Lock-Box

September 1, 2010

Vote for this cafe via HotShots

omarbird

This morning was filled with the usual flurry of ‘get out the door’ activity that is associated with a normal Wednesday. Thankfully, it was Helen’s turn to do the drop off and so, I navigated my way through the haze of rain and traffic up Nepean Hwy to this place! This place, appeared on our nominate a cafe form a few weeks ago, and I had heard from my spies that it was good,.. great in fact.

I had to work for it, Gardenvale Rd is awash with construction equipment at the moment so I found myself in the back streets finding this place to park by braille.

Ok,.. so I entered into what must be one of the most interesting (nice interesting), clean, unique and spacious places I have seen serving coffee. The guy behind the counter greeted me instantly (More on him later), which is always a positive sign,.. this guy loves his job.

I ordered my standard, and was asked if I would like the Yemeni bean, well ok I said.. and soon was delivered a delicious, thick and oily coffee that was bliss… really…I am topping up with water at the moment and my palette is still having a party.

So, this is a no brainer… I am maxing the rating here, if I could give more I would,.. Stop whatever you are doing and head down to this place,.. if this doesn’t make our top 100, I’ll choose another profession.

Here is another interesting thing.. I intentionally blew my cover (post coffee experience) and found that Andy, one of the owners wrote for MCR years ago, 2006 I believe… he was a passionate and diligent reviewer, but we just lost touch and I didn’t know where he was… he has followed his bliss and created a most excellent coffee place. If you think, that’s the reason I have raved about this place, you could not be more wrong!

Congrats guys, you have set a new standard!

PS: yes, I asked the question re the name… you’ll have to visit to find out!
Omarbird2

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Peter Christo
Posted in 3 Beans, Business Meetings, Family Friendly, Melbourne | No Comments »



July 8, 2010

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This place is amazing. It is so stylish and just perfectly presented. And the coffee is AMAZING. It is rather expensive, but when you see whats going on in this joint its all worth it. The piccolo latte is featured here and what a joy it is to see. Everything is designed with intention here and I like that. Fernandez and Wells currently has 3 venues in London, a Food and Wine bar, a Cafe and the Espresso Bar that I find myself in today. I must must must see the other two if this is any indication of the quality I may find. Fernandez and Wells only uses full cream milk, and I have no arguments there. It’s delicious and creamy and the strong coffee sits perfectly in the centre of my tongue. They really have it bang on here. They also serve organic soups made on site, organic luscombe drinks and delicious freshly carved meats for sandwiches. And the afternoon treats are not to be ignored either. This Espresso bar is very pleasing on the eye and leaps and bounds beyond anything else I have seen in London to date. Located in a small lane on St Anne’s Court it attracts the sneaky passers by and those that know they are there. Full of Australians and Kiwi’s again although this time run by a very enthusiastic English man who has a definite passion for his job and for coffee. Really great strong coffee, good tunes, warm atmosphere, great food and wonderful people, in the heart of London, really this is quite a gem.

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Jaye
Posted in 3 Beans, London | 2 Comments »



May 10, 2010

Address: 309 exhibition Street Melbourne VIC. Australia
65Degrees

It took me a while to get around to visiting the boys at 65 Degrees, of course I know them from their 7 Grams Coffee adventure, and expected great things. Was actually prompted by the enormous votes they were getting on hotshots. Let down I was not.

This rustic, inviting and cozy little place across the Telstra ivory castle (hello to all ya’ll that voted, you nearly broke our system, thanks for that!!) The coffee was delivered post haste, (ok, they know me, what can I do.. I try to keep a low profile!), and I can only describe it as heavenly. These guys know how to make their Lamazocca sing. It was delightful blend of deep dark flavor, and a bright after taste. I actually booked my next business consulting meeting there with a client as I like the vibe of the place for creative thinking. Overall, these guys rock, no doubt they will be ion our top 100 next year, we’ll done guys, 3 Beans.

