MCR ON FACEBOOK

Hey caffiends, just a heads up....Melbourne Coffee Review has an awesome presence on FACEBOOK, check it out and join the group.....

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21716810641

Heaps of coffee, fun, coffee, competitions, coffee, opinions and oh yeah, did I mention, COFFEE?!

Go and try out all the cafes I recommend, and tell them Steve sent you, they love it!!!

Keep it up guys, life is too short to drink bad coffee , lets let the World know where the HOTSHOT cafes are, thanks to the Melbourne Coffee Review

Truffles Chocolaterie

376 Bridge Rd
Richmond VIC 3121
As everyone knows, a truffle is both valuable and highly sought after, and this is an exact description of this delightful place of delicious delicacies in downtown Richmond.
Dark wood, bare brick walls, rustic charm and timeless beauty.
This little gem is both easy to find as well as quickly becoming quite iconic in inner metro Melbourne.
Chocolate: YES!
Coffee: Oh YES!!
More Chocolate: YES PLEASE, one is never enough
And of course another coffee: Then the afterglow.........
Thanks Marc, this is what the rest should aspire to, you know who you are, all you bland and generic chains and franchises, stop blushing.
Truffles is the benchmark!
Truffles is all about chocolate and coffee, just look at the meticulous detail and presentation in my pic, Kudos guys, AMAZING job!!

I believe it was some of Veneziano’s finest, Estate infact, although it may have been Bella, as my short ristretto was both complex and quite sublime, the inflection hypnotising and mesmerising......a nectar fit for the God’s........of the underworld!
A memorable stop on this caffeine fuelled journey; a strong recommendation, an experience to rival your fondest and dearest memories, a strong 2 beans for an exceptional coffee, and an overall existential experience.
I thank Marc, and especially the MCR fans for this recommendation and strongly urge you all pay Truffles of Richmond, another MCR HOTSHOT Café, a visit next opportunity.

Check them out online at:

http://www.trufflesmelbourne.com.au/

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Coffee: Veneziano

Atomica Coffee

268 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065

Here we are again fellow caffeine junkies, another café to report on to make you salivate and hopefully inspire you to head down and check it out for yourselves.
This time the caf-fiend heads out to Fitzroy, Brunswick St Infact; the cool end of Melbourne.
Out on a whim and a prayer, well actually a recommendation from one of our fans on FACEBOOK.
Check out our group and join if you haven’t already.
“Welcome,” grins Tolly, the warm and friendly owner/master roaster who is the energetic and passionate brains behind the caffeine colossus that is ATOMICA.
This place is legendary within coffee circles, amongst those in the know and Tolly, the humble and unassuming mastermind of this radioactive retro roaster knows exactly what it takes to prepare a beverage worthy and true to the long heritage of specialty and artisan coffee houses that he represents.
Atomica is a fine example of a great place to enjoy a great coffee anytime and every time. Faultless preparation, professional service, dedicated staff and above all quality product.
There are no shortcuts here.
They roast in-house, at the back of the café in-fact, and as the roaster is encased in a glass room the customers can watch the whole process, while they tuck into any one of the many fine dishes on offer and enjoy a sample of some of Melbourne’s best coffee.
I did! And it blew my mind, I can still savor the lingering and complex flavors of Tolly’s espresso send my palate into a frenzy, I can understand why he calls it ATOMICA, it was absolutely ATOMIC.
Powerful, intense, totally annihilating anything else in it’s way.
YES! It was THAT good! Go and see for yourself……
The pilgrimage of the caf-fiend continues, the quest continues to partake in the perfect Devil’s Cup.
A three bean MCR HOTSHOT café, thanks for the heads up team and keep on caffeining on!!

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Coffee: ATOMICA

Caf-feine BAR

597 Whitehorse Rd
Surrey Hills VIC 3127
Sat Nav: CHECK
Jerry Can w/spare fuel: CHECK
Snow Tires ;) CHECK
Out into the ‘burbs again, continuing my caffeine fuelled journey for the ultimate devil’s cup.
Surrey Hills, where’s that, how do you even spell it?!?!?
GOT IT!!!!
This quaint little café in a small shopping precinct was quite the standout amongst a bland and otherwise mundane looking street, quite well presented infact.
Big gold sign with CAFFEINE boldly displayed, it was an epiphany of sorts, almost a revelation of the divine to a travel weary pilgrim.
YES PLEASE!!!! The way I'm going, it will be intravenously soon!!!
The family operated cafe, with it's busy and hospitable staff were quick to take my order and bring out my very short espresso, as I wasn’t too sure they would know what a ristretto was; in fact they did, I shouldn’t be so quick to judge.
A tad over extracted, a hint of tobacco, a subtle undertone of turpeny, and that was only my daughter’s babyccino…..my espresso was fine!
A nice dense crema, a full flavor on the palate with hints of chocolate and even a sublime berry like infusion.
The Bean Alliance have done it again, Well Done, a great roast, well prepared and presented by the team @ Caf-feine.
Overall, a nice spacious café, with an exquisite little courtyard, well priced and extremely clean.
A one bean HOTSHOT cafe once again, it was well worth the $1.50 per liter for over-priced petrol, and heartwarming to see my daughter review her very first babyccino, infact the Melbourne Babyccino Review was born!

