Las Chicas

203 Carlisle St
Balaclava VIC 3182

Well as you all know there’s so much going on down here, so many cool cafes, so much awesome choice; lets duck into here for a quick bite and a sample of the Devil’s Cup from, ‘the chicks.’
This place has quite a reputation in coffee circles, and with so many quality cafés all around, it better live up to my expectations, espresso nirvana was all around.
Modern and hip, this well fitted out and extremely popular café was a definite favorite of the locals, a younger crowd, busy eating, drinking, chitting, chatting, just chilling out with ‘the chicks’
Cool!
Even I almost felt cool just being there, and that’s a big ask….
My espresso arrived, a bit pale, a bit thin, a bit disappointing. The flavors were there, just, the mouthfeel was weak, the taste a bit flat and rancid…
Never mind, I’ve had worse, the slight over extraction, judging by the shot, was to blame, obviously as it morphed the otherwise dense and viscous nectar into a watery mess.
My chaser arrived it hopefully would make up for the entrée and it was a relief to see the café latte was well textured, the milk beautiful and smooth, like silk, the temperature perfect, the interaction of espresso and milk perfect, with the balance of flavors quite smooth and balanced.
An excellent café latte, well served and presented by friendly, courteous and busy staff.
Overall a respectable experience, although I would recommend greater care, especially when serving the nectar of the Gods in its pure and unadulterated form, to desecrate such a beverage is almost unpardonable, but in this case, I’ll make an exception, given the quality of the café latte.
One Bean and a promise I’ll be back, to make sure that the quest for espresso nirvana continues with these chicks..and with that you qualify to join the ever growing ranks of the coffee-elite @:
http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….The CaFFiend!!!

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Coffee: Di Bella

Tryst Coffee House Bar & Lounge

2459 18th Street NW

Washington DC USA

Since the birth of my son, coffee drinking has morphed from a purely palate driven aesthetic to an aid that prevents me from nodding off and drooling on myself at two o'clock in the afternoon. Unfortunatelybeing the snob that I am, even in such arduous times settling for a simple shot of slop will never do.

My latest search for deliciouscoffee took me to Tryst, a local favorite of DC's grunge-hip Adam's Morgan (think Fitzroy, only grungier) a place that I am frequently assured by many locals as one of the best coffee joints in the city.Let me inject some personal bias into this equation. I had previously sampled Tryst's coffee in early 2008 and I believe the words "never again" followed the experience. I received an overcooked, flavorless mess after viewing a milk-caked steam wand inserted into a jug and left unattended while it screamed in pain, appropriately capping a washy, under extracted shot. I heard on the grapevine Tryst had revamped their coffee and I decided to return to see what improvements came off the old drawing board.

Thankfully, Tryst now offer the option of 8 oz 'To-Go' cups (otherwise known to Aussies as a "normal" size) which is a rare but welcome sight in the typically Godzilla-volume US beverage universe. Locals loveTryst's digs for many reasons (chai lattes, food, atmosphere, evening beers etc) and the place is constantly packed, so with nowhere to sit my missus and I ordered two 8 oz café lattes to go. I watched the barista pay far closer attention to the shot pull and the milk than my previous visit with two better-looking coffees as a result. Unfortunately, taste wise they were entirely different. Mine had a strong, unpleasantly sour aftertaste. Amazingly, my wife's drink was completely the opposite - creamy and smooth with no harsh bite on the back of the palate. The dramatic contrast between two beverages that were supposedly the same was a real worry. It's nice to be able to rely on a place for dependable coffee quality. Although kudos must go to them for a stronger focus on prep, which is a positive step toward improving consistency woes. Tryst is not a front runner of the DC coffee-pack in my book. However it's definitely no longer one I'll be completely turning my nose up at.
ONE BEAN (for the good cup) here @ Tryst's, and thank you Eric for anothee exceptional Washington Post (pun intended), but what's with the Counter Culture coffee?

Is there another brand out there?!?!?!All we seem to be seeing is Counter Culture guys...

Melbourne Coffee Review have introduced HOTSHOTS, the BEST of the BEST:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

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Coffee: Counter Culture

Lawson Grove Shop

1 Lawson Grove
South Yarra VIC 3141

Well, the journey continues and it was because of this place that I was nearly late for my radio show this morning, but damn! Their coffee was sooooo good, I lost track of time.
Nestled and hidden away in a back street of South Yarra just off Caroline St, this humble and unassuming café cum local store was such a well kept secret it took the ex-pat Eric out in Washington DC, doing all the reviews for us, to send through the recommendation, and boy was it a doozy!
Homely and friendly a real ‘local’ feel, with lots of communal tables and seating space if you don’t mind sharing this joint is quite well known for it’s exquisite menu and delightful home-cooked meals, but it was the coffee that drew the CaFFiend’s attention.
I ordered an espresso a bit concerned when the barista looked only a few years older than my eldest daughter, but I thought of the old saying, do not judge a book by it’s cover and began the tasting with an open mind and a salivating mouth.
There was a distinct chocolate on the nose which prepared me for what was about to pass through my lips. A dense crema separated to reveal a thick and rich nectar that covered my tongue perfectly with a powerful start a complex middle and an exciting finish, ‘God-shot’ I thought!
Should I stay or should I go? I had to be at the studio in Box Hill 1o minutes ago for the first installment of 'The Devil's Cup', but the coffee was just so good, God what to do?
Oh to hell with it, I ordered a café latte and began to stress that I’d be late.
It arrived perfectly textured and heated, smooth as silk, the milk adequately intermingling with the espresso shot, which snuck through revealing the tell tale umber edgings of perfection.
Down it went, too fast, now I was in a hurry, didn’t even get time to enjoy this one, what’s a boy to do, it’s a dirty job but somebody’s gotta do it.......
Now I was really late but as you all know I made it on time in the end, and managed to squeeze in another review of one of Melbourne’s stellar performers, LGS, who with the THREE beans that the Caffiend awards, definitely qualify as a Melbourne Coffee Review HOTSHOT, and for all the rest check out:


http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/



Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….



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Coffee: GRAVITY





p.s. Its open 7 days!!!! WOW!!!!

