Quick visit to Melbourne

[mwatt]

My husband, daughter and I were in Melbourne for a few days this week, and got to visit a couple of cafes, though not as many as we were hoping to.

We did make it to Batch Espresso, where the presentation of our coffees were exceptional, though it wasnt the greatest cup Id ever had. Also, we forgot to ask, but they have a nz latte on their menu... can anyone tell me what this is?

But the place that really blew us away was Maling Room, fantastic coffee. Just fantastic.   The barista made my husbands doppio ristretto four times before he was happy enough to serve it to him, and was quite happy to chat to us about why. We were very impressed with the whole place, and our nearly 1-year old daughter was quite delighted with the box of toys they have there (although she found the products on the shelves too great a temptation). Well definately be going back there if we ever get to Melbourne again.

Wanted to get to St. Ali and a few other places, but hey, next time...

[Baristacrat]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

Hey there, based on coffee drinking when I was working in Auckland,  an NZ latte is also known as a latte bowl, usually served....in a bowl! This is a good thing if you like massive amounts of coffee and the barista knows to punch a few shots into the bowl to give it some backbone. Alternately it is a good thing of you like very large milky lattes!!!! At my regular Brazil in K Road, they pull a mean double from a stripped back and refurbed mad max style  old school 2 group lever , and make the most unbelieveable latte bowls...mmmmmm, Brazil.... :

[AndyL]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

Hey Mwatt,
Im glad you enjoyed the coffees at T.M.R, just getting on top of a few things. Got a few plans on coffees later on this year. You came in at a perfect time when it was quiet. I did pull several shots because i had put a different roast date in the mazzer, so dialling in the temperture for that takes a while. I knew you would appreciate it and we generally do pull several shots on espresso to make it right. I know i will sample a shot every time before i give a short black out to a customer. Its great with the synesso and pulling shots just to suit the customers needs. As a barista we are seeing a new direction we have to go towards and the synesso is teaching us new things every week. Out growing machines in the past and not learning new things as a barista is a problem. We feel like rookies with synesso. Manual pre infusion is a level i cant even imagine and wont even try till next year.
Im not doing a lot of special guest blends at the moment because we are really trying to understand the synesso on a different level. Its a shame you couldnt go to St Ali. Love the guys there.
T.M.R is great for kids and we didnt set it up for the kids it just happen!! Its funny the building really attracts the kids and the venue is perfect for them. You can enjoy a coffee and the kids have a great time.
Thanks for the feed back.
We will keep working on it!!!

[TC]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

Hey Andrew- a big welcome to you from the CS community....Good to see you here! [smiley=tekst-toppie.gif]

Chris

[Dimal]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

Hey Andrew,

Likewise from me.... Welcome to CoffeeSnobs [smiley=thumbsup.gif]. Your location definitely sounds like a great place to be ,

Al the best,
Mal.

[AndyL]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

Thanks guys

Been here so many times and read heaps on coffeesnobs. Even replied on a different name, "which i forgot"

Andrew

[mwatt]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

Ok, going on our becoming-annual (hopefully) visit to Melbourne.
Anything I need to know? Anywhere new and brilliant we should check out? Anywhere that used to brilliant that now sucks?

Definately planning on getting to The Maling Room at least once, hopefully a couple of times...

Other than that, will aim to check out First Pour, St. Ali and Batch...

Michelle

[TC]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

Ok, going on our becoming-annual (hopefully) visit to Melbourne.
Anything I need to know? Anywhere new and brilliant we should check out? Anywhere that used to brilliant that now sucks?

Definately planning on getting to The Maling Room at least once, hopefully a couple of times...

Other than that, will aim to check out First Pour, St. Ali and Batch...

Michelle

Try:
Bebita- David Makins newie- 2nd lever Melbourne Central
7 Gram- Chruch St Richmond
A minor place- Albion St Brunswick...Grungy but great breaky and coffee

[AndyL]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

7grams pretty impressive

[mwatt]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

Melbourne was again fantastic- even though I thought Id missed BeanBay (I did manage to score 500gm of JBM, which I think Ill be too scared to roast).