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Coffee: bean ground & drunk (the bean alliance)

7 Grams

505 Church St
Richmond VIC 3121

Ok…here we go…whoever emails me, calls me or sms’ me with what 7 grams means, and why you would want to name your café, 7 grams, gets a free bag of coffee, our own exclusive signature blend designed by C4 Coffee….how good is that????
steve.agi@melbournecoffeereview.com 0432 210 963
Welcome to the world of Con, Peter and Jim, the latest stop on this caffeine fuelled journey of mine to keep you up to date with all that’s great in this fair city of ours.
For all of you who don’t know, 7 grams is the home to the current World Latte art Champion, Con, and a big congratulations to him!
This place is vibrant, friendly and passionate about everything they do, both coffee and food!
It is extremely popular as is evidenced by the flocking masses.
My perfectly extracted espresso was both short and sweet, just the way I like it, while my latte was not only perfectly presented with faultless etchings of silky smooth milk amongst the umber tones of espresso, but it was also perfect to drink out the front on this beautiful sunny winter afternoon.
This my fellow caffeine junkies is a MUST, a caffeine Mecca in downtown Melbourne, a true coffee connoisseurs destination, where coffee is king and the customer is treated like royalty by professional and friendly staff.
A stand-out café that truly epitomizes what HOTSHOTS is all about, a three beaner without a doubt and a future benchmark for all to live up to.

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Coffee: Veneziano/ Own Blend

Cafe 3FOUR2

342 Flinders St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Bright Lights! BIG City!

This little café, cum Internet Mecca, is snuggly nestled down the Elizabeth end of Flinders St, and boasts free WI-Fi, free internet access to paying customers, exceptional and sumptuous fare, all modestly priced, as well as possibly the cheapest coffee in all the CBD.
Serhan, the young man full of energy and enthusiasm has a huge FACEBOOK presence and treats all of his customers like friends and family.
It was quite the experience.
I felt right at home as he brought out my espresso, to the delight of my salivating palate.
The extraction was nice and short and it seemed to adequately satisfy my yearning need for a caffeine hit.
I nestled into my couch to do some work, feeling totally comfortable to spend a couple of hours there, it really was a delightful place. The food was brilliant, I had a home made chicken pie and the coffee, satisfactory.
Look out for his insane HAPPY HOUR specials where he sells coffee for $1.50, WOW! From memory it was on Thursday mornings between 7.30 and 8.30.
A strong one bean, and a warm welcome to the MCR family.

You definitely are an MCR HOTSHOT!!!

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Coffee: LAVAZZA

BRAZIL (lifestyle coffee)

111 Cecil St
South Melbourne VIC 3205

In the immortal words of Terry Gilliam, “Brazil: Is only a state of mind”
God I wished that was true as soon as I put the damned devil’s cup to my lips.

No! I lie, as soon as I saw the barista begin to make my brew, I regretted entering the place, but how could I resist , with the bait, a beautiful roaster right there in the window.

This funky little new cafe, just opened near the South Melbourne Market promised so much, looked so interesting, so inviting.
With the expectant fresh and specialty roasted coffee, I entered and was bewildered to watch the barista/owner prepare and extract my coffee.
The liquid pouring from the portafilter looked sickly and watery and did not let me down as by now I was expecting a total disaster.
Damn! Welcome to the one-sip club.
A total desecration a complete mess. I ordered a café latte for my companion, which came out way too hot, watery and lipid, big bubbled froth on top and no color, just a dull milky brown.
Needless to say, I’ve had better instant coffees back in the 80’s.
So sorry but this is anything but Brazilian lifestyle coffee, in the words of Metallica, “my lifestyle determines my deathstyle” and by the God of the bean these guys had savaged and slaughtered the delicate and sublime nectar of the Gods!

Sorry guys no beans here, just another one-sipper!

