazine, so I was curious to check out a cafe named in homage to the nation’s number 1 coffee magazine!
Not only was it absolutely packed, the staff were extremely friendly and even the owner Brett, came out to say g’day after he recognised me! Ordering coffee and breakfast was easy, the menu simple yet enticing, the barista was poetry in motion to watch!
Although his extraction for my espresso was a tad longer than I preferred, maybe I should have ordered a ristretto, the flavours were smooth, the aroma intoxicating, the mouthfeel thick and viscous. My cafe latte was a well prepared and combined beverage that was presented in a delicate way that really was pure bliss. The milk and coffee uniting perfectly in my cup to create a beverage that I was proud to call the Devils Cup.
Truly BeanScene was the place to be seen and I was more than happy to have made the trek out west to check it out.
Plenty of beans to be seen at BeanScene and two BIG ones from the CaFFiend!
Well done! Go down and see for yourself, tell ‘em the CaFFiend sent ya!! Keep on Caffeining on!!
Coffee: Green Bean Espresso
Ha Ha are you serious?
Your guide and recommendations are getting more pathetic by the day
Top 100 cafes in Melbourne? Do some more homework before you release next years issue for gods sake
No St. Ali is not the best coffee place in Melbourne
No Salvatore whateverhisnameis is not some sort of coffee god.
You know I used to go there quite alot til one day I could hear the guy makinhg coffee telling Toshi (Head Barista, If he’s even still there) that his grind was off. On a day that was not even busy he happily kept sending out coffees that were very average (being polite)
Most places can’t consistently offer good coffee time and time again and don’y even get me started on food!
Oh yes then there is batch espresso on carlisle.
One week I get the BEST soy machiatto i’ve ever had, the next week same day, same barista, same coffee, same result? It was THE WORST coffee ever! And usually I finish it if just for the caffeine but it wentr straight to the trash
The only really good combination Melbourne had was at Dead man espresso where you had a Michellin tarined chef making breakfast! But that is over now
Seriously I don’t know if this is your paid job or just some hobby but just get out here and look you have missed so many good cafes and included so many mediocre ones
Start by reading Melbourne coffee guide 2009
Try Gas eatery and supplies on coventry st sth melb when ‘Johnno’ is making coffee oh and order anything soy, seems that’s when most coffee makers fall short and fail to deliver
Serious? are you on crack by any chance?
Working at coles, I see this cafe throughout the week and perhaps this boxing day it was full, as you say, as other cafes are shut over the holidays!
Day after day this place attracts the same crowd mainly consisting of old folk hanging on for dear life because they don’t have too long left. Average head count as a I walk past on any day that isn’t Boxing Day: between 6-12 if they’re having a good day. Hardly a full house. Most day its just two grannies sitting in a corner. Sometimes, very rarely, someone is eating something.
The 4 lattes I’ve had from this place (purchased for me by well-meaning staff) have been hideously bitter, scorching hot and left my sinuses burning like I’d been sniffing melting plastic.
Not to mention this place faces the Coles car park. If you sit outside, you are literally 2m away from a giant busy car lot. Perhaps you couldn’t taste the coffee over all the exhaust fumes coming your way.. or perhaps, you were just sucking up to Matt Preston after he made some rather unfavorable comments in regards to the West being omitted from reviews and you thought one good review would keep him happy..
Sorry, but even though I’m a Willy local, I’ll still be head elsewhere for my coffee…
Thanks for the heads up everyone, the CaFFiend is trying his best, if you could steer me in the right direction that would be appreciated!!
I will re-visit BeanScee maybe I just got them on a ripper day, the vibe was great the coffee spot on, but based on your comments I’ll be back for take two!!
Any requests, suggestions, feedback or abuse email me direct: steve.agi@melbournecoffeereview.com
Thanks for your time, your observations and your support, thats what Melbourne Coffee Review is all about, and by the way, sometimes I wish I was on crack…..Keep on Caffeining on!!
Noted, thanks…..
Peter
As another Williamstown local it irks the proverbial out of me that we really have no consistently good coffee in Willy. Whilst Sth Melb, Yarraville, Seddon, Kensington, Nth Melb, the CBD etc. have developed some consistently good cafe’s/barista’s Williamstown cafe’s have been incredibly lazy and behind the times. They rely on the steady stream of Sunday tourists and locals who dont know any better. The town is littered with cafe’s but at the moment only really Cafe Cirino on Nelson Place is doing anything well on a consistent basis. Lever and Kowalyk was excellent on the food and coffee until it changed hands a few years ago and many moons ago places like Hobson’s Choice and Scuttlebutt did good work (well before the ‘third wave’ or coffee blogs/books).
No doubt locals have their favourites and maybe the odd barista is doing good work in Williamstown but locals who value their coffee enough will head to Nosh in Newport or further up to Yarraville/Seddon for a coffee they know they can almost always trust to be good.
That said, Steve I will check out BeanScene.
The Pickle Barrel is my favourite in Willy. Great food, great coffee and great staff. Renovations happening this Dec/Jan. See you there in 2010.
Why is it that everytime someone mentions coffee and Williamstown that someone has to mention the pickle barrel….
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Get real! Get out of ‘Willy’ even just for a day and realise it’s totaly sub-standard food and HOT coffee (the way these locals love it
Have you actually ever talk to the ppl who work there? They are not very knowledgeable and do not inspire confidence in me as a customer.
I agree with your review – I am particular about my coffee and about the food I order and the cafe did not disappoint.
I travel across to the Newport/Williamstown area from the Yarra Valley on a reasonably regular basis and have had many a coffee and meal in between over the years, so was only too pleased to try BeanScene Breakfast Lounge on the recommendation of a local. What I was pleased to find was a place with fresh and open-spaced appeal enjoyble food and great coffee.
Along with the family this time I visited the cafe again recently – we had a great time. The cafe was bustling, the service was friendly and efficient, the food well presented, fresh and enjoyable (and did not break the bank!) and the staff made the effort to chat also to find out how I enjoy my coffee and went about making it that way for me. Nice too to be provided with water as you are seated.
I feel welcome and comfortable in this cafe, and most the all – the coffee is excellent. I am looking forward to my next visit.