Open City

2331 Calvert St NW

(Corner 24th Street)

Washington DC USA

"If it was a snake it would have bitten you on the bum" my Dad used to say. This means sometimes, the thing you seek is staring you straight in the face, yet you still manage to overlook it for whatever reason. In this case the search for excellent coffee was right under my nose all along, mere blocks from my house. Open City is a coffeehouse and diner in the Woodley Park-Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington DC. If, like me, you have driven past this place nearly every day for the past two years and said "I have to try the coffee at that place" but never quite gotten around to it, it's time to get off your procrastinating posterior and give your taste buds an exercise in the sublime. Open City is quite simply one of the best damn coffee joints in Washington DC. I have searched far and wide across the spectrum of coffee snobbery in this city, frequently underwhelmed at each turn -but not today. I rolled in to Open City in the late afternoon -hardly a typical time for caffination except for those of us hunting for the delicious bean like a curious toddler for an egg on EasterSunday. Decor wise the place looks like a cozy old pub. The interior has a beautiful pressed metal-looking ceiling with character filled wooden floors, giving a warmth to the place that would be greatly enhanced when the place is bustling. The ample glass windows look, give view to the beautiful red-gold foliage that is characteristic of D.C.'s autumn at this time of year. I ordered a Caffe Latte and an Espresso. First the Espresso - no overbearing acidity or bitterness at all, quite thick and even on thepalate - really chocolate smooth - the single best espresso shot I have had since setting foot on US soil. No joke, it was THAT good.However as with many of the recent searches for caffeine perfection, I wasn't expecting both the shot AND the latte to be a winner. Usually the way it works in my US coffee experiences is the barista pulls a good shot, but misses the boat with the milk, or vice versa. Not this time, much to my pleasant surprise the latte was thick, not perfectly textured but very good with the texture of a well mixed Milo. There was no bitterness at all, my only criticism was that it tasted a little weak and I probably could have done a double shot in the latte to compensate as it was a little milky. However it's a minor criticism. Today, I felt like the Indiana Jones of caffeine stumbling across valuable coffee treasures that need to be shared with the world. If you are anywhere inside the D.C. beltway - go to Open Cityand see what a well made coffee tastes like.

TWO BIG BEANS! And a sigh of relief from the CaFFiend, I thought poor Eric was going to die of lack of caffeine while over in the states, finally some real joy!

KUDOS to you guys, and remember that life is too short to drink bad coffee so Melbourne Coffee Review have introduced HOTSHOTS, the BEST of the BEST:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Counter Culture

Home Barista Institute

229 Victoria St
West Melbourne VIC 3003

Well here I was outside the iconic Melbourne Coffee Landmark, HBI!
The home of Ricky and Rita, who are the ultimate in Coffee connoisseurs.
This dynamic duo not only operate this respected and busy café, they advise, consult, train and teach one and all on all things coffee, from the budding home-barista to the inexperienced café hopeful, looking for both education and inspiration.
They hold classes, sell equipment, serve the locals lunch and above all prepare a devilishly delectable drop!!
One of Melbourne’s finest to be exact!
I ordered an espresso to begin the festivities and was treated to sensory bliss, my palate awash with a delicate fruity beverage that was both dense with hints of nuttiness and a citrusy finish.
This was followed by a café latte that was expertly prepared at perfect temperature and combination of espresso and milk.
The barista’s here are well trained and taught to not merely make coffee, but to create a masterpiece, each and every time.
A very pleasurable afternoon, an excellent recommendation to all of you, with 2 beans for the team at HBI and a welcome addition to our exclusive HOTSHOT listing.
For all the best that THE CAFFIEND has found in his quest for the ultimate DEVIL’s CUP, check it out @:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Melba

Baked and Wired

1052 Thomas Jefferson St N.W.

Washington D.C. U.S.A.

It would be fair to say that Washington DC has something of an obsession with elaborately flavored cupcakes. Seriously, the Mid-Atlantic region is home to at least a dozen specialty cupcake stores, with a constant stream of promises that more are on the way.The movement has flipped the script on cupcakes being a simple side dish which accompanies coffee or follows a meal, placing it squarely front and center as a standalone food.

Baked and Wired are a good head above the pack in the DC cupcake scene and despite the name evoking some serious stoner connotations, there is nothing indicating any drugs were used during the making of these cakes.

Their near orgasmic- yes you read it right, ORGASMIC - array of flavours has my regular Aussie visitors weak at the knees and begging for one last succulent bite on their way back to the airport. However, this is not the"Melbourne Cupcake Review" and the reason I was here, was that Baked and Wired are reportedly also fairly serious about their espresso coffee.

As with many other recent reviews, Counter Culture beans seem to feature prominently in many "committed" coffee establishments in these parts, so I fronted up to test the barista's chops with a double espresso and cafe latte.The espresso was presented in a small white porcelain cup with a beautiful golden crema, and a delicious full bodied aroma. The shot was so smooth, sweet on the front of the palate with chocolaty overtones and a comfortable bite on the back - very nicely balanced."Surely a couple of beans here...." I reckoned to myself between mouthfuls of a "Bitchin' Peanut Butter" on chocolate cupcake. My eyes grew wide as I turned my attention to the cafe latte. One mouthful later my bright sunshine clouded a little. Ahh the grim disappointment of a bitter and slightly burnt tasting latte tainted what otherwise was a successfully caffeinated afternoon. However the milk was well textured, which eased the pain of the imperfect espresso shot, slightly.....ahhhh no it didn't - who am I kidding!?!?

Sadly, shooting 50% from the stripe won't cut the mustard for two beans in this league but I'm definitely giving them one BIG one, with the promise to return in future.

BTW...Did I mention the cupcakes were AMAZING? ;o)

Thanks Eric, sounds like a reall winner, even if the coffee was a bit hit and miss, at least you found some beans in the end, take note Team Caffeine if you plan to travel out to Washington anytime soon for to get your caffeine hit, and for all the best that Melbourne has to offer check out all the action @:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Counter Culture

Coffee HIT

G217 Westfield Shopping Centre
Doncaster Road
Doncaster VIC 3108

The gauntlet was thrown down, could it be possible to find some beans in a shopping centre? Were these giant temples of consumerism and greed capable of housing a true devotee of the Devil’s Cup? Was there any hope?

OH YEAH!!!! BIG TIME!!!

On with the GPS again this time to Doncaster, hope it’s a good one, what a hike!!!
As I stroll around this impressive shopping centre I quickly locate my target.
Easily recognizable by the glass encased red-roaster, what a feature for a food court café to have, an instant hit!
“An espresso please,” I ask the young lady behind the machine, quite expectantly, as this place comes really highly recommended and boy oh boy were they right.
Out comes a Devil’s Cup that would make Lucifer himself blush, dense crema, fruity aroma, the nose was preparing the palate for an orgy!
WOW! What a drop, amazing, so much body and mouthfeel, perfect right through the palate, a real sensory HIT! (pun intended)
With the caffeine pumping through my veins I don’t hesitate to order the chaser, my café latte to relax the nerves.
Delicately adorned with a perfect Rosetta this flawlessly textured beverage makes me kick back, smile, enjoy and forget the days woes! It is truly heavenly! ANGELIC!!!
Benji, dude: if you’re ever out that way, go down and see Zoe @ COFFEE HIT for your caffeine HIT, she will HIT you for 6: GUARANTEED!