Maling Room was top-notch, just superb. We managed to visit three times, and the coffee was great every time! Many thanks to Andrew for not only brilliant coffee but for taking time out to chat with us, we really appreciated it.

St. Ali was also great, although we wondered if we were in the right place til we walked in the door. Really enjoyed the Rwandan they were serving Sunday, but the doppio ristretto latte on their house blend that I had Saturday was awesome!

We tried to get to First Pour but alas, we were too late on Saturday afternoon.

Also had a piccolo of Jamaica Blue Mtn at Jaspers in the Prahran Market. It was ok. A little disappointing at $6 a shot. The beans they had in buckets all looked quite oily- darker than Id usually care to go with most beans. I wonder how long they leave them sitting there for?

We also checked out coffee mamma in Albury. Looks really funky, the coffee was average. Someone should buy them a tamper so they can stop using the bit of plastic stuck to the grinder. Actually the coffee was probably ok, wed just been so spoilt all week with excellent coffee that we were perhaps a little overly critical.

Wanted to try Morrisons (?), self-proclaimed as the best coffee on the Hume, but it wasnt a good time to stop as both kids were asleep.

All in all, a good time chasing good coffee. Hoping to be back down in October...

You know youre a coffeesnob when you go on coffee-centred holidays!!  :

Michelle.

[Dimal]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

Also had a piccolo of Jamaica Blue Mtn at Jaspers in the Prahran Market. It was ok. A little disappointing at $6 a shot. The beans they had in buckets all looked quite oily- darker than Id usually care to go with most beans. I wonder how long they leave them sitting there for?

Gday Michelle,

Sounds to me like they roasted these way too far..... Most recommendations Ive read say that they should be pulled well before 2nd Crack even starts and then brewed using a French Press/Plunger or Vac Pot, not espresso or Moka Pot, etc. Youd think with such expensive beans they would have taken more care wouldnt you? Maybe they (the roaster) dont know any better :-?

Mal.

[Framey]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

mwatt said:

You know youre a coffeesnob when you go on coffee-centred holidays!!

My wife and I are probably going to Perth in late June, with the main objective being to check out Epic Espresso...

So I know what you mean  

[AndyL]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

i dont think its just the roasting, but more the storage. The beans have sweated out all the oils. Especially with our summer in Melbourne, Jaspers HAS TO CHANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Forget about the fairtrade and just store the BLOODY COFFEE right.
Also didnt like Yirg. Then why sell it then? So much marketing bull crap. Just because Ethiopian sounds cool lets sell it.

Michelle you are too nice!! 6 dollars for a crap coffee is not good enough.

Mammas i have to tell my friend he is full of it. Also it is Albury.

St Ali, gotta love those boys

[TC]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

Agreed Andrew- Jasper has a an enormous amount of work to do. The coffee served at the Brunswick St flagship is some of the worst I have had in the last 20 years...and I have had some doozies....

Bottom line is do they really care or is it all about marketing high-profit feelgood stale stuff, overroasted and oily in open buckets...

Time will tell  :

[luca]

Re: Quick visit to Melbourne

Hi Michelle,

You sound like you hit some high notes on your trip to Melbourne! As it happened, I shut up shop on Saturday, but was actually still around testing out some new machines with some Gene and Hottop roasts. It would have been nice to have seen you.

Also had a piccolo of Jamaica Blue Mtn at Jaspers in the Prahran Market. It was ok. A little disappointing at $6 a shot. The beans they had in buckets all looked quite oily- darker than Id usually care to go with most beans. I wonder how long they leave them sitting there for?

Gday Michelle,

Sounds to me like they roasted these way too far..... Most recommendations Ive read say that they should be pulled well before 2nd Crack even starts and then brewed using a French Press/Plunger or Vac Pot, not espresso or Moka Pot, etc. Youd think with such expensive beans they would have taken more care wouldnt you? Maybe they (the roaster) dont know any better :-?

Mal.

Top advice, Mal. There was some floating around at work last weekend ... random stuff like that sometimes happens ... and it was great as a French Press. Ill have to dust off the old Vac Pot at some stage.

Cheers,

Luca