COFFEE: 65 Degrees (on site roasting)

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Peter Christo
Posted in 3 Beans, Business Meetings, Melbourne, Wifi | No Comments »



April 28, 2010

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I spent a long time on Lantana’s website before I visited the cafe in Central London, which I don’t usually do until after I have been there. I don’t know why that is relevant, but it is a very good website. This is a cool cafe, a very cool cafe. I like the way it looks, it has a great feel from the outside and from the inside and I could certainly waste an afternoon here. Another Australian gem on the sunny side of a central London street. Monmouth coffee used here and I must say that it is my favourite coffee in London so I am really excited for it to be my first today. And duly noted as I enter a shiny La Marzzocco machine and two happy mazzer grinders buzzing to the late morning crowd. Beautiful looking flat whites served here and one of the coolest Barista’s I have seen in ages. I would have liked the temperature to be a little higher to be honest here, but I’d prefer it not quite hot enough as opposed to too hot any day. The coffee was not strong enough to strike any lasting characteristics on the palette however very enjoyable. Perhaps clever in attracting a broader range of coffee drinkers in a city accustomed to very milky coffee. Or perhaps a way to make you order two? I proceed to order a piccolo in order to satisfy my habit and find that this is indeed a much better choice for me. A strong espresso and less milk and a sure kick of caffeine that is not at all bitter and completely complimented by a fairly sweet milk. Lantana was the winner of Best New Cafe in 2009 and rightly so I think. Not only is the coffee wonderful but as Lunch is getting set up around me I see fabulous choices and a regular lunch rush on its way.

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Jaye
Posted in 3 Beans, London | 1 Comment »



April 2, 2010

Rear 202 Carlilse St

Balaclava VIC 3183

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thecaffiend would like to welcome the amazing palate of David Zimmerman to the team, what a way to kick things off:

So I woke up Saturday morning and realised how different Balaclava is today from when I was growing up. This nostalgic moment gave me a brilliant idea. Why don’t I open a new coffee shop somewhere in Carlilse street because there is without a doubt not enough coffee shops in that area (if you are slow – have a coffee you will realise I am being sarcastic). Anyway, I thought not only will I put it in a competitive area but I am going to put it somewhere that doesn’t stand out maybe I will hide it around the back of a building maybe off an alley from a carpark – BRILLIANT this idea is building amazingly … soooo excited!!!!

So I drove down to the back of the Safeway carpark and thought I would scope out a site. I walked down the little alley at the end of the carpark and my dreams were shattered – there was this cute little coffee shop tucked away with what looked like a loyal group of followers. I just had to see who it was that had stolen my brilliant idea so I walked in sat down at the coffee bar and staring me in the face was a 3 group Synesso. The weekend Barista Ben was really on his game and straight away asked what he could get me. With 3 different bean choices I thought I should start with the house blend and I ordered my skinny latte. Less than 1 minute later, Ben placed a great looking latte in front of me with a perfect tulip on top. The coffee itself was smooth and really hit the spot. I was determined to find a flaw – THIS WAS MY IDEA so I followed up the latte with a double ristretto of the guest coffee, a Costa Rican Cafetin roasted by 7 Seeds.

WOW – I don’t say this lightly but no review can do that espresso justice simply put THE BEST CUP OF COFFEE I HAVE EVER HAD!!!!!!!!!!!

I could comment on the syphon the tea choices, the organic food and the bio-degradable packaging but that espresso is all I need a huge 3 beans to the team at Monk Bodhi Dharma (http://www.monkbodhidharma.com.au/) you may have stolen my idea and destroyed my dream but at least you did it brilliantly!

Dave Zimmerman

PS: If you haven’t had that coffee yet I didn’t really want to open a coffee shop too many annoying critics out there!

Coffee: House Blend roasted by 5 Senses

Guest Coffees from multiple roasters

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Steve Agi
Posted in 3 Beans, Beverages, Melbourne | 13 Comments »



March 22, 2010

500 Bourke St (bottom of NAB)

Melbourne VIC 3000

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Well it was with a sense of glee and expectation that I finally made my way down to the business end of town.