2 beans here and a BIG HIT!! THANK YOU to Zoe and the team @ Coffee HIT for a shopping centre experience that was totally pleasurable even if it meant driving half way around town!!!
For all the best that THE CAFFIEND has found in his quest for espresso nirvana, check it out @:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Coffee HIT

Turtle Cafe

34 Glenhuntly Rd

(on the corner of Ormond and Glenhuntly Rds)Elwood VIC 3184

The search goes on….on and on….and let’s hope that the old adage holds true especially in this case, that slow and steady wins the race.
We all know the fable of the hare and the turtle and so it was with trepidation and hope that I entered this iconic café, a landmark of sorts in sunny Elwood.
Idyllic scenery, excellent locale, delicious menu, and hopefully a Devil’s Cup fit for the Gods!
A friendly and homely café which seemed really popular and busy in amongst so much competition, gee I though they must be doing something right, I hope it’s the coffee!!!!
I ordered an espresso asking for it to be extracted really short..The waitress brings it over to my table with a glass of water, which I reckon is a must at all good cafes these days, and I am instantly transfixed by the dense and thick golden crema as well as the wafting aromas that ready the palate for what is to come.
A complex yet subtle interplay of flavours with a clean finish, plenty of middle and an intense start, quite an amazing feeling, almost memorable…
I sit, read, enjoy; happy to be alive and then try again, a café latte this time, and even though it is mid afternoon it is still acceptable here in Melbourne to order this beverage, were we in Milan or Rome it would be utter blasphemy!
Nevertheless it is a tad too hot, a tad to fluffy a tad taddish, whatever that means!
The milk certainly overpowered the coffee and left me craving another espresso, which promptly arrived to compensate for the lackluster performance of the café latte, which even though was not to my liking was still alot better than most places around town.
ONE Strong bean here and truly slow and steady had won the race, the Turtle was both consistent as well as meticulous in their homage to the Devil’s Cup, well done; you now qualify as one of Melbourne’s elite, a true HOTSHOT café.

For all the best that THE CAFFIEND has found in his journeys, check it out @:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Genovese

Piccolo Espresso

149 High St
Prahran VIC 3181

Piccolo conjures to me images of small and cute, so as I walked into this trendy café just off Chapel St, I already had preconceptions, they were quickly dispelled.
This one was a recommendation from one of our FANS on FACEBOOK, so I was quick to head out, as I got a stack of emails following up the initial post telling me to go down and give it a go…so here I was.
The place was quite small and cozy, the furniture tatty and rustic, the DJ station spinning the vinyl, WHAT THE?!?! I looked again and right next to the coffee machine was the source of the cool music coming out of the place; vynil records, BRILLIANT!
I thought I’d be clever and order a piccolo espresso, the barista nodded comfortably, I felt reassured.
I took a seat and out came my ristretto, the play of colors and inflection of the crema was mesmerizing, I was in a trance….
Supreme is always top notch and this place did not let me down, the subtle nuances of flavours and the complex mouthfeel were idyllic, pure bliss, and what a finish, a complete journey!
I was quick to follow it up with a piccolo latte as that seemed to be the theme of the day and boy did this guy know how to pull a shot, as I watched him extract another 30ml nectar of the Gods, which he skillfully combined with perfectly heated and textured milk.
In one word: EXQUISITE!!!
Thank you team caffeine you have made this journey more and more exciting with every recommendation, keep ‘em coming!!!!
Truly there is nothing small about this place, well maybe only the name, another 2 BIG beans here from the CAFFIEND and another qualifier to join the coveted Melbourne Coffee Review HOTSHOT listing:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on……. The CAFFIEND!

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Supreme

Pagoda

135 Victoria Avenue
Albert Park VIC 3206



Well you know what, this place should’ve been reviewed a long time ago, it' my local hang out, my local caffeine stop.
You see as ridiculous as this may sound I don’t own a coffee machine, why, you may ask? Well one they’re really high maintenance to keep clean properly, two, the beans always go stale and three why sit at home drinking coffee when there are so many beautiful places to go out there and discover and support.
Well this place is my place! Ambience, Cool, Trendy and LOCATION.
Bayside in chic Albert Park, it is a café cum restaurant with a delicious menu, reasonably priced and above all excellent coffee.
Did I mention SYNESSO? I’m sure I did! That magic word again that sends my taste buds into an expectant frenzy….
As always my ristretto is perfect; smooth, with a dense crema, fruity hints with a strong citrus finish, chased with a café latte it is quite the experience.
My wife and I regularly enjoy this homage to Beelzebub’s Chalice, a perfectly prepared Devil’s Cup which leaves you craving for more. It is so good it must be a sin!
The team at PAGODA really pay careful attention to their customers and provide excellent service across the board at a very reasonable price. Combine that with incredible coffee and you have the perfect combination to qualify as a Melbourne Coffee Review HOTSHOT Café; I’m sure you’d all agree!!!!
2 huge beans and a big THANK YOU! To my local caffeine stop. Because of you I can get through an otherwise caffeine free weekend and continue the pilgrimage to find the perfect espresso around town.

For all the best that THE CAFFIEND has found in his journeys, check it out @:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: 5ive Senses

Murky Coffee

3211 Wilson Blvd

Arlington VA USA

My recent jaunts into Virginia looking for delightful espresso had been a series of less than satisfying affairs. So, I turned to a reputed heavy-hitter of the DC area to deliver the goods. Murky Coffee is a name spoken with reverence when it comes to espresso perfection in these parts.
Allow me to indulge you in a little bit of the Murky background - In the land of the half-caf-skinny-soy-caramel-sweetened-mocha-venti-frappacino; it was well documented earlier this year that a barista of Murky refused to serve an espresso drink over ice - it was considered a "violation of store policy" - presumably because they respected the precious bean too much to desecrate it with ice.
The refusal offended the requesting customer so much that the incident sparked a small media furor about whether a barista should be giving a customer what they want.
Article link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/16/AR2008071602018.html

Finally resulting in a public backing of the barista by the cafe's owner. In many coffee lover's books, this gives Murky some coffee "street cred" for sticking to their guns on standards and represents their commitment to espresso, flying in the face of the more fashionable coffee-based drinks preferred by the less palate-savvy masses of the USA.

Unsurprisingly with such a rep for espresso love, getting a spot in this place is difficult despite plenty of seating. The cafe is tucked in a cool historic building with scuffed concrete floors that looks to be an old garage, giving it a chic urban feel.
I ordered - as always a double espresso and a cafe latte.
The espresso presented with one of the darkest cremas I have seen which had me a tad concerned from the outset - and justifiably so - despite the thickness of the pull, the flavor was strongly bitter, bordering on sour.
Much to my delight however, the cafe latte paid reparations for the espresso and was a solid effort, with a mild, balanced flavor requiring no sugar at all. The drink was smooth, with creamy, well textured milk, although not quite as silken as I would typically like.
So with the split result and a tough decision to be made, I award Murky Coffee one BIG bean, although I will promise myself to venture out to Virginia again at some stage down the track and give that double espresso a second chance.

--
(MCR Comment).

Well Team Caffeine, Eric certainly is rocking my caffeine fuelled world: Well done Champ, finally some satisfaction, but with all the hoopla about the in store incident I would have expected much better from this one.

GOD! I followed all the links and posts regarding the ‘iced-espresso’ incident and was amazed at the pettiness of it all, great reading though, my 2 bob’s worth is that the customer is ALWAYS right, so just do what they want; explain, suggest, recommend etc etc but if that’s what they want, if that’s what they’re happy to pay for, then just do it!!

I’m sure you’d all agree!

Anyway, GOOD WORK mate and remember guys for all the HOTSHOT cafes that Melbourne has to offer check out:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on……. The Caffiend!!