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Coffee: In house roast(BRAZIL)

KENT ST

201 Smith St
Fitzroy VIC 3065
BOOM SHANKA!
“Tim’s Mum’s SOUP”, what the hell, I thought?!?!
Gotta try this one, as I strolled down the funky end of Smith St.
As I entered, all I could think of was olde English row home, students, hippies, punks, you get the picture.
Very 80’s, very relaxed, very cool!
My order of a ristretto was no problem for the cool barista, respect!
Out it came, promptly, along with a latte for my bro, which looked incredible, dense, with well textured milk, subtlety etched with umber tones of the rising 30mls of espresso.
Jaspers do an amazing roast, flat out, and it was quite clear that the union between bean, man and machine was working well here, they worked in harmonious unison to prepare and serve the devils cup as it should be, aromatic, acidic, intense and viscous, a journey in the words of St. Bruno of C4 fame!
Then it happened! I went to the little boy’s room, way upstairs and on the wall….on the wall….well a picture tells a thousand words!
A quote from the iconic 80’s show, “the Young Ones”
And my favorite quote ever, care of Neil!
Thank you Tim, thank you Tim’s mum for a delicious bowl of Soup, thank you Kent St for being another hotshot coffee spot in Melbourne!
2 beans!
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Coffee: Jaspers

SHUGA café bar lounge

Shop 502 Mill Park plaza
520 Plenty Road
MILL PARK VIC 3082
A spoonful of SHUGA helps the medicine go down!
Originally when I heard of this place I figured it was in Middle Park and I thought gee that’s ok, not too far, but Mill Park, Oh my God!!
Let’s hope it was gonna be worth the drive, with petrol at $1.70.
On with the GPS again to make this long and arduous trek out to Mill Park.
Visually quite impressive, big, clean and well appointed. Family friendly, extensive menu, and reasonably priced. The staff were courteous and attentive, service was paramount.
I ordered my espresso, after my delicious meal, and was quite expectant as nothing really completes a meal for me like a well extracted and delicately prepared nectar of the Gods.
It arrived promptly, thank the Gods of the underworld, as I was starting to get all fidgety and anxious……I wonder, do you think I might be addicted to caffeine???
;)
Anyway, the wafting aroma permeated my nostrils, preparing my taste buds for the coming pleasure. They were in an absolute frenzy and were well pleased, the interaction of flavours was complex yet delicate, a subtle coating of the tongue, the dense caramelly crema was both sweet and rich, concealing 30mls of intense, syrupy and fruity bliss.
A fine after dinner aperitif, preparing the palate to enjoy the broad and deliciously exciting cakes and desserts on the menu.
One can never have too much of a good thing, and this is definitely the case when it comes to this little gem, to the locals congratulations, to those looking for somewhere new to try give this place a go, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
A solid one bean and well worth the trek for the overall dining experience as well as a damn good coffee, ok where to next…….
p.s. Just a side note, they sell an amazing chocolate, ARTISTA, WOW!!!! The kids absolutely loved it, apparently it’s authentic Italian artisan chocolate, even though I’m not a huge hot choc fan, this stuff was really good! REALLY!
Check it out: http://www.artistachocolate.com/

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Coffee: DUCALE

Kerferd Rd DELI

381 Montague St
Albert Park VIC 3206

Gentlemen START YOUR ENGINES!!!
Albert Park, bayside, GRAND PRIX, sun, beach, coffee, Lamborghini…Goddammit! Life is GOOD!
A stone’s throw from the legendary F1 GrandPrix track, this homely, neighborhood café, cum secondhand bookshop is quite unique as well as legendary amongst the local folk.
Boasting their master barista, ISSY from the city of KAFFA in Ethiopia, the home of qahwa, the birthplace of the devil’s cup!
He is in fact a walking long Machiatto, you can’t miss him, pop in and say g’day, he’s always up for a chat about his favorite activity, coffee…..he really is passionate about his country’s biggest export.
This is my second bayside Lamborghini experience, and I think that I can safely say, I’m a fan.
My espresso came out in an elegantly branded cup, well presented, well extracted, well received.
It was quite delicate, with a lovely floral aroma, quite complex and sublime, the acidity just enough to tantalize my taste buds.
The whole place is friendly, warm and well presented, not too pricey although the menu is up there with the best that inner-bayside has to offer
It is the place to be seen, to do some site-seeing and to see what all the fuss about this new player in the Australian coffee Market, Tonino Lamborghini, is all about.
A solid one bean, a memorable experience……I’ll definitely be stopping in again, next lap around Albert Park.


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Coffee: Tonino Lamborghini

Brother Baba Budan. 359 Little Bourke.

For those of you who love St Ali, you're going to love this place. I don't know what the arrangement is, but here is cozy little place rocks. I have been a few times now, not really believing what I was seeing.... awesome quality long Macchiatto and some of the smoothest lattes in the city of Melbourne. Visit this place. The service is full on professional (don't be intimidated, they know what they are doing). Smokers down the back and the main papers are there for review. certainly a great pre work drop in if you are near by. Three beans easy!