The corner of Bourke and William St to the home of the latest addition to the ever growing cafenatics empire, slowly taking over the CBD and spreading the love, the caffeine fuelled love, the only way they know how!!

A picture is worth a 1000 words and the amazing sight that I beheld as I entered, spoke volumes. Go down and see for yourself, it is truly breathtaking! Expectations were high, so much to drink and so little time…..

First up an espresso, single origin I believe and it was sublime. A viscous and well balanced drop, pure nectar, it was exactly what every coffee should be and then some

Followed by a siphon prepared by G-Star, who in all honesty presented me with the best coffee I have had in a very long time, and that’s saying something……………………….I drink quite a bit of coffee around town ;) The delicate floral aroma, the citrusy flavour, the subtle nuances danced all over my tongue a dnace that I was praying would never end.

Truly something spiritual was at play, the God’s had smiled upon thecaffiend!

I finished the session with a piccolo latte that had a well defined 12 leaf tulip clearly poured into it, with beautiful colours, delicious aroma and an overall beverage as good if not better than anything I’ve had ever.

Thecaffiend was cruising on a high on his way to the promised land, pure nirvana……..

Without a doubt 3 BeanS for this joint and a big G’day to the cafenatics team, shout it out loud guys: We’re cafenatics and we’re proud!!

Do yourselves a favour and get down there, you won’t be disappointed

……..till next time, keep on Caffeining on…..

Coffee: Veneziano

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Steve Agi
Posted in 3 Beans, Beverages, Business Meetings, Family Friendly, Melbourne | 7 Comments »



March 19, 2010

It seems MCR is developing a human intelligence network that is highly effective in identifying great (Melbourne Quality) coffee in places you would not expect. After posting my Starbucks confession, Trev from WA identified The Corridor as a place worth visiting. It’s funny, before reading the suggestion, I did dinner with a friend here and had to meet him at Times Square, less than 5 min from my hotel.

I waited for about 30 mins and wandered about the place and actually spotted The Corridor, and made a mental note to check it out anyway. It could have gone either way I guess.

After breakfast this morning, one of my coffee compatriots Errol, agreed to join me for a coffee, and so off we went. This was the type of placed you might find in Melbourne, and quite a contrast to the polished hallways of the malls here like IFC. The experience generally caters to highly affluent people, but this was great, it was a place where anyone could go. They roast their own (how about that!!) and the barista was a lovely and highly skilled young man called Mabo(?).

The first 3 beans in Hong Kong, this will be hard to beat. Check out the vid! Oh! and by the way… free wifi!!! what else can u ask for?



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Peter Christo
Posted in 3 Beans, Business Meetings, Family Friendly, Wifi, hong kong | 5 Comments »



March 14, 2010

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1726 20th St NW
Washington, DC 20009

Holy Smokes – Aussies in D.C. rejoice – the ristretto and flat white (and even the babycino if you ask!) have hit the nation’s capital.   Filter is brand new, as in days old, in DC’s Dupont Circle neighbourhood, and with the glut of mediocre coffee joints in this section of town, Filter becomes THE place for your caffeine hit on the way to work or after dinner.  The mini explosion of specialty coffee continues in Washington, and Filter raises the bar yet another notch.  I chatted briefly with the owner Rasheed who is a real champ and totally passionate about his coffee.  When you ask ristretto in this part of the world and the response is “of course” you can be assured you’re speaking with someone who knows their coffee. We managed to get in there a few days before the place was officially opened and he pulled me a mean double ristretto – lush thick crema with beautiful viscosity, very smooth going down and a hell of a kick on the back. Just perfect. Naturally I had to go back and try the flat white, and what can I say?  Rich, creamy and beautifully balanced between the base and the milk.  I’m not mucking around when I say this place jumps to the head of the class in the city – not just for their ability to masterfully craft great coffee, but because their differing approach will contribute mightily to the education of Washington’s coffee consumers.

3 big beans.

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Eric Fontana
Posted in 3 Beans, Washington DC | 1 Comment »



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