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Counter Culture

Xocolatl @ Queen VIC Market

115-121 Victoria Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

All I wanted was something sweet, I wasn’t even really looking for a coffee, when I strolled past this incredible looking place, Xocolatl, WHAT THE!?!?!
How do you pronounce that?? What does it mean??? Do they sell coffee??
I know, I know, I said I wasn’t looking for a coffee, but come on, give me a break it’s Friday arvo…..well do they I thought as I looked around.
Asking for my customary espresso at this time of the day I was politely told that they offered a single origin tasting plate……..WOW!
Now I was hooked, YES PLEASE! I’ll have 5! Oops did I say that aloud?!?!?!
Well sir, its an Ethiopian Sidamo and it comes with two chocolates to compliment and contrast flavours as well as tasting notes, OH MY GOD!!!
Make it 10!!!!!
I was so excited, that I phoned a friend who worked nearby to come and try, a guinea pig of sorts, GOD! In all my travels, never something this exciting, this innovative, a single origin tasting plate! DOUBLE WOW!
As I eyed off my espresso I could not help to notice the wafting aromas on the nose. The shot was great with a dense crema, adequate mouthfeel and combined with the Valrohna Madagascar was amazing! The acidic notes of the chocolate enhanced the hints of praline in this delicate and smooth espresso. In contrast the cherry and pistachio praline really seemed to bring out the flavours of the espresso shot adding to this back palate finish….I did not dare order a café latte as my mouth was in afterglow at the moment…
My mate James arrived and I quickly ordered another round, without even asking him, now he’s more of your latte kinda guy, but let me tell you a picture is worth a thousand words and his face lit up as the flavours, both complex and sublime began to do their thing on his palate….
“Oh my god bro,” he said,”that was incredible…is this what you do all day, while I’m bloody stuck in an office?” he smiled, as we ordered one more round….too much is never enough!!!
Seriously though team caffeine, do yourselves a favour and go check this place out! There’s two more which I will head out and review soon in Kew and Canterbury, but for now I have found the Kings of Coffee at the Queen Vic Market.
2 BIG beans and an X-rating for this Xtraordinary, Xciting, Xquisite chocolate shop.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: and for all the best that THE CAFFIEND has found in his journeys, check it out @:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Jaspers

Pancake Parlour

Chadstone Shopping Centre
Dandenong Rd
Chadstone VIC 3148

Well team Caffeine, here’s one that was totally unexpected, right out of nowhere!!!
I swear it was the kids, it wasn’t me, but how can you say no to those puppy dog eyes…so in we strolled!
I’m sure you’ve all bean to one of these LOVELY establishments somewhere to partake of their PANCAKE inspired delights!
LOVELY!
If you say so….
Anyway, I ordered and received my café latte as did my wife.
I wasn’t brave enough to try an espresso, all I could hear was the pig-squeal of the steam wand buried deep within the milk jug, I don’t even know why I do this to myself….but I needed a shot of caffeine so bad, anything, something, bring it on!!!!!
Well, do you all remember my one-sipper reviews from a while back?
Well, relative to this one, they would be getting bean ratings!
LOVELY….NOT!!!!
Burnt coffee, burnt milk, burnt bridges, sorry but I know that Beraldo does a better coffee than that, I’ve had it around town.
Honestly my wife, who is VERY forgiving with coffee and cafes, could not even finish it, as hard as she tried to be polite, I could not even begin it, I could barely look at it!
Anyway enough is snough, the pancakes were grouse, the kids ice-cream was brilliant as were their milkshakes, but the coffee; welcome to the one-sip club!!!
Maybe next time I should head straight to an MCR HOTSHOT café for my caffeine shot:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Beraldo

Cassatt's: A Kiwi Cafe

4536 Lee Hwy

Arlington, VA USA

It's not every day you stumble across a Kiwi style cafe in the Northern Hemisphere, or anywhere for that matter - but if one thing's for sure, the good old US of A has a little bit of everything.

Apparently, Cassatt's is the product of an American who fell in love with NZ and decided to recreate a small slice of it in Northern Virginia. They offer a gourmet selection of Kiwi wines, pies, cakes and even pavlova which is a stellar choice if you are really homesick for some downunder.

The decor definitely seperates this place from other cafes in the region - there is an almost Wal Footrot chic about the place -a quirky mix of a cosy sheep farmer's living room and an RSL -definitely a winning combination while you have a bite to eat.

However, for those of us in the know when it comes to coffee, the ideaof a NZ cafe is a tantalising drawcard - some say parts of NZ exceed even Melbourne when it comes to antipodean caffeine excellence.

Understandibly then, the blood was rushing to taste what bean skills Cassatt's had to offer.

I was looking for a coffee with a harder kick than an excited sheep(especially with my newborn son keeping me up all night) so I ordered a flat white and an espresso. For you Melbournians who take Flat Whites in your stride, I'll have you know that over in these parts this drink is referred to as a "latte, no foam" (courtesy of some mega-franchises that you've probably never heard of) so it's a nice touch to be able to use a familar dialect when ordering coffee.

The espresso arrived with a very dark layer of crema on top. Curiously it was also served with a wedge of lemon on the side - I wasn't sure if Iwas supposed to suck it like after a tequila shot. Unfortunately that may have been the idea, as the espresso was more bitter than a Richard Hadlee hat-trick against the Aussie opening batting order. The flat white, sadly was also a little too bitter with the milk well over-cooked.

I would have loved to give this place a bean or two, just my way of trying to extend an olive branch to our Trans-Tasman neighbours attoning for years of inappropriate jokes and beatings in cricket. However the true strength of Cassatt's is some great chow and cakes and despite my coffee experience we will certainly be going there again for a bite to eat in the future.--

Team Caffeine, Eric really rocks, EXCELLENT, pity about the coffee, loved the line about the Tequila, CLASSIC!!!

Thanks mate for the best and the worst that the U.S. has to offer, and remember guys for all the HOTSHOT cafes that Melbourne has to offer check out:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on……. The Caffiend!!

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Vege2go

452 Lygon Street
Brunswick East VIC 3057

Back out to East Brunswick guys, on my way through to a recommendation in Fitzroy, thought I’d stop in at an old fav for a sample of God’s nectar, when I spotted this place.
Bright, fresh and clean; a real uplifting and happy place, which really raised my spirits as I entered.
Maybe it was the whole vegetarian vibe, the whole meat free thing going on, you know, no killing or dead meat anywhere…
What an interesting concept, VEGITALIAN, a real twist on traditional Italian food, modestly priced, perfectly presented, deliciously delectable.
I ordered my customary espresso, not expecting too much as the place didn’t really seem coffee-centric. Boy was I wrong!! Never judge a book by its cover.
Not only was it dense and viscous, the golden crema aromatic, with hints of chocolate on the nose, the body and mouthfeel were brilliant, front to back palate was a journey, hints of citrus and a little earthy, quite enigmatic…
What is this Javagold, a newcomer? Fairtrade/Organic, I was impressed so I ordered a café latte to see what happened once milk was added to the equation. I was quite expectant now!
The barista was obviously well schooled and proceeded to heat and texture, perfectly presenting a delicate symphony of espresso and warmed milk, silky smooth and deliciously decadent, the interaction of textures and flavors perfect, no bitterness just a smooth and full bodied beverage that warmed the cockles of my heart. Pure bliss!
I was intrigued, JAVAGOLD….what was all that about? Anyone out there heard of these guys or even tried it elsewhere?
Wishing to remain anonymous I thanked them and carried on my merry way, a real pick me up to keep me going on this caffeine fueled journey!
The Caffiend was impressed and awards 2 BEANS to the team @ Vege2go who are truly doing everything right and really are welcome to join the exclusive BEST of the BEST at Melbourne Coffee Review's HOTSHOTS:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Food for life, Coffee to die for!! Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: JAVAGOLD