AUCTION ROOMS

103-107 Errol Street
North Melbourne VIC 3051

One latte, one latte, one latte, do I hear two, will you give me two shortblacks with that latte?
What about a cappuccino and a latte, come on ladies and gentlemen, don’t let this one slip through your fingers….it’s the one that caffeine fuelled dreams are made of…..
Going, going, going……
GONE!
I bet this place has seen a fair bit of that, a fair share of its own action over the years.
Full of character and huge open spaces, this former auction room, cum café in fashionable Errol St, is quite the local landmark.
Tall ceilings, huge open spaces, warm and friendly service, family friendly as well as perfect for that business meeting or an afternoon chinwag.
The centerpiece being the amazing roaster right there in the middle of the café where Andrew delivers his own specialty roast, both unique as well as exceptional.
As I took a seat @ the bar the barista proceeded to delicately extract 30mls of pure nectar to present me with my espresso, which was a sensory delight, unadulterated bliss.
No milk necessary here to camouflage imperfections, it was perfect!
After cleansing the palate with some complimentary water, I proceeded to sample a well presented and quite attractive looking double-shot flat white.
The milk was both well textured and velvety smooth, as well as perfect temperature, obviously quite the maestro at espresso preparation and presentation.
Overall a memorable experience and a definite 2 strong beans.
Make sure if you’re out that way to stop in and sample some of their devilishly good nectar, and if you’re not in the area, make your way down, places like this are truly worth the drive.
Well done!

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Coffee: Own Blend ( In house roasting)

Merino Club CAFE

131 Chapel Street
Windsor VIC 3181

Well some of you may say I’m a sucker for punishment, but after my initial contact with RUBIA @ Chappelli’s a few weeks ago, I thought I’d give these new kids on the block, the benefit of the doubt and give them another go.
This time at the trendy Merino club down at the Windsor end of Chapel St.
Boy was I glad I did!
Not only was the place an aesthetic gem, with funky décor, an eclectic menu, exquisite furniture and a young and vibrant crew on hand and ready to serve, but it seemed that they were a bit more into the whole coffee thing, even bringing me a complimentary glass of water as soon as I sat down.
Now that’s attention to detail, and some good old fashioned service.
Damn! They even knew what a ristretto was. KUDOS!!!
It was actually well presented, short, dark and syrupy. Just the way it should be.
The aroma was intense, the flavor complex, the experience sublime
I followed it up, just to make sure with a long machiato, and boy was it good. I really enjoyed it and savored the entire experience, the floral aroma, the sweet, piquant waltz it danced on my tantalized taste buds.
BRAVO! Gotta give you guys a bean, maybe even two and welcome you to the ranks of the Melbourne Coffee Review.
Isn’t it amazing just what a difference there can be between cafes using the same coffee!

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Coffee: RUBIA

Embassy @ 97

97 Fitzroy Street
ST KILDA VIC 3182

Well….this one was a recommendation from J/B, and thank you!
And I do mean THANK YOU! A really big one.
Yes I popped out there, but I actually ordered an espresso first, God I hate the term ‘short-black’, instead of the recommended flat white.
Admittedly, it is hard to find fault with a shot of espresso. If it is precisely extracted, it is pure bliss. This one did not disappoint, it arrived with a glossy crema, notes of butter and caramel, and an elegant balance of acidity and sweetness.
Complex, sublime, pure sensory bliss.
I thought I’d try the recommended flat white as a chaser, and was quite glad I did, when I was presented with a well textured, creamy and artfully etched beverage, which interacted brilliantly with the espresso's crema to create a fusion of umber tones and the pure white, velvety smooth and glossy milk.
The caffeine hit was smooth, clean and bright, the mouthfeel delicate and silky, the overall experience incredible, totally satisfying and well rounded.
A solid one bean and a great place to meet inside or in their courtyard for a business meeting or a quick bite with the family.
P.S. Make sure you try the fresh muffins, they ROCK!

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Coffee: Espresso Syndicate

Espresso Elements - 305 Hampton Street, Hampton VIC.

(probably best read as Bogart in Casablanca) Melbourne winter 2008 is shaping up to be a cold one. Like Bogart in Casablanca I walked into this place on a very grey and cold day. I said nothing, hell what is there to say? I need a hot cuppa joe and fast! The fog was lifting from the morning but not for me. Not yet at least. This week had been a busy one, and I was not feeling that adventurous regarding testing new places, but after my standard haunt was close in Church street Brighton, I was now entering in the what I hoped was, the new coffee gem for Bayside.

The pretty gal behind the counter offered a smile and a greeting. I guessed the same one offered to everyone else that came in. I ordered my long macchiato, and I sat against the window and waited patiently.

It arrived,.. well hell, this was a coffee. Firstly let me say that few have the courage to try latte art on a LM but they did and they succeeded. First the nose. It was a strong aroma while not being overpowering. Then the first sip. Temperature perfect and a smooth crema that was perfect in every way. This has to be a discovery. Right on the train line and easy access to both business folk and mums with kids.

Three beans and if I could give more I would.






