Summer in the city and its raining!

I had a few hours to spare whilst Darby was gallivanting with his great aunty at the museum... and again I couldn't decide where to go! This no car thing is starting to grate on my nerves! Normally I would be able to jump in and go wherever I like... but without it I'm feeling lost and anchored to the West ! I call Laura to see if she wants a coffee and she also has the luxury of a car, but she has been struck down with my cold and doesn't want to get out of bed (don't blame her).

 So I decide my best option  is to go into the city again, I had so much fun last time, why not do it again.....Although this time the weather (scattered showers) and the lack of umbrella is not working  in my favour!



Its trademark!Chairs in the roof!



I get off at Melbourne Central and get out my handy MCR app on my phone! The closest place to me is Brother Baba Budan  (BBB)  http://brotherbababudan.com.au/ in Little Bourke St . I have been here once this year on my challenge and still think it was the best coffee i have had (in a takeaway). It is 3 beans and that definition is a coffee that leaves you thinking about it for weeks and the that was certainly the case  so I cant wait to taste a sip  sitting at the window and watching the masters of coffee do their thing! 

My Coffee Art

Its a very intimate cafe, with no more than 15 seats to sit down. I sit my self down at a vacant seat at the communal table and order my coffee. Its an all girl show working today and it must be mandatory to have tattoo's as the two on the coffee machine have some  striking arm art!  

My coffee arrives quickly and I ponder it for awhile as it looks soo pretty, as soon as I put my spoon in the  milky pretty design on top is going to go! Oh well all for the sake of the taste! And it is a top notch coffee... one of the best you will get in Melbourne or anywhere for that matter (that's saying something!) Its velvety smooth and the soy milk's nuttiness  seems to enhance the flavours of the espresso! Not really anything else to say! Its a 10 out of 10 in my books. Perfecto!

 Ill be trying to come back here as quickly as I can... or over to its Mother ship Seven Seeds (and a friend told me last week they have opened another store in Fitzroy De Clieu, so I will have to get there soon!)

I'm calling the Panel Beaters soon as I  get home! I want my car back!!! 

Until next time xx



Train Excursion and the dreaded summer cold!

Friday is here and I'm stretching my very foggy brain (damn head cold - I hate you ) trying to remember my coffee adventures from  earlier in the week!!

Weeks seem to be moulding into one and February has almost gone before I knew it was here! Monday came around again and Darby and I broke with our tradition and did something a little different today! Entering week 3 without a car has made me become more inventive with the adventures we take. (Also I try and make them as easy on me and kid friendly as possible!) 



Yummy Smartie Cookie

We decided today on  a train trip to Newport  which would be a fun way to spend the afternoon! Newport is only 3 train stops away so its a quick trip and a perfect length for Darbs, ... less stress than driving really ....



Today we are trying Nosh @ Newport.. I have heard many great things about this place but have never managed to get myself there!

Nosh is situated opposite the Newport train station and is very easy to locate. It is open everyday and for dinner some nights too! Its a very funky  and  low key kind of place. It is also very kid friendly (big tick for that) with toys in the corner, lots of  kiddie food, including gingerbread bears, the always divine Honey Joys and the pièce de résistance "the Smartie cookie!  Kiddie drinks are also served in plastic cups! Darby was very impressed by his babycino  served in a bright green cup, but even more impressed by his smartie cookie.. (I scored myself a few little bites as well.)

Coffee Supreme! A long time fave!

My coffee is yum, they use Coffee Supreme, one of my favorite brands (of a list that is growing fast)!so its hard to go wrong! Ill be back here no doubt. Always nice to have another place so close to go to in the west.. 

Nosh Coffee

Now as the rest of my working  week unfolded and I began to feel the physical effects of a summer cold coming on, runny nose,  sore throat and achy body just to name a few symptoms  (I'm sure my body could be forgiven to thinking it is June), Luckily I still felt the need to drink coffee. Any time I'm even slightly under the weather my body goes into caffeine shutdown and I cant drink it for weeks.. but even though my taste buds are out of whack and I'm severely dehydrated, my body is still calling out for its daily cup of coffee,(YAY)!

