Top cafes: Sydney & Melbourne

Comments

• FreshCoffee2

  December 2003

  EA has raised a very pertinent issue regarding the (mis)use of italian or italian sounding names in all things coffee in our fair country. Why don't you you turn it into a separate topic for discussion? Should draw some interesting comment. FC.

  Share on Facebook
• Unknown

  December 2003

  The only reason I can think of for the abuse of Italian sounding names for everything to do with coffee is for marketing purposes. Analogously, why would someone like Toyota (to pick on them) call their Japanese car something like a 'Grande' (Euro sounding). The names have been changed to protect the guilty, but you know what I mean. If it sounds Euro, then it must be 'supremo' and luxurious. You see, the unsespecting punter, as FC has posted many times before, will be drawn to perception rather than reality. Now, whilst this is true and perhaps critical, it is prevalent in every single fact of life for the vast majority of people (now of course I have plucked these statistics from my  :-X, but you know what I mean). I think, separately, what is as or more important as naming the great coffee shops is naming names and identifying those who torture the poor bean. For example, I was taken to a cafe (sic) in Sky Garden arcade in Sydney. We ordered to cappuccinos. mazzer-mini style doser grinder, which appeared to have not been used for some while. One barely tamped/barely full basket, no excess coffee wiped off....TWO CUPS WITH A LONG SHOT EACH. Reheated milk, etc. Surely, this is a capital offence. Because I was with someone else who was paying, I didn't say anything, but I couldn't believe my eyes.....so, if it looks like a cappuccino, smells like one, has a resembling taste of one, does it make it one? Any other similar stories? Patrick

  Share on Facebook
• Espresso_Amore

  December 2003

  Hiya Admin, Thanks for your comments. To be honest i think Crema would do quite well in the sunshine state as coffee culture here is growing at a rapid rate. By the way where could i get a copy of the latest Crema mag, as is says it is only available in syd and vic newsagents. And for Fresh Coffee, thanks mate for your support. I think i might turn it into a issue for people to comment on as It burns my butt sometimes when the Anti-Italian coffee squad come about.. Thanks anyhow and good coffee drinking to you both.... Saluti e Ciao...

  Share on Facebook
• admin

  December 2003

  Hi EA - you can buy Crema from Merlo Coffee in Fortitude Valley, or otherwise send us an e-mail: [email protected] and we can send you information on subscribing. Ciao -A PS In terms of the original topic - any more comments on cafes - particularly Melbourne?

  Share on Facebook
• over_extracted

  December 2003

  Anyone that would like a nice cup has to try paddington grind,new machine ,new blend.......mmmmmmmmmmyum good on you Mariano

  Share on Facebook
• admin

  December 2003

  Hi guys - just a reminder - still wouldn't mind some more feedback on favourite cafes - based on coffee only; ie based on factors like the skill of the baristas, freshness of their coffee and consistent excellence of product - which cafes in Sydney and Melbourne would you rate as the best? Ciao Admin

  Share on Facebook
• admin

  December 2003

  Hi guys - just a quick note to say hi, and best wishes from the team here at Crema...look forward to more stimulating discussion in the New Year! ciao Admin

  Share on Facebook
• pab

  January 2004

  Hey everyone... happy New Year. Santa was very nice to me and got me a coffee grinder!!!! As for top cafe's - yesterday we went to Swanes nursery in Dural. They have a little cafe ther called Cafe Botanica. As you walk into the cafe there is this great retro coffee roaster which they roast fresh beans around twice a week. Apparently te owner has just brought another roaster which he will restore. Needless to say to the coffee is superb. Better still, they sell it in either 250g or 1kg bags. We brought a bag and had some this morning - very nice!!! So, next time you're out Dural way drop into Swanes.

  Share on Facebook
• FreshCoffee2

  January 2004

  ---

  Hi Pab, your post is interesting from a Coffee Psych A01 perspective...Not wishing at all to downplay the coffee at that cafe but the total experience encompasses more than coffee flavour or "quality". I imagine you are talking about a small and excellent looking green and gold coloured roaster probably called a "San Franciscan". It portrays a certain old world ambience and charm conducive to thinking positive thoughts and expectations, and clients are preconceived even before they get to their brew.   Nothing wrong with that...it's good marketing, and as long as the coffee is good, the charm and ambience of it all helps you to remember a memorable coffee experience....and that's bigger than just "the coffee". Happy new year, FC.

  Share on Facebook
• pab

  January 2004

  FC, Well I'm not entirely sure of the make but it was an orange colour. I'll check next time for the make - I was tols that it was an old roaster that had been rebuilt. As for the coffee - it is roasted on their premisis every 3-4 days of which we brought some that was roasted 3 days earlier. There were no preconceptions as we had been there before had a great coffee and our return visit yielded a repeat performance. Support your local roaster - it's our closest one!!!

  Share on Facebook
• triclops

  January 2004

  Top cafes? Anyone in Melbourne out there? I remember talking to a judge in Melbourne  who voted in the last crema top ten who didn't know who half the cafes in the good food guide were? Do a little research Jill adams? Check out some cafes! In no particular order top 5 1. Newtown sc 2. Ray 3. Degraves 4. Wall 280 ( Chris or Dave) 5. Le Roy (just changed hands?) alot of others close by but these are the consistent leaders

  Share on Facebook
• 21_Grams

  January 2004

  Based on coffee alone, in Sydney, these are ones I can trust for consistency. 1.   Campos Coffee in Newtown 2.   The Galleria in Haberfield 3.   Piccolo Padre in Rozelle 4.   2KF in Mona Vale 5.   Toby's Estate in Wooloomooloo

  Share on Facebook
• mattyj

  July 2004

  Kafenio in Cronulla is excellent. Excellent latte art every time, rosetta's, hearts, my best man even got a double heart thing! The two barista's there are Jason Bailey and another guy, called Dom. Jason came 5th in an aussie barista comp, and dom came 2nd. I used to love Bacino Bar in Dee Why, and they still make great coffee, but they now use Mokador coffee, and you can smell the robusta a mile away. Top three (i haven't tried many, i'm a creature of habit): 1. Campo's - always REALLY GOOD coffee. Good guys to chat to when it's not too busy, i order green beans through them and roast at home - so much better! 2. Kafenio 3. Bacino Bar. Even though the robusta smells and tastes...like robusta, they still make good coffee. On the imported italian thing... IMHO, the problem with importing roasted coffee (from wherever) is freshness. How long ago was your average tin of illy coffe roasted? How long did it spend on a ship, or in a plane? How long did it spend at the dock? A few months in total? In terms of freshness, it just doesn't compare to product roasted locally, five days ago. Campo's roasts their own, and Kafenio have a small roaster do their own blend. The coffee you buy at Kafenio for home has a sticker on the bottom with the date it was roasted printed on it. I've never looked at the stuff from campo's, coz i buy green beans from them. Bottom line: fresh is best. Dip in! Buy a $20 popcorn popper and roast at home, you'll be pleasantly surprised!

  Share on Facebook
• andybud

  July 2006

  Melbourne - FILTER CAFE BAR, FITZROY Unbelievable coffee

  Share on Facebook