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Caffe' Corso

Crown Entertainment Complex
Level 1, West End 8 Whiteman St
Southbank, VIC 3006
I’m gonna try something new, something totally unheard of, I might even get my ass kicked for this, but I must be true, I must keep it real.
So here goes…..
Instead of a one, two or three bean rating, recently the places I’ve been to have been so under-par that I’ve decided to introduce a rating system from the other end of the spectrum, a one sip, two sip or three sip.
What does all this gibberish mean, you’re probably asking yourself?
Well I’ve been to a few places recently that have really failed to do justice to the devil’s cup, that have really let me down.
So welcome to my first one sip review, which means that the coffee was so bad, that I could only have one sip.
Sorry! But I was actually so excited to sample this new trendy café at Crown that I was quite geared up and expectant, energized!
Sadly, I was disappointed, yet again, but so badly this time that I decided that coffee this bad deserved to be rated, just as coffee really good was, and so the 1,2,3 sips was born!
Seriously though, my latte was lipid and lifeless, burnt and tobaccoy, probably the worst I’ve had in a very long time, nevertheless I made the most of it though and grabbed a delicious chocolate Milkshake and a slice of tiramisu (can’t get enough coffee) and enjoyed the ambience, the impeccable service and exquisite menu of this great looking and well located new addition to the Crown café scene.
Coffee: CoffeX

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Chappelli's Cafe

571 Chapel St
South Yarra VIC 3141
Hands up who used to go to Chaser’s in the 70’s and 80’s, come on, you know you did!
And it wasn’t the perfect end to that perfect disco bunny night without a walk down Chapel St, to Spaghetti Graffiti. Open all hours and welcoming to night clubbers, texta in hand ready to leave that coy comment while enjoying a traditional bowl of pasta.
Well, long gone are those days…this place has now re-invented itself as a flash café/restaurant open 24/7, to once again cater to the clubbers of the area, and kudos to them!
Boasting a great corner spot, well furnished and open spaces, modern and funky, the menu and ambience is great for whatever your reason to visit.
I was there for a business meeting, but a family would fit in just as well.
I ordered a long Machiatto, rather than the customary espresso as I wasn’t too sure of the brand of coffee as I’d never seen or had it anywhere before.
Sadly I was quite disappointed. Not only did it smell burnt and rancid, but it tasted turpeny, almost quite ashy.
As my client began to sip his latte I could not help to notice the grimace as the milk touched his lips, the face never lies.
He confirmed my suspicions, too hot, too bitter, too bad!
Sadly no beans guys, not sure if it was the bean, the roast, the barista or the machine, but somewhere along the line the nectar of the God’s has been corrupted, a sacrilege, a blasphemy, the unpardonable sin!

Coffee: Rubia

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The Continental Deli

51 Station St
Sandringham VIC 3191



Thought I’d take advantage of the beautiful weather this afternoon and took the family for a drive bayside, down to Sandringham. Sun, sand and coffee, what could be better on a 19o autumn day in Melbourne?
Like a veritable oasis in a desert, there it was, directly across the train station, The Continental Deli, with its eye catching and distinctive Tonino Lamborghini paraphernalia adorning the sidewalk of this suburban shopping strip.
What? Where? When? How???
How did this slip through the radar? A Lamborghini café in Melbourne and I didn’t know? IMPOSSIBLE! I was flabbergasted, luckily Barbara the owner informed me it was the flagship store and had only been there for a couple of days…PHEW!!!! I could breathe again….
The kids loved the place, it was well lit and spacious catering for all tastes and needs both trendy and a cool place to meet as well as family orientated and kiddy friendly.
The menu inviting, diverse and well priced.
The coffee was well presented in distinctive and stylish Lamborghini crockery which aesthetically complemented the amazing taste and aroma of my ristretto. Sweet, aromatic and a dense caramel flavor, it was idyllic to sip as I watched the mad world rushing about to and fro, coming and going.
Gentlemen, start your engines! Lamborghini Caffe is in town, to stay, I hope! A strong two beaner.

Coffee: Tonino Lamborghini

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C4 Coffee

2a Bond Street
Mordialloc 3195
A4 amazing!
B4 Beautiful!
C4 Coffee!
D4 Delightful!.....I’m sure you get the picture.
What a discovery! I love nothing better than driving around looking for cafes and drinking coffees, because you come across places like this.
Bruno out at C4 is a one man show. He runs the specialty roasting business and out of the same warehouse sells his coffee, discretely and confidently.
I recommend this place to everyone, both to buy beans as well as to have an amazing cup of coffee.
It’s not really a café, as such, more of a warehouse, but he does have an espresso machine, which if you ask nicely he’ll let you use and make your own, if you dare.
As well as a bar where you can sit and sip the devil’s cup as it was meant to be drunk, in true Italian Espresso Bar style.
The coffee presented is second to none, and believe me, I’ve had my fair share of coffees around Melbourne and what Bruno is doing out there is absolutely amazing, quite innovative and groundbreaking.
In fact by his own admission he’s breaking all the rules and turning convention on its head, and it shows, it comes across in every sip, every delicious mouthful of the coffee he prepares and serves, while he tells you another story about his coffee roasting techniques and just what is wrong with the coffee being served to the masses around Melbourne.
“Remember if coffee isn't a memorable experience, it's not worth the journey.”
And you know what, he’s right!
C4 Coffee is what all coffee should be, it is E4 Excellent
He’s there 5 days a week from 8ish until 2, any other time by appointment, closed on weekends.
3 Beans without a doubt!