Elevenses cool coffee machine on Snooker table 

 I visited Elevenses http://www.elevenses.net.au/ a few times  this week for their super coffee, I love that place! The quirkiness, the location (so close to work) and the divine coffee! Yummy Toby's estate is always spot on here, strong, rich and smooth (this is where I could insert some lame joke about liking my men that way, but Ill refrain!) 



my coffee mmmmmm

 I took the guys from work here on Friday for coffee and brunch as Janine and I are always talking about it and my colleague Stephen wanted to get a picture and mention in my Blog!!! He even shouted me coffee as a sweetener!
The place was heaving with people in a mid morning caffeine rush which is great for them! 

Oh and on rather an embarrassing note, the guys at Elevenses had read my blog (or a part where I have mentioned them!) I suppose this is good.... but I forget that anybody can see/ find  my  portal of dagginess!!! Oops! Oh well, its all in the name of coffee!!

Until next time (sniff sniff)

Enjoy your coffee xx

 PS -  I need to find a new word/s for Yummy- I use it way too much... any ideas please??!???????!

Saturday night Fever!

 



Darby and his coffee art - he is not as fussy as his mum about his coffee!

  Now this is part two of my Saturday blog! I cant believe I was silly enough to drink 3 coffees in a day! I didn't really think there would be any consequences! How naive of me!? Coffee is a very powerful drug, and for someone who only drinks one a day, I was drinking well over my recommended amount! I must have this mantra plastered to my forehead: remember Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate... coffee really is a diuretic, it dehydrates very quickly and I'm learning that lesson daily!



My coffee being made at Nabiha





After my busy morning in the city, I was hungry for some lunch so I decided to gatecrash Laura's catch up with her friend in Moonee Ponds! (Well mainly it was so I could go and have a look at Kmart too, without a car its almost impossible!) I had heard fantastic things about a cafe in Hall St called Nabiha which was on my MCR list. We checked it out but it  was too busy when we went in, so we opted for Ednas across the road. Lunch was just what I needed, Darby and I both had Poached Eggs on toast. He loves loves loves  eggs... but today he was more interested in eating all of Laura's fruit Salad!


After lunch I just had to try a coffee at  Nabiha, I am always excited to be trying another place on the West side.  It is a long and small cafe inside a concrete building (that doesn't sound too nice I know??) but surprisingly it has a very warm and inviting kind of feel. The two girls running the cafe were really friendly. Nabiha  use Five Senses coffee on a Synesso coffee machine which is a really beautiful... The take away coffee was outstanding, I would have drunk the whole thing  and ordered another if I didn't already have the severe shakes from a coffee overload! Ill definitely be coming back here though , I loved it!

How gorgeous are these vintage water jugs.. I want some!





My surprise gorgeous flowers from Shaz



 When I arrived home from our shopping/lunch/coffee fix there was a gorgeous surprise waiting for me at my doorstep! Some flowers from Shaz . Such a beautiful gesture, such a beautiful friend, I feel like such a sucky one most of the time! Made me realise how much I miss her!  

Darby's wonderful pic of "Coffee Drunk" Mum

 Now I can see why coffee is a drug, Three cups on Saturday and I felt drunk, seriously delirious!! I had soo much energy, I lost my appetite, had the shakes and palpatations. Darby thought it was hilarious that I was jumping around the house like a lunatic! We also thought it would be a great idea to play dress ups and have a dance... Darby favouring a floral dress and fascinator and well I was the photographer and DJ mixing the tunes! I think he likes coffee drunk mum  cos I had so much energy to match him finally and not the usual exhausted mum at the end of the day.  Although he crashed on the couch from all our frivolity but I couldn't sleep, awake until 12 just tossing and turning ..... arrgghhh. Lesson Learnt today - One coffee daily maximum for me!

Until next time , enjoy your coffee xx

 

Dress Up fun



Accidental Tourist

Phew... its been a busy busy  caffeine fueled day.. I might have to break this into an AM and PM blog as I covered so much ground today! Actually knocked 3 places off my list (a record!) and im down to 80 places to go...... in 10 months! 
I'm afraid I'm  still a little high from my coffee fix(es) today, its been an overload for my body, I don't know how I will sleep tonight.. I am taking extreme measures to  suffer  for my art. I think a caffeine free day may be in order tomorrow.. what horror.. well maybe back to just one coffee! .....