Octane Espresso

5 McKillop Street
Melbourne CBD VIC 3000


After my last three attempts at Espresso satisfaction, I was really looking out for something amazing today, something intense, something totally ‘high-octane’ to kickstart the week; please gimme satisfaction!!!
As I walked past and then back into the Haunted bookshop down McKillop St, I spied, OCTANE Espresso, how promising I thought, first things first though, it was time to have a bit of a browse around the land of the occult.
Flicking through the occult literature, all I could think of was the impending espresso, sure to be much more of a spiritual experience than anything I could possibly find here, but an interesting stop on my pilgrimage anyway.
Stepping down into the Octane lounge, I was greeted by a warm and friendly barista, who was quick to make me feel welcome in amongst the regulars and the sea of faces.
“Take a seat, I’ll bring your ristretto right over,” and instantly it arrived in a warmed, thick rimmed and hand-made demitasse cup, absolutely incredible!
A thick, rich crema concealed the restricted shot of pure nectar, a true homage to the God of the underworld, much more deep and dark than anything that a mere bookshop could invoke.
I quickly went back for another drink from the Devil’s Cup; a double shot café latte please!
Perfectly textured milk, combined with 30mls of delightfully devilish espresso to produce the ultimate homage to a power that has fuelled the world since time began.
3 BIG beans and a HIGH-OCTANE rush here, team caffeine. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! For all the best that THE CAFFIEND has found in his journeys, check it out @:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: AMANTI/OCTANE Blend

p.s. Check out the old school turntable in the corner behind my coffee in the photo, really cool guys! Really Cool!!!!! KUDOS!!!!

Grape and Bean

Suite 1

118 South Royal St

Old Town Alexandria

Northern Virginia U.S.A.

G’day Team Caffeine, Eric here the ex-pat, doing his tour of duty out in the States!!
This time we’re out to North Virginia as the hunt continues for the ultimate U.S. Espresso, or in this case the CLOVER!
Grape and Bean is a gourmet destination for Northern Virginians looking for a good drop of "vin", exquisite chocolates, and one of the finest selection of beans around. The store is tucked into the side streets of the cobblestoned and historic Old Town, a superb place fora stroll any time of year. May I also say that the staff here are absolutely some of the friendliest people I have met in this part of the world and will really take time to talk about the selection of coffee beans on offer.

I certainly didn't enter the place with the intention of anything other than a delicious espresso, however was quickly told they didn't serve anything other than a "Clover Press". Apparently these machines satisfy the gourmet coffee cravings of Americans all over and according to the assistant behind the counter "Is kind of like a fancyFrench press that sucks the water out". Therefore my recommendation is that if you want a good espresso from Bean and Grape - buy the beans and take them home.

I thought "Why not give it a go?" and chose a Mexican roast from Zaragoza for my individual serve. The texture of coffee from a clover machine is far less viscous in nature, some would say watery even,than a typical espresso, more similar to filtered coffee. A palate that prefers espresso is often going to have a hard time with this style of coffee, no matter how great or expensive the machine purportedly is (this one was $11,000 US bucks worth) it seems to simply produce a slightly better version of the same thing.

My suspicions were confirmed on the first sip - the flavor was light, a little sweet but really thin and I called it a day after a couple of mouthfuls. So while I have to admit, that this clover style coffee is one of the better tasting watery coffees I have imbibed (after ahealthy dose of sugar) it is still not going to light up my radar when I go hunting for the tasty bean.
Sorry guys no beans here but a hell of an experience and a great day out, filled with good chocolates, great wine, really friendly staff and of course the CLOVER; Grape and Bean is a definite place worth visiting.

Thanks mate for the best and the worst that the U.S. has to offer, and remember guys for all the HOTSHOT cafes that Melbourne has to offer check out:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on……. The Caffiend!!

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Assorted beans and blends

Rive Gauche Café

Shop G27, Southgate Wharf
Southbank VIC 3006

Saturday morning, a beautiful Melbourne day, out for a stroll and some breakfast with my beautiful wife and kids, down on a whim and prayer to Southgate.

Let’s see if we can start the weekend, better than the way the week ended.
Confidently I entered the food court, as this one was a recommendation, trying to spot this temple of caffeine holiness.
Man was I pumped, I was almost aching for an espresso, I could feel it in my bones, I had butterflies in my stomach I was so excited, like a high school kid on his first date……
I spied the coffee palace, interesting I thought and nonchalantly strolled over looking for signs of reverence.
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not again, not twice in two days, this was shaping up to be a hat-trick guys of no beans!
Proudly waving the CoffeX flag I wondered if this was the place I was meant to try out, sadly it was!
I sulked for a bit, until my wife slapped me and reminded me the kids were hungry.
I ordered a ristretto, to kick start the day and got about 50mls of dishwater, THANKS!
I didn’t bother to try another, so I tucked into my magnificent muffin and grabbed a vitamin water, God, life is hard!!!

As I spied my wife's cafe latte I was almost in tears not only at her expression trying to drink it, but by the look of the milk, all air and bubbles, no umber edging, no texture, no taste, NO HOPE!
Oh well I thought things can only get better, that’s a hat-trick of no-beaners guys, I really need to find the nearest MCR HOTSHOT café:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: CoffeX

Espresso Bar @ The Melbourne Marriott Hotel

Corner Exhibition Street & Lonsdale Street

Melbourne CBD VIC 3000

Well team caffeine it was bound to happen, it was inevitable……after so much joy, so much pleasure, there was bound to be pain, there was bound to be disappointment, there was The Espresso Bar.
What a great and simple name, so promising, so inviting; I was instantly drawn to partake in another offering of the Devil’s Cup, and boy was I pumped, even their San Marino did not faze me, I was like a cat in heat.
Puzzled at the barista’s response to my request for an espresso, I tried to work out how to explain to her that it only came in one size, there was no need to ask me if I wanted a small, medium or large….I was worried, sweating bullets infact!
I emphasized the shortness of the extraction as I walked to my seat, hoping, praying, waiting…
Out it came, their offering to a weary pilgrim, in the trademark, D’Oro ‘egg-cup’ almost to the rim, SHOCK, HORROR, SCANDAL, NIXON!!!!!!!!
NO! NO! NO! I cried as I lamented the lost opportunity for satisfaction, for my afternoon HIT!
A watery, over-extracted mess, no crema to speak of, burnt, acrid and bitter, what a shame, and to think that with a bottle of EVIAN I was left with very little change out of a $10 note……well at last there was a free biscuit with it to console me.
Sorry guys no beans here, maybe someone else has bean(pun intended) and can comment, maybe I caught them on a bad day, maybe a café called Espresso Bar should know that you cannot serve an espresso in small, medium or large, maybe I should go and grab a coffee at one of MCR’s HOTSHOT cafes:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Piazza D’Oro