Coffee: Own Blend C4

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Numero UNO

UN Caffe Bar

368 Little Collins St

Melbourne CBD 3000

This hip and trendy little gem was quite the discovery as I was aimlessly meandering through the streets of Melbourne in search of a caffeine hit! So many cafes, so little quality!
It must have been the bright red that got me, STOP!
I have always been a sucker for a latte in red.
The menu was funky and fresh, the staff hip and friendly, the coffee was illy.
To me those four little words say so much; the final word in coffee!
The single blend, quality guaranteed, famous, recognizable and consistent right around the globe.
Un Caffe is a franchise with two in the CBD and a few in Adelaide, heavily illy branded and recognizable by its distinctive red décor.
George, the owner and barista presented my espresso in a warm demitasse cup, and as I peered inside the luminous reflective glow was reminiscent of Ayers Rock at dusk, quite the sight.
The complex flavors blended perfectly on the palate, as it circled my mouth for hours, truly illy has proved once again that it is Numero UNO, and judging by the flocking crowds who seemed to be enjoying Un Caffé’s coffee and sumptuous fare from its exquisite menu, I think this is one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets.
If you’re in the area make sure you stop in, a solid ONE bean, Keep it up!

Coffee: illy

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RESET Cafe

541 St. Kilda Road
MELBOURNE VIC 3000

Seek and you shall find!
Words to live by, especially when it comes to that elusive quality caffeine hit!
I did and this little gem was actually at the base of the ‘SEEK’ building on StKilda Rd, just down from the old Chevron complex for all those disco bunnies, remnatns of the eighties.
This place just seemed inviting as I strolled past, the décor was funky, it was tidy and very clean, it just oozed cool.
The owner, Jim, greeted me with a friendly and warm smile obviously happy to see another new face, anxiously awaiting satisfaction.
The menu was pleasant and well priced, especially considering the location, but it was all about the coffee, as it should be, the rest was just scenery, lovely to admire but of no real consequence.
My espresso came out in a warmed demitasse glass, its delicate caramel crema, dense and aromatic, wafting a floral scent with hints of woodiness sending my palate into an expectant frenzy.
The flavours and taste did not disappoint.
I felt almost as invigorated as the first time I snuck into the chevron , under aged!
Jimmy then followed it up with a perfectly poured café latte, a delicate blend of velvety textured milk, infused with umber tones of a dense, perfectly extracted espresso, which effortlessly cut through to produce the desired Rosetta of the master barista.
Well done, its gotta be a two beaner, maybe even two and a half, the only thing missing being so close to the Chevron was some Boom Boom and You spin me round!

Coffee: Coffico

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First Pour

First Pour
26 Bond Street
Abbotsford VIC 3067

Well let me just say, it was both an honor and an absolute pleasure to trek down to Abbotsford, and meet the great David Makin.
As a confirmed caffeine addict and café junky it was quite exciting.
First Pour is home to probably some of the best Baristas this country has to offer, with not only David, but also Luca and David Seng doing their thing behind the amazing Yellow La Marzocca.
How can I dare to review their coffee?
What adjectives can one use to describe such an experience?
Another latte, why not, the last 3 were great, bring it on, Davo!!!
No seriously guys, if you haven’t make sure you do! If you have, I’m sure you’ll agree!!
I spent most of the day with David learning about what it takes to be the best, and at Makin’ espresso which operates out of the Veneziano warehouse; David does his best to teach us poor humans the fine art of being a true Barista, a maestro!
Without doubt a three beaner and a MUST for all seriously looking for that amazing Coffee experience!

Maybe we should introduce "the Golden Bean award"...??

NEWS FLASH! David Makin and Erin Sampson of former Coffee HQ fame, have JUST opened a brand New café called: PRIMARY @ 399 Royal Pde, PARKVILLE: Can’t wait to head out there for that review!!

Coffee: Veneziano.

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Switch Board Cafe - Mechantile Building Foyer, off Collins Street.