Sensory Lab



With a few spare hours to myself today (My kind lil sis took Darbs to see "Gnomeo and Juliet" awww) I decided the city was the best place to go without the convenience of having a car... I packed my trusty camera and decided today I was going to play tourist! Try and observe through the eyes of a newcomer to Melbourne ... and I was pleasantly surprised. I love Melbourne so much , but today it took a different persona and I loved it even more .. I felt like I was really on a holiday. The weather was perfect, the city was busy but not hectic like it is on a frenetic work day..  It was soo much fun!

 

Marble Tables and Bunson Burners at the Sensory Lab



My Perfect Coffee

At my Science Lab seat!

First stop I needed a coffee... I got off the train at Flinders St station and used my handy MCR Iphone App to the closest paces near me... It guided me in the direction of  Sensory Lab http://www.sensorylab.com.au/ in  David Jones on Little Collins St . I have been here before,  late last year, it had a wow factor  then - I'm hoping for the same kind of experience....  Greeted by a chirpy waiter in a Lab coat and 1950s "Mad Men" slicked hairstyle, my coffee was before me in a flash! (a Good Start)  The coffee was really rich, with a smooth taste, Their coffee blend is so easy to drink, I have to stop myself from sculling it in 3 sips!
 I understand why this place gets a 3 Bean rating.. Coffee is an art form here, with a coffee bar, where you can purchase beans from and also admire the different techniques of how to make a coffee, including the syphon ... which looks amazing and very scientific.  It really does take the form  of a  'science' lab!



Maybe I need to get some coffee making lessons??!?!



How good does this food look!??!



After my coffee hit, I did a little retail therapy... or more like window shopping as I did not get my walllet out at all!
 I was more interested in taking in the little laneways and alleys that Melbourne is famous for and doing a spot of people watching! Gosh the food on offer is nothing short of amazing!  If only my stomach was big enough to try the many delectable treats on offer around the city! In particular I passed  a favorite of mine... I hesitated going in, but I think this is the kind of place company is compulsory! You need to enjoy devonshire teas with other people, no matter how good they look! Next city visit Ill bring a date and first stop will  be the Hopetoun Tea rooms  http://www.hopetountearooms.com.au/ in  the beautiful and historic Block Arcade http://www.theblockarcade.com.au/



 The window full of  everything sweet that you can imagine was out of this world and most people walking through the arcade, stopped to admire the cakes, tarts, slices, biscuits on display and look longingly when a slice was plated up for a lucky customer!! mmmmm

Journal Cafe

After some more wandering around the lanes and heading back towards Flinders St Station, I stopped off at the Journal Cafe in Flinders Lane. The cafe has a old Library kind of  feel,, Ironic then that is located adjacent to the City Library..
I sat in a corner overlooking the window. I ordered my usual coffee and some seasonal fruit (Peaches and Nectarines with Yoghurt).  The coffee had a lovely nutty taste, although it wasnt the best coffee I had, it was good, but I couldnt drink all of it. That may be partly to do with the amazing coffee I had an hour or so before. I will come back to Journal on a work day and check it out again.



As a Thankyou to Laura for looking after Darby I had to stop by Little Cupcakes http://www.littlecupcakes.com.au/

7 tiny bits of happiness!! They really are Heaven!  White Chocolate and Raspberry,  Passionfruit, Choc Chip, RedVelvet mmmmm they are soo good, Its hard to stop at this many!

Total ECLIPSE of the heart

Total Eclipse!

Eclipse Coffee http://www.eclipsecoffee.com.au/ is another mysterious cafe, its address is Collins St, but in reality it is tucked away at the back of the Rialto in Flinders Lane, so you have to really be seeking it out.
 I'm seeing a theme in the cafes I have been  trying lately that they are all so understated, with no need for signs or marketing on the outside and often you could walk past and not realise you have missed it. They really let their coffee speak for itself!!

Janine and I made our way to Eclipse on Wednesday morning for our daily coffee experience! When you enter, the  darkness of the cafe is quite overwhelming so early in the morning. You almost feel like its 11pm and you should be ordering  gin and tonics, not soy cappuccinos and long blacks at the bar. The colourful down lights just add to the  late night mood as well, but the scent of Cinnamon lingers from the  nearby fruit toast and jolts me back to my 9.30am reality! Damn!  The food here  looks like another reason to keep coming back, with gorgeous looking pastries and croissants . Ill definitely be back for breakfast and lunch ...

