March 6, 2010

81-83 Church St

Hawthorn Vic 3122

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Well, well, well, what a way to kick off a long weekend…..to be treated to some quality caffeination at the hands of the one and only David Makin, who was making a guest appearance for one day only, at the newly opened and much discussed CoffeeHit!

Greeted by Dave’s smiling face(excuse the photo, I never claimed to be a photographer), I was treated to the art of the barista being put on display at its finest, the guy was poetry in motion, a pleasure to watch!

The man was a gun, in total control of not only his equipment but of the entire cafe, it was running like a well oiled piece of machinery. But this is all about the coffee, not the barista, it was just so exciting to watch though……

Dave presented me with an espresso that he effortlessly squeezed in between the multitude of orders. A dense crema, thick and rich, aromatic on the nose with delicate inflection and color excited the senses and prepared the palate for what was sure to be an orgasmic experience. A complex drop, with delicate berries, a hint of chocolate and a strong finish that lingered and left me wanting more.

The Devils Cup is alive and well in the burbs, Hawthorn are blessed to have access to such a divine drop, this was evident by all the smiling faces, lots of mums, dads and babyccinos……

“A take away cafe latte, please Dave,” I begged as I was now in a rush to host my radio show, The Devils Cup. Always keen to oblige, he prepared 8oz’s of perfectly textured milk combined with 30mls of delicate espresso which kept me fuelled all the way to radio station 3WBC…..The rest as they say, is history!

thecaffiend humbly awards 3 BIG Beans to the crew @ CoffeeHit with the mighty Makin at the helm. Do yourself a favour and head on down to check ‘em out, you won’t be disappointed I guarantee you that, if you are, I’ll personally pay for the coffee ;)

Till next time, keep on Caffeining on………………………………thecaffiend.

Coffee: Veneziano

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Steve Agi
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March 3, 2010

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100 St George’s Tce, Perth

Mon-Tues 7am-5pm

Wed-Sat 7am-midnight

A totally new and exciting concept to Perth, Greenhouse is located at the St George’s Terrace entrance to swish new Enex100 retail complex.

Greenhouse was brought to fruition by Joost Bakker who initially built the concept in Federation Sqaure,  Melbourne for a three month season, the Perth Greenhouse will be a permanent fixture on the landscape and has been a hot topic of conversation around our fine city.

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Check out the website to see how it was constructed in only six weeks, view the time-lapse photography detailing the construction and the use of re-cycled materials wherever possible.

www.greenhouseperth.com

By now every media outlet in Perth has covered Greenhouse concentrating mainly on the food, decor and accentuating the environmental friendliness of the place.

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I have passed by several times hoping to try their coffee but Greenhouse has been bursting at the seams with people lined up waiting to get in, today we finally managed to score a table and  ordered our coffees–a short mach and a flat white, an attentive waitress kept our water glasses topped up while we waited twenty minutes for our coffees to arrive.

My short mach was temperature perfect, nice crema, medium body with rich choc/cocoa notes and a lingering aftertaste.

The flat white looked the goods, crowned with smooth microfoam, a caramel coloured crema circling the rim on the cup, the blend cut through the milk producing a smooth creamy chocolate taste experience, a couple of good but not great coffees.

Coffee by Fiori, Osborne Park

Perth has embraced this totally innovative new addition to our cafe culture with gusto.

Three beans for the innovative design and decor, one bean for the coffee

For a food perspective check out:–

www.bowlofhoney.com/fine-dining/greenhouse-perth

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Trevor Green
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February 22, 2010

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Mayfair Lane, West Perth

(behind the Commonwealth Bank)

Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-3pm

Hidden away off Mayfair Lane in a heritage-listed old stable with rough-hewn and caulked timber floors, rustic brickwork,  stainless steel benches with two very shiny three group Wega espresso machines. A large communal table is the centrepiece of the inside area, adorning the walls of this area are some striking photographic artwork which the artists have for sale. The umbrella-shaded alfresco area has a long shelf with stools running down the side  creating a pleasant setting for a lunchtime break.

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Coffee is the focus with Garrett (he also runs Blink in Fremantle) with whom I had a lengthy discussion about coffee, he has a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry, a sign on the wall tells customers they are welcome to bring their lunches to enjoy with his coffee, a small selection of biscuits and slices are the only food on offer. Coffee is served in takeaway cups, an honour system exists whereby if you have the correct change you just drop it in the chute located in the countertop. I love the layout whereby clients can interact with the barista and share the coffeemaking process instead of standing in front of a counter.