Occasionally I discover a real gem, and this is certainly one of them. Switchboard café goes where no one would have thought a café was possible, which tells me these guys are using their bean. These innovative entrepreneurs have wedged themselves a café in what was probably a store room and a shop window. Effectively a nook. I love it. This place has class and the guys are passionate about delivering you your custom made brew for the morning. The end product was as expected delivered in a unique old style orange glass, and the long macchiato was as smooth as silk. No bitterness and I could have sat on it for hours. Good work guys, welcome to the three bean club.






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St ALI Roasters

12-18 Yarra Place
South Melbourne VIC 3205


Bow down and worship, the GOD OF THE Bean is alive and well in South Melbourne.
You haven’t had a coffee, until you’ve had one at St. ALI’s.
Must be a 4 beaner, an existential experience, truly, these guys do everything right! RESPECT!

Coffee: St ALI Roasters

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Pellegrini's, Bourke Street, Melbourne

Pellegrini's is a Melbourne institution, and quite possibly not the first time MCR has paid its respects to this establishment that has been in successful operation in the CBD for decades.

The cafe has been photographed and featured in dozens of reviews and articles, most memorably when Christy Turlington was pictured here as part of an advertising campaign for The Age. Apparently Russell Crowe has also paid the cafe a visit.

They use a special Vittoria blend which provides a strong flavour, and serve customers in true Italian style - either seated at a stool or standing at the bar. It was a hot summer day when I visited recently and an iced watermelon crush was also available - lovely.

I had a chat with the owner, Paul, who started Pellegrini's over 40 years ago after moving to Australia from southern Italy. Pretty impressive. Everything here is home made, from the cakes on display to the pasta that is served to you at the bar.

Pellegrini's is a very special place for the city, not just for the great coffee but because it represents part of our heritage. I feel like I'm stepping back into a past life of Melbourne here, and I love it.

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Kruzin Kafe - 628 Glennhuntly Rd, Glennhuntly.

My wife jumped in her car and found the battery dead Tuesday morning thanks to yours truly. She was running against the clock so it was either I run her down to Caufield station or lose my car for the day. After I dropped her off, I weaved my way through Caufield heading to the office, when I noticed that I had about 45 mins to kill. Ahh.. time for a random review.. I love these.. and after cruising up Glennhuntly road, I stumbled on 'Kruzin Kafe'. It had a bit of a funky feel so I gave it a crack. I pictured many a meet happening in there,.. the coffee equipment beamed in readiness, and aside for the ho hum attitude of the gal behind the counter.. it was a promising scenario. Finally my Macchiato arrived. Aside from a slight bitterness, the temp was fine but it had that muddy result where the milk drops straight through the coffee way too fast. It was a coffee, it was ok, and maybe with some work it might see a bean... I'll try again.

FIGJAM cafe

FIGJAM café
128 Koornang Road
Carnegie VIC 3163

Out to the burbs, following the lead of our fearless MCR leader, I clicked on the Sat Nav and made my way out to Carnegie, where apparently the coffee is pretty good. (See comments of my “Guinness Book of Records Post.” On MCR)
A fashionable and stylish little café, was nestled away within a busy shopping strip, which was murder trying to find parking, nevertheless we persisted and were greeted by friendly and warm owners, Sam and Helen.
Who really did go out of their way to make sure all their customers were being attended too.
The menu was decent, with the trademark homemade figjam available in a variety of dishes, and worth a try too, for it was absolutely delicious, as was the coffee, apparently.
My espresso came out perfect, well extracted, not too long, a dense nutmeg crema with aroma permeating the air and wafting into my expectant nostrils.
The flavours rich and complex, a sublime experience. To re-enforce the recommendation I asked the talented barista to make me a double shot latte, out of his amazing looking La Mazzorca espresso machine, and once again he was firing with all cylinders with a perfect temperature, well textured, velvety experience that was quite Orgasmic…coincidently that was also the AMANTI blend that they were using!!!
Excellent recommendation!! Thank You, worth the trip, and apart from the amazing coffee, which by the way you were right, AMANTI is quite AWESOME, they do a killer fresh juice, try the apple with a dash of ginger, it is to die for!!!
Has got to be a 3 beaner guys, sex was never as orgasmic as this!!