Eclipse have about 3 or 4 baristas working tirelessly  on the Synesso http://www.synesso.com/ coffee machine (I am taking much more notice of the coffee machines these days!)  to churn out the hundreds of coffees it must make in a usual mid week morning rush.  
Now onto my coffee, for the price I pay $4.10 (on the pricey side for a small coffee), I would hope that its damn exceptional!  I can't wait to get it back to the office to try it! It does not disappoint , it is soo smooth and rich. The soy milk enhances the rich chocolatey nutty  flavour. They use their own beans here and they change the blend daily. Today  its a Brazillian exquisite blend!
Ill be back here again for coffee in no time!



My Elevenses coffee



In the afternoon I was after another caffeine fix! So I opted for convenience  and went to Elevenses http://www.elevenses.net.au/, something always draws me back there! The coffee even at 4pm, is still as good as it is earlier on in the day and that's always a sign to me they take their coffee making seriously!


Hasn't been a great week for my Melbourne coffee review 100... no new ones off my list! Still without a car for 2 more weeks, so I  will have to pick up the pace when I get it back!

I purchased the Melbourne Coffee Guide today http://www.thecoffeeguide.com.au/ and it reviews 150 places to go... slightly more ambitious, although there is quite a few cross overs with MCR so it could be doable! If only I had the time... the thought of giving up my day job sounds nice.. but then I have to be able to purchase coffees so that may prove a problem... mmmm If only I could drink more than 1 or 2 in a day without the palpitations and headaches!

Until next time, enjoy your coffee xxx

Manic Monday



Darbs riding down the street!

 It feels like deja vu again, another Monday here again so quickly and I am doing what i did last Monday! Soon they will all blend into one long long long monday with no car,  spent sipping coffees at the corner shop, whilst wrangling a 3 year old! Ah life, it really is bliss!!!



Yummy Ginger Flower biscuit mmmm

As I preempted I did have some Children's bookshop negotiating to do before I could enjoy my morning coffee ! Darby was very persistent about going in, and so like every desperate parent does at some point in time, the little 'white lie' came out! It involved an (invisible) rubbish truck driving by.. I was crossing my fingers a real one would actually drive by to back me up.   I also promised a Ginger flower biscuit! Yes.... the  distracting worked! 1 point for mum!



Soy Cappuccino mmmmm



Now onto the coffee... it was as good as ever, I can never fault the coffee here. I particularly love the coffee supreme cream and gold cups, they are gorgeous. Very art deco! If only I knew where I could get some.....



I love sitting  at the window with Darby watching the yarraville village go by, time just goes and Darby is so well behaved, we read the paper together and sip our coffees/babycinos. I get put in my place when I try to take a bit of his biscuit "No mum you drink your Soy Cappucino, Darby is eating the biscuit thanks!" Very Diplomatic!



Best Babycino in town!



Luckily for Darby (and for me) we saw a Rubbish Truck on the way home and that made Darbys day... and me feel a little less guilty about  my little lie!



Until next time xxx



mmm real chocolate!!

Marshmallow!

The Hangover!

Good or Evil??? I'm still to decide!!

Firstly today Ill be talking about another drink starting with the letter C... this drink too has many wonderful qualities like its friend coffee . It helps to make you feel relaxed, confident and happy, it is used to toast the big celebrations in life and is generally  loved by everyone! But today I am seeing the Ugly side of that drink! Now to clarify,  I'm talking about Champagne and too much of it!
Today is probably  not the ideal day for me to write. My head is fuzzy, like its stuffed with cotton wool, my tummy is rumbling, I'm hungry but I'm not, I close my eyes and see stars and also a vision of myself dancing some Zumba moves in front of lots of people!!ugghh and I'm slowly going downhill .... the evil evil culprit of alcohol, now I wonder why I don't drink!!!  It was however  all in the name of a good cause to celebrate Catherine and Dave's wedding. It was an amazing celebration and the most fun I have had in a long time, I  was completely honoured to be there to share the