There was a steady flow of eager clients calling in for their daily nectar of the gods so I joined them and ordered a flat white. My flatty was an ideal temperature capped with silky smooth microfoam and a lovely golden brown rim of crema, the blend cut through the milk giving a most pleasurable taste experience and a lingering choc/caramel aftertaste.

Two very well dressed business executives arrived and decided they would have traditional short machs today. I watched as they savoured the viscous liquid in the cups and departed with a huge smile on their faces.

Coffee by Crema Roasters, Kalamunda

I love the rustic ambiance and relaxed style Garrett has created and the passion he displays for what he is doing, sure to be a popular destination! Worth  a couple of beanz

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Trevor Green
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February 13, 2010

309 Exhibition St

Melbourne  VIC  3000

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Well, well, well, here’s one that’s sure to strike a chord with coffee fans around town , it is the re-emergence of the original 7 grams owners, the brothers Haralambopoulos: Con, Peter & Jim…….at their new place called 65 degrees.

Sure to be a hit in the heart of the CBD, 65 degrees has just opened its doors to a caffeine fuelled city that is sure to appreciate the level of quality and meticulous care these brothers are sure to bring with them.

Judging by past performances it’s destined to be a BIG part of Melbourne’s funky cafe scene.

Just opened, it’s still a work in progress with this review being a sneak peek at the place before the brothers smother it with the sort of TLC that true operators show, that really set the great cafes apart from your run of the mill corner shop….

Gracing the bench space is the instantly recognisable little red La Marzocco which is as part of the brothers repertoire as is quality, service and plenty of big smiles…

The lads are now custom roasting all their coffee and let me tell you the ristretto that I was presented with was as good if not better than any I’ve had in recent memory. Need less to say my cafe latte chaser looked incredible and tasted even better, pure poetry in a cup!!

Keep an eye out for the updated review after the renovation in the next few weeks, and whoever emails me @ steve.agi@melbournecoffeereview.com and can tell me what significance the name has, or why you would think to name a cafe 65 degrees will win a copy of the cafe guide 2010 FREE !!

No beans to report yet, waiting for the make over before the official review, but go down and check it out, tell ‘em thecaFFiend sent you! Keep on Caffeining on!

Coffee: Gridlock (Custom Roast)

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Steve Agi
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February 12, 2010

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145 Stirling Highway,

Nedlands WA 6009

Mon-Sat 7am-4pm

A new mecca for specialty coffee has sprung up in the plush western suburb of Nedlands, highly experienced and passionate caffeinistas Justin Kenny and Jonny Nease who already have the runs on the board from Velvet Espresso and it’s reputation for fine coffee have opened up their new venture in the Chelsea village centre in Nedlands.

Coffee lovers and members of the Perth cafe industry have been highly impressed with the nectar of the gods being produced at Elixir so I thought I had better head on down and sample their wares.

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Sitting on the shiny stainless counter is the only three group Synesso Hydra in WA, three Mazzers are lined up with military precision, a wall of funky wallpaper, a row of blackboards  displaying their food and coffee menus sit on the wall behind the counter, high ceilings and comfortable seating create a relaxed atmosphere to spend one’s leisure time enjoying their great fare.

Another room at the back is being fitted out for dining and will open in the near future, behind the scenes they have a shiny new roaster awaiting installation. Once up and running  they will be accessing special micro lot beans sourced from estates in noted regions to enhance their clientele’s appreciation of quality coffee from green bean to the cup.

Jonny presented me with an espresso served in a baby blue demi cup, it was a 2-bean blend of Colombian Carmen de Atrato and El Salvador Santa Sophia. My senses were hit with a zingy fruity hit of acidity displaying good body and mouthfeel leaving a lingering aftertaste, a truly enjoyable espresso experience.

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I followed the espresso with a flat white, the Croatian baby blue cup’s coffee to milk ratio was spot on and with dainty artwork atop silky smooth Bannister Downs milk displaying it’s natural sweetness with  the blend cutting through to give a most pleasurable java hit.

Coffee by Five Senses and supplemented by Elixir once their roaster is commissioned

With coffee craftsmen the calibre of Justin and Jonny at the helm of Elixir, Perth has a new addition to it’s top cafe list.