CAFENATICS 1

387 Flinders Lane
Melbourne CBD VIC 3000

Well by now you all know that I am Melbourne’s very own CAFFIEND, always out and about, hunting that elusive caffeine hit, the ultimate God Shot; and in the words of the Stones, “ I can’t get no, satisfaction!”
Well I can and I have, many times, but it was just such a cool quote I wanted to throw it in there anyway.
Well today the caffiend bumped heads with another Melbourne icon, the CAFENATIC!
Heard of him? NO? Well he is a curious species, one of a kind; truly I have met no one else like him throughout my pilgrimage on this caffeine fuelled journey, luckily I was granted the honor of meeting Joseph Haddad, the barista’s barista today.
CAFENATIC: A curious play on words, conjuring images of coffee, caffeine, addicts, fanatics and frantic: HEY! THAT SOUNDS LIKE ME!!!!
As I entered this modest and unassuming café I was greeted by a buzzing and enthusiastic crowd, happy smiling faces, pleasant staff, a delicious array of food and above all a shiny white La Marzocca that just meant that I was in for a great afternoon, or so I hoped!!!
Mark the young maestro on the machine extracted me a ristretto that almost made me shed tears of joy, what a crema, what an aroma, what a drop…he effortlessly followed this up with a café latte that apart from being an aesthetic joy with it’s perfectly poured rosetta was both perfect on the palate and on the nose, turning milk into silk he managed to blend 30mls of espresso perfectly to create a harmony that satisfied the caffiend completely!
Its official I’m a convert, a born again CAFENATIC!!!

Yes team caffeine it was that good, and the best part is there’s three more of them around the CBD I will get to try, CAN’T WAIT!!
Hey it’s a tuff job, but somebody’s gotta do it!!!

3 BIG beans to the CAFENATICS, MCRs NEWEST ‘HOTSHOT’ café!! Welcome to the team …..

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Veneziano

Nashi

(St. Kilda Rd Towers)
1 Queens Rd
Melbourne VIC 3004

Man I was soooo hungry as I entered this promising food court, I was almost delirious, stop it I thought to myself you don’t need food, remember the old saying: “man does not live on bread alone” it is coffee you need you fool, YES! Another coffee!
Eureka!!
Looking around, this quaint little sandwich bar caught my eye, grabbed my attention, NASHI, what a curious name, Genovese, what a glorious possibility!
I ordered an espresso and was impressed with the meticulous care of the barista, poetry in motion, the extraction was perfect the crema rich and dense the flavors spectacular, they covered my palate adequately with a strong finish.
By now the mere thought of food was a distant memory, all I could think of was the chaser; “double shot latte, please” I drooled, and could instantly tell by the sweet sounds of the steam wand immersed in the milk that I was in for more of the same……and living up to my expectation I was not disappointed, the 3 T’s were spot on: Texture. Temperature, Taste:

TER-bloody-RIFIC!!

2 BEANS ALL THE WAY, NASHI is not just one of Melbourne’s best sandwich bars with really fresh food and a healthy breakfast and lunch alternative, but Goddammit they make a ripper coffee too!!!!

A 2 bean MCR ‘HOTSHOT’ café!! Welcome to the team …..

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Genovese

p.s. Cool photo huh?!?!? I did have a delicious lunch there after all ;o)

STASSI café

350 Queens St
MELBOURNE CBD VIC 3000

TGIF! TGIF Guys, what a week….Glad we’re at the tail end now, almost done, really feel like a break, time to stop and smell the coffee…
Funnily enough, as I strolled by this place at the top end of Queen St (right near the Vic Market), I wondered what this name could mean, why STASSI? What a peculiar name for a café, I thought! Then it hit me….it was Greek for ‘the stop’, as in, ‘the place to stop off for a coffee and a chat.’
Brilliant! How lateral, a bit left of centre, right out of the BOX! Truly my CUP OF tea, oops
As I entered I was greeted by a sea of happy faces, buzzing with energy, courteous and obliging.
The whole place oozed cool, and was obviously the regular jaunt of many local workers and the savvy passer-by, craving their caffeine fix, the habitual coffee hit!
They were clearly just as serious about their coffee as about their food, judging by their exquisite menu, modest prices and the prominence of the shiny red La Mazzorca, ready to extract another 30mls of the nectar of the Gods.
I ordered a ristretto, confident that the charming barista would be able to accommodate, and he did not disappoint, the perfect ‘restricted’ espresso wafted its caramel aromas as the waiter presented it to me, sending my sensory organs into a frenzy of expectation.
He followed it up with a café latte that was not only perfectly textured and prepared to the perfect temperature but was also aesthetically incredible! The fern adorning the top was eye candy for this weary pilgrim!!!
I was not disappointed, in fact was pleasantly impressed; and judging by the flocking crowds of local caffeine connoisseurs, this was definitely the place ‘to stop’ for a quality daily dose of the Devil’s Cup.

2 BIG BEANS here and a HOTSHOT invitation to my fellow caffiends out @ Melbourne’s only dedicated COFFEE STOP, STASSI Cafe, you are now qualified, if you wish to accept the honor of being recognized as an MCR “HOTSHOT” café.

Check it out:

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Veneziano

Boucla Kafe

349 Rokeby Rd

Subiaco Western Australia 6008


This constantly packed and bustling cafe in Perth has quite a following for their food and coffee. We decided to drop by for some lunch and a drink from the Devil’s Cup to see what the fuss was about.
For lunch, we had a vegetarian fritata and chicken pie.
Both were made on site and were served with a side of salad. The explosion of flavors and interaction of ingredients made the meal quite memorable.

We then followed up with a round of coffees. We noticed that Luke who
is always on the machine, 1. did not grind to demand and 2. had the steam
wands caked with dried milk.
This is really a no-no for me.

Also noticing that when texturing the milk, he left both jugs on the drip tray and had the milk steaming by itself!
Surely a bad OMEN a sacrilege against the God’s of the underworld!
Out came his offering:
The espresso I ordered had no body, was watery and bitter, obviously over-extracted.
My flat white had a head like a latte, and tasted like milk even though it came in a tulip cup which is smaller in size than what most other cafes serve here, clearly a divine mess!

I have no idea why people rave about the coffee here, I was disappointed
with the overall experience. Food was acceptable though, but I felt that no BEANS could be awarded given the blaze’ attitude towards the Holy Grail.

The team at Melbourne Coffee Review would like to welcome Andrew, our first time guest revewer out of WA, pity about the bad experience, Oh well dude! Things can only get better......