Coffee: AMANTI

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Crooners Cafe' Bar Lounge

Crooners café bar lounge
43-49 Lygon Street
Brunswick VIC 3056

Memories are made of this…was buzzing in my head as I pulled up to this hip and trendy café at the top end of Lygon St.
I was highly expectant, and quite excited, as I love Deano, Frankie and Sammy, and with a name like Crooners it better be all that I had envisioned.
The décor was funky and modern; the inside spacious and bright, while the standard shots of The King and the Rat pack adorned the brightly colored walls.
Very ambient and cheerful.
Licensed as it is a lounge/bar at night, there was a wide range of drinks available, even the newly imported ARTISTA chocolate.
Look out for this one it is REALLY good, worth enquiring about!
http://www.artistachocolate.com/
The menu looked enticing and jam-packed with goodies, standard café fare.
I ordered my ristretto, which was bought out by a morose waiter who looked like he really didn’t want to be there, as he tried to sms on his mobile while serving me.
It was way too long, no crema, no aroma, no taste, no hope.
I left it!
I let them know, and they replaced it with a double-shot flat white, which I hoped would redeem them, sadly it didn’t.
It tasted weak and watery, the milk lacked texture and mouthfeel, and toooooo HOT!!!
OUCH!!! My tongue is still burning.
Anyway my kids and wife played it smart and each ordered an ICED ARTISTA chocolate…Oh what a goose I am!!!!
They were great, I hoped the kids would leave there’s as they usually do, sadly they didn’t!
Anyway maybe I just caught them on a bad day!!
Sorry no beans, and no fond memories here!!

Coffee: Classico Caffe CIRCI

Wicked Cafe, 7/270 Ferntree Gully Rd, Glen Waverly.

Had a coffee in the burbs yesterday. Was meeting with Franchsie Alliance. They used to be in Moorabbin where the coffee was bad. Now they have moved to Glen Waverly. I zoomed out there with part of my car falling off (any one know an Audi spare parts place?) and was delighted to see a little place called Wicked Café. I was sceptical, as these business parks don’t generally have a great reputation. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel for them and in most cases don’t really care about quality. Now I guess people, even in remote locations, can grind their own so these places better pick up their game.

Anyway, I digress. After checking out the digs, we sauntered down to the said wicked place and I enjoyed my Long Macchiato. It was ok, the service was professional, prompt, and efficient. No mucking around. The coffee type was Del Zotti (again the Italians), and the coffee itself was plaitable. The day was great,clear lue skys, so sitting outside was perfect. One bean, welcome boys!!

Q11

Q11
303 Coventry Street
South Melbourne VIC 3205

What does this enigma mean? Q11, even the owner seemed puzzled!
Beatnik, Rastafarian, poetic, were all adjectives that popped into my mind as I entered this throwback café, nestled in a bustling cafe strip across form South Melbourne Market.
I half expected to find Cat Stevens or Leonard Cohen hanging out there, or at least a guy with a bongo-drum in a corner somewhere….
The menu exemplary, the fit out tardy, the space…. well lets just say you’d have trouble squeezing in a pram, or even swinging a cat, but cozy and welcoming nonetheless.
The barista was obviously experienced as my espresso came out in a warm Genovese signed cup, thickly coated in an umber crema, aromatic and full bodied, while my customary double shot flat white was presented with a delicate tulip etched with finely textured milk amongst exquisite tones of espresso, delicately designed by a maestro.
An aesthetic delight, all the more tempting!
The sweet aroma of my espresso was complemented by a thick, syrup like texture, which did not disappoint. Robust and rich it left its delicate flavors lingering on my tongue long after the last morsel of my delicious and substantial meal was devoured.
The delicate velvety mouth feel of my flat white left it’s delicious textured aftertaste coating the back of my tongue for most of the day.
Highly recommended, even grab a take-away if the place is full, BEWARE though if busy you may need to wait a while for a meal, coffee service is immediate though.
Deserves a bean, without a doubt!

Coffee: Genovese

The VELVET BAR

The Velvet BAR

331 Bay St
PORT MELBOURNE 3207

Another ALL DAY Breakfast joint…. excuse me but how could you not get excited after sleeping in until 10 then off to brekky with my beautiful wife and 2 kids at 11.30.
Corner place, nice and spacious, hip, trendy and near the beach!
Perfect for a beautiful, sunny, summers Saturday in Melbourne.
The menu was delightful, reasonably priced, wide-ranging and decent serves too boot!
Lucky coz I was STARVING!!
To kick things off I ordered my customary espresso, which I was hoping would live up to the namesake of the place and be velvety and smooth, starting off a busy day with a bang
The golden crema concealed the aromatic oils of a complex nectar precisely fusing the caramel sweet taste with a distinct citrus fragrant aroma.
Sharp, yet sublime and sweet, it left an aftertaste that did not disappoint.
A moving experience!
With my tongue adequately coated now, I was ready to order my breakfast and my customary chaser, the favorite, double shot flat white.
I hoped this would not disappoint, but how could it; I was on such a high now that the day had begun so well.
And true to form it did not fail, the barista was firing, the perfect combination of nature, man and machine had created an orgasmic gastronomical masterpiece that was both aesthetically pleasing with its deep umber edging as well as perfect to the palate.
It may however have been a tad over-extracted as there were faint hints of an ashy, burnt aroma, but nothing that the perfect temperature and texture of the milk could not camouflage.
Two thumbs up and a definite two beaner: See you real soon.

COFFEE: Dimattina

Little Athens, Oakleigh again.

Here is another crack at a vid review. Apologies, its rough!