A must visit and well worth a huge three beanzzzzzzzzzzzz!!

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Trevor Green
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February 10, 2010

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163 Scarborough Beach Rd,

Mt Hawthorn

Open 7am-6pm 7 days

New Norcia Bakeries is a private company which operates under an agreement with the Benedictine Community of New Norcia, 133km north-east of Perth.

Located in a strip of shops in bustling and trendy Mt Hawthorn, New Norcia Bakery has a range of sourdough, yeasted breads, cakes and biscuits along with a range of cheeses, preserves, oils and condiments to tantalise the tastebuds.

The three group Synesso was getting a good workout from the busy baristas, their beans of choice are a custom blend from Five Senses.

I ordered an espresso and sat watching other diners enjoying their coffees and food, my espresso arrived in a white demi cup and saucer and looked visually appealing, temperature was perfect, I experienced an  initial hit of crisp acidity with a hint of citrus with good body that left a rich chocolately aftertaste, a most enjoyable caffeine hit.

After a breather it was time to try a flat white, it was presented in quite a large cup, the microfoam had good texture though it was a tad too hot for my liking, the natural sweetness of the milk complemented the blend giving a smooth milk chocolate taste experience. Being accustomed to having flat whites in 170ml  cups the coffee got a little lost in the larger cup but was still an enjoyable bevy.

Coffee by Five Senses

Great meals, cakes and breads, good coffee and service, check out the website

for a history of the Benedictine monks at New Norcia.

www.newnorciabaker.com.au

Well worth a little brown bean

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Trevor Green
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January 30, 2010

Wanneroo Cultural Centre

3 Rocca Way, Wanneroo

Mon-Fri 7am-6pm

Sat/Sun 8am-5pm

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Cafe Elixir is a recent newcomer to the rapidly expanding area of Wanneroo and is a welcome addition for a populice starved of a decent java hit, on arrival my old work mate Stewie and his family were just finishing lunch and gave the generous portioned meals the thumbs up.

Cafe Elixir is located in the new $20m. Wanneroo Cultural Centre which houses a library, art gallery and museum, what better way to spend some time than soaking up a bit of culture and then lingering over cofee and a tasty all day breakfast or lunch.

The interior is spacious, light and bright with polished terrazo floors, comfortable seating with  a shaded alfresco area to sit and watch the world go by.

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They’ve got some serious hardware comprising a Synesso 3 group Sabre and Mazzer Robur electronic with Five Senses beans in the hopper.

I started prodeedings with an espresso which was served at an ideal temperature, it looked and smelt a treat having medium acidity and a hint of citrus, good body with a lovely rich crema, choc/cocoa notes and lingering aftertaste.

I followed up the spro with a flat white which was a tad hot for my liking, the blend cut through the silky textured milk giving a smooth choc/caramel taste experience.

Coffee by Five Senses

A welcome addition for this mega growth district serving good food and coffee, keep up the good work,  gotta be a worth  one bean!!

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Trevor Green
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January 17, 2010

@ David Jones

297 Little Collins St

Melbourne   VIC   3000

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Well here it is, after the small taste late 2009, the CaFFiend is finally proud to bring to you the official review of the much talked about and the amazing new concept in caffeination , the Sensory Lab.

So many reviews, so much talk, so much hype!

Is it all true? Is it all worth the fuss?

So many reviews, everyone is talking about it, it’s all the rage, the CaFFiend feels a bit overwhelmed trying to even mix it up with some of the best palates in the country who have given the latest addition to the Malatesta Corporation stable a go.

Words cannot explain the experience, for that is what it is, it is soooo much more than merely a cafe, is it the way of the future? Is this the first ripple of a fast approaching fourth wave? As it looks as if we have moved on from the standard fare of in house roasting and the whole third wave movement and embraced the natural evolution to make coffee into a total sensory experience.

The coffee(s) must be tasted to be believed, the focus on education and customer service exemplary, the whole experience is something that I highly recommend for anyone who is keen on trying not only some amazing coffee but experiencing something totally new.

Without a doubt 3 BIG BEANS, a real winner that must be experienced to be believed. Make sure you check it out, it is the future of coffee, tell ‘em the CaFFiend sent you!

Coffee: St Ali

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Steve Agi
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