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]


Coffee: fiori

The Brunswick East Project

438 Lygon Street
Brunswick East VIC 3057

God! What a day…..truly diabolical, nothing a drink from the Devil’s Cup wouldn’t fix, I hoped!!
This recommendation better be worth it as I was driving all the way out to Brunswick on a whim and a prayer, well not really, on a tip from one of our loyal and highly-caffeinated team of cafenatics…
What is this enigma all about? What is this PADRE coffee, this Brunswick East Project I keep hearing about? What The hell, I NEED A COFFEE, this better be good!!!
Upon entering all I could see was SYNESSO, all I could think was Espresso, I was salivating like Pavlov’s dog at the sound of a bell…HIT ME James!!!!
Boy did he HIT me! In the words of BATMAN, "KAPOW! BAM! BIFF!!" KNOCKOUT..I was down for the count team caffeine, throw in the towel......
What a God-shot, pure bliss, the day began to look up already….without revealing my glee or identity, of course as this would compromise the review, I asked for a piccolo café latte….
The milk became silk, the water turned to wine, well dense crema covering 20mls of pure nectar, what a miracle worker , what a coffee, what a fool I have been for taking so long to get out there.
Guys, seriously, this place is AMAZING, roasting their own PADRE blend in-store they cup every Saturday morning @ 10, beginning this week, they train, they teach, they talk, they rokk!!! HARD CORE COFFEE! Just the way I like it, make no mistake this is a MUST, go down and say G’day to James and Marinus, don’t forget to tell them the CAFFIEND sent you!!!!

Looking back the day NOW seems ok, it wasn’t that bad after all, thanks PADREs ;o)

A HUGE 3 BEANS here and a HOTSHOT invitation to my PADRES out @ Brunswick East Project, you are now qualified, if you wish to accept the honor of being recognized as an MCR “HOTSHOT” café.

Check it out:
http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: PADRE

Combi Coffee

84 Ormond Rd
Elwood VIC 3184

This little Espresso Bar nestled in leafy Elwood, is a bit of a spin off from the legendary Combi Van Mobile Coffee, serving the same AMAZING coffee that has made the Van legendary at all reputable events around the state and very often interstate.
Their specialty roasted beans are air dried in the Yarra Valley, the proud owner Anthony was quick to inform me, and let me tell you they will tantalize and delight even the most discerning palate, as the complexity and sublimeness of this Espresso will rock your world!!!
Plenty of mouthfeel, back palate and an intense finish compliment the extraordinary nose at play here.
My wife ordered a double shot café latte, who in fact is now quite the coffee connoisseur herself, after accompanying me to so many amazing cafes, and we were both impressed by just how well textured and velvety the milk was, perfect temperature too, and by the obvious ease at which the shot of espresso cut through the milk, quite effortlessly.
Combi Coffee, is all about coffee and quality, he even uses bottled filtered water both in the van and in store to ensure consistency and quality, now that’s passion!

THANK YOU, Anthony! Another 2 bean HOTSHOT Cafe, you epitomize coffee-power and Espresso love, PEACE TO YOU bro…..…..Welcome to the team!!!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED guys, a real experience, especially the van, go down and say G’day, and tell them the CAFFIEND sent you!!

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: COMBI Coffee

Blush Foodroom

43 Epsom Road

Kensington VIC 3031

Driving past many times on the way home from the city I have always said to myself I need to make a night to drop by Blush for a coffee. On the night when I called in for a fresh espresso, I couldn’t help but notice as I took a seat how much the warm ambience surrounded me, and of how the dark coloured walls and tables of the venue could make it such a pleasurable experience. When my coffee was served, the sweet aroma and rich crema had made its presence known. After taking the first sip I was slightly disappointed as it wasn’t as full bodied as I had expected, nevertheless, a pleasant aftertaste lingered on the palate. One of the main features of this converted Victorian style dwelling is that it is opened until 11pm every night of the week; a unique specialty rarely found in such an area that makes you feel quite at home. With an open fire and candlelit tables this place is somewhere to relax and unwind in a quiet part of Melbourne close to town.

Another 'TEAM CAFFEINE' guest review, this time from Bec, job well done and welcome aboard.

Hope you all enjoy, till next time Keep on Caffeining on….. "The CAFFIEND!"

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Grinders

IL Cubico

271 Flinders Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000
The Cube, how interesting….you should ALL know me well enough by now to know that I really like to think outside the cube, so instantly this place drew my attention, nestled away in amongst so many cafes and coffee houses.
That whole block is absolutely jam packed!!! Some good, some bad, some just plain ugly… let’s go in and have a look!
Instantly I was pleased to see the Tonino Lamborghini CAFFE sign adorning the back wall, so I breathed a sigh of relief, these guys must know their coffee, I thought, I hoped…..
Big and spacious, especially compared to the rest of the cube-sized cafes around this part of town, the warm and friendly staff were eager to please, quickly taking my order and bringing out a ristretto that was nice and short, with a dense, aromatic and viscous crema concealing a restricted extraction that was fit for Lucifer himself, wickedly brilliant!
Just to confirm my original assessment and satiate my caffeine addiction I ordered a double shot flat white and was pleased when it arrived with the dense umber edgings of the espresso cutting through the velvety and smooth milk, like a hot knife through butter. Rich, chocolaty and smooth, with a sublime mouth feel, both satisfying yet somehow morish, God, do I go back for another?????

Well do I, punk???

Two beans here, excellence of execution and another fine example of why Italians do it better…..espresso that is ;o)

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….The Caffiend!

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: Tonino Lamborghini

Liar Liar

90 Kinkora Rd
Hawthorn VIC 3122

Have I been lied to? Many times, no doubt, but when it comes to this place, I think not, let’s see…...

"No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness." Sheik Abd-al-Kadir

And the goodness is truly on display here.

Walking in, I sense that good things are about to happen.There are three single origins listed and five single origin clovers. Asia? Africa? South America? Spare yourself the coin and travel with your taste buds.
Keeping things simple, I opt for my standard double shot cafe latte. It comes out perfect; the temperature, the texture, the taste. Things are looking up and I decide to go back for more.
Let's get insane! 'Double Ristretto, please'. The shot is pulled and, recognising me as someone who takes an interest in coffee, the barista offers a single origin for me...'Ethiopian Harare' he says, personally delivering it to my table. Before I even pick it up, the nose hits me. The dense and thick, golden crema is wafting aromas at me and I'm practically in sensory overload. Taking a sip, the flavours live up to the nose. There isn't really a back palate or a front palate, just a wall of flavour. BAMM!!
The mouth feel is rich and velvety. Simply brilliant!When somewhere is this good, it isn't hard to go back for more. Whilst I am more of an espresso man, I wanted to 'do the clover thing', so I popped back in and tried a couple. First up is a Sumatran. It is a little watery and the flavours thin, just what I feared most, but still interesting.
Delicate nose, grassy on the back palate.
I decide to try again. Balinese this time and it is a different world. The mouth feel is good, it isn't as dense as an espresso but I still get that lovely feeling of 'weight'.
Hell yeah! If you are going clovering, give this one a try. All in all an incredible experience a notable 3 bean café!!
With his first guest review please Welcome: Cameron McKenzie to the team, a real coffeeholic if I’ve ever met one: this guy is insane!!
Till next time, keep on caffeining on……. The Caffiend!

