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Melbourne Cafes - Is the Quality dropping?

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  • Melbourne Cafes - Is the Quality dropping?

    During my last few visits to Melbourne, my work colleagues and I have noticed a general decline in the quality of coffee from your average Melbourne coffee shop.
    Is this just CBD focused or across the board?

    I am not referring to the premium quality cafes such as Brother Baba Budan and the like, but to your average cafe that serves your basic espresso beverage using fresh roasted commercial grade beans.
    In the past we would visit numerous cafes close to our client's offices and enjoy a brew or two while we discussed business and other pleasantries. The coffee was consistent and it was hard to find a place that did not produce what most consider a reasonable cup of coffee. Properly extracted espresso, microfoam and latte art. Beans used were usually your commercial blenders roasted for espresso. Most would have a house blend with chocolate, toffee notes and a hint of fruit. Pleasant and drinkable.
    Choice of venue was and still is up to the client we visit.

    The most recent visits (post covid lockdown) were a bit of an eye opener, with many a shop gone. The coffees served were distinctly below average. The coffee was properly prepared, but the taste was definitely not up to standard. Bland espresso, excessive roast notes, baked, you name it, it was prevalent. This was the norm, not the odd one out.

    There are a number of reasons for this, with bean quality and roast quality the main culprits. With bean prices increasing, roasters are using whatever cheap coffee they can score to produce coffee at X$/kg. Few cafes are raising their prices by a reasonable level to counter cost increases. Using cheaper quality products to counter price rises is clearly evident. The massive increase in the number of roasting businesses has flooded the market with choice (not quality) and it was evident. Our clients were helping out local businesses with their patronage, but for how much longer? We did not go out of our way to visit a "good" cafe as it is hard enough to drag people into the office. All were happy to mingle for a coffee. Next trips we may have to target a few of the better establishments, if they are in the vicinity.

    I am curious if this is widespread, and many cafes are cutting costs to survive, or are just happy to use whatever beans they can and make some money?

    One thing that was prevalent was the abysmal batch brew on offer. Astringent and full of roast notes. Not one was drinkable. Culprit was obvious. Crap beans, crap roast and crap preparation. Hard to order a V60 if the wait time is 15min and you are lucky to have 20-30 minutes of cafe time. It too would most likely have been crap.

    Is this the norm, or were we just unlucky?

  • #2
    I've visited the CBD/Southbank a few times since 2020, and would say that you have to work a bit harder to get a reliable 'decent' espresso-based drink. After a few misses I've been able to settle on a place though (most recently Mr Summit on City Rd Southbank...reliably more than 'decent'...friendly staff). I suspect that the staff squeeze has played quite a role.

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Bosco_Lever View Post
      During my last few visits to Melbourne, my work colleagues and I have noticed a general decline in the quality of coffee........
      I am not referring to the premium quality cafes such as Brother Baba Budan and the like, but to your average cafe that serves your basic espresso beverage using fresh roasted commercial grade beans.
      One thing that was prevalent was the abysmal batch brew on offer. Astringent and full of roast notes. Not one was drinkable. Culprit was obvious. Crap beans, crap roast and crap preparation.
      Is this the norm, or were we just unlucky?

      No you weren't just unlucky Bosco.
      Whats clear is - given a clean bill of health / medical certificate - its very likely this is 3rd stage Coffee Snobbery Syndrome raring to the fore again.
      Whilst unfortunate its unlikely there is any thing that modern society can offer.
      Just be relaxed in knowing where all here to support you bruther !

      And I just happened to be there 2weeks ago.
      And no I dont sit down anywhere 'blind' without first 'sniffin' the general vibe of the place !
      Acknowledge your just going into a site based on many other variables not the least another person chooses / its close by. Oh my.
      And Agree with you that many places had closed and required looking further afield for those great shots.

      One to offer is MOM ...My Oh My, at East Richmond on Swan and Church St intersection.
      Also Pzzle Coffee on cnr Swanson n Little Collins. !

      Comment


      • JohnA
        JohnA commented
        Editing a comment
        interesting, i tried Puzzle and it was average coffee at best. Was disappointed.

        Suppose we all have different tastes though, the beauty of this hobby

      • Bosco_Lever
        Bosco_Lever commented
        Editing a comment
        If I was near Puzzle, I WOULD have dragged the clients to BBB.

    • #4
      Were any of you wearing your little "Coffee Snobs" coffee bean pins?
      I mean, how else will the cafe know that they need to pull out their gun barista or cop an honest review.

      I do fear that the Melbourne CBD is less than half the town it was 3 years ago.
      Margins are tighter and good staff have found other careers.

      Comment


      • Bosco_Lever
        Bosco_Lever commented
        Editing a comment
        CS coffee bean pins are best left for you Vics to wear.
        I bet most cafes do not even taste their own brews.

    • #5
      I’ve definitely experienced this. You really do have to hunt.

      But ye know what, this was the main reason I got into brewing my own. I can make a better espresso than 90% of the places I’ve gone into. Plus it ends up cheaper and I don’t have the hassle of having to leave the house.

      Comment


      • #6
        There are numerous places that serve good coffee, a few serve great coffee. The issue is, you are not going to drag a client halfway across the CBD for a coffee, nor was there a need to do so in the past.

        To be brutally honest, it is not hard to serve up a nice espresso based coffee, and the beans used do not need to be microlot wonders, just roasted properly.

        As to places serving high end microlots as espresso or filter, that is a topic for another day, as that is becoming hit and miss as well.

        Everyone has different tastes, but simple basics are the issue. A palatable coffee, espresso based either short, long or milky, is easy. However, it seems to be a challenge to find one without a massive effort.

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