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: 5 SENSES

Primary Cafe

404 Royal Parade
Parkville VIC 3052

As I entered this newly opened and well fitted out café, the expectation was high, given the heavy reputation that this place had amongst coffee geeks, like me.
The décor was modern and ambient, the atmosphere, warm and friendly, the staff happy and obliging.
A delicious menu, reasonably priced and variant enough to satisfy the most demanding appetite.
But hey, I was here for the coffee….as I had heard sooooo much about this place.
I ordered a ristretto and was presented with 15mls of pure bliss….long on the palate, fruity and complex such an intense experience with a BIG finish, INCREDIBLE.
I followed it up with a double shot café latte, which was presented with a double Rosetta to not only enhance the overall effect and complement the sensory experience, but to also showcase the skill and expertise of Erin, the barista/owner of this amazing café.
Incredibly after at least a dozen coffees this day, this one still managed to impress and satiate my intense yearning for caffeine nirvana.
THANK YOU!

Truly a 3 beaner, once again, you turned the day around after so much mediocrity and blandness it is always exciting to sample the Devil’s Cup as it should be prepared, a true maestro…..
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED team caffeine, go down and say G’day, they will blow your mind!!!

A 3 bean MCR ‘HOTSHOT’ café!! Welcome to the team …..

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

[Support MCR and delight your taste buds by joining our Home Barista Hotshot Club]

Coffee: VENEZIANO

The GROOVE Train

332 Clarendon St
South Melbourne VIC 3205

All aboard, the GROOVE train is now departing; get ready for great food, reasonable prices awesome service and above all coffee that will blow your mind.
This funky and vibrant café/restaurant nestled snuggly in the Clarendon St shopping strip is big on making you feel welcome as well as making your visit memorable and special each and every time.
They offer a broad and diverse menu to cater for the most discerning palate, but it was their specific attention to the meal’s chaser, the coffee that drew my attention.
Normally restaurants, in general seem to lose their focus when it comes to coffee, even the best, the most expensive may overlook this final detail, but not this place, my espresso came out with a dense crema which revealed a complex and fruity nectar that lingered on the palate and complemented my meal perfectly.
My wife’s café latte was perfectly textured, perfect temperature, complete excellence of execution…..
This express ride on the GROOVE train to epicurean nirvana was complete, the barista had adequately and professionally complemented an exquisite meal with a perfectly divine offering of the devil’s Cup at the sacrificial alter.

RESPECT!!!

Another 2 bean MCR ‘HOTSHOT’ café!! Welcome to the family …..

http://hotshots.melbournecoffeereview.com/

In the words of 80’s pop icons, DEEE LITE: “GROOVE is in the heart,” pop in and say G’day and you’ll see why……

Till next time, keep on caffeining on…….

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Coffee: Veneziano

The Avenue Foodstore

69 Victoria Ave

Albert Park VIC 3206

In the immortal words of David Lee Roth, “Hot Shoes, burnin’ down to the Avenue…” seems to aptly apply to this place judging by the flocking crowds and hungry masses….
Saturday morning was absolutely insane, a veritable flock of famished devotees both inside and out, enjoying sumptuous looking fare and hopefully a caffeine fuelled beginning to their day that would be both satisfying and memorable.
Bayside in trendy Albert Park, this seemed like THE place to be and to be seen, so the caffiend was instantly attracted, and spying the Dimattina logo, I thought that this could be a BEANER, a BIG hope!
It was the nonchalant attitude of the on-duty barista that got me worried, really concerned….
My friend I yelled inside, the bean, it’s all about the bean…isn’t it??
Obviously not……
Although the menu was exquisite as well as reasonably priced, including their signature focaccias, the coffee was another matter, TOTALLY…..
I’ll keep it brief, I’ll keep it simple, I’ll keep it real…….
I was very disappointed, to say the least, especially given that I walked in expecting soooo much, over extracted, burnt, lipid and rancid were all descriptors that came to mind, although I have never before found them relevant to the Dimattina brand, nevertheless, they seem to be pulling in the crowds, they are licensed as well as extremely friendly and happy, but as far as coffee goes, well let’s just say that you may be better off looking at other beverage options.
Sorry guys, NO BEANS HERE, but a fine feed, great atmosphere and excellent time had by all….the Caffiend’ s search for satisfaction continues….
‘Till next time keep on caffeining on…..

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p.s. Sorry about the photo here guys, forgot to take one when it was busy so went back later, just as it was about to close ;o)


Coffee: Dimattina

Dream Cakes Café

33 Chester Street
Oakleigh VIC 3166

Sweet DREAMS are made of this!
Baklava, Kourambiedes, Spanakopita and Galaktomboureko!
What the hell am I talking about? Well pop into Dream cakes in Oakleigh and find out. It is possibly the finest example of Greek and European sweets and savories in the southern hemisphere, REALLY!
Spacious, well fitted out, bright and friendly it is the ideal breakfast spot for the entire family, even the extended family, an afternoon business meeting or an early evening coffee and cake.
They have it all here, a broad and diverse menu, friendly service, modestly priced, and coffee, lots of coffee.
They do it all, traditional Italian espresso with all the derivatives, Greek/Turkish coffee, Frappe and Fredo to name the most popular, but of course it’s a must to try a frappe at any Greek zaharoplasteio (cake shop)
Although my espresso was adequate, with a dense crema, aromatic and mildly acidic, not requiring any sugar to compliment or camouflage any imperfections, I thought I’d better play it safe with my frappe, as this was instant coffee, so I ordered it medium(metrio) with milk, and was informed that this is the standard method of preparation.
I’m sorry I know, instant coffee, what a sin, but since it is the Greek national drink and I was in a Greek cake shop, I thought I’d better do as the Romans do, or rather the Greeks do…….
It was interesting………………………
If you’ve never had one, Dream cakes is a fine example of where to experience an authentic one, if you’re a regular drinker then good luck to you, it certainly wasn’t for me, but was an interesting experience nonetheless.
Well worth my drive out into the burbs again….
A solid one bean for the coffee and overall café experience.
Just a word of advice, make sure you try a Spanakopita, the best I’ve had anywhere ;)
Who are you to disagree??

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Coffee: Grinders (Giancarlo)

Crimson Tide Cafe, 14 Bay Rd Sandringham VIC

Is a lazy Sunday, and I spent most of the day marking assignments and reviewing documents for my consulting business, so when my wife suggested we go and look at cubby houses for the kids I jumped at the chance. After dragging my daughter from cubby heaven kicking and screaming we thought it was a good opportunity to grab a coffee and some baby chinos for the kids. We found ourselves right near the water at Crimson Tide cafe. This is a very inviting and family friendly place run by a couple of gals who quickly convinced me that they were there for the love. The kids jumped into the toy bucket and we kicked back as the coffee machine fired up, well for me anyway as Mrs did the hot choc thing. I am delighted to announce a damn fine Long Macc. It was delivered post haste and I enjoyed a smooth creamy beverage, at a good temp. It was easy drinking as we engaged in idle chatter on the whys and where for's of living on the Greek islands. Well done ladies, welcome to the club. 1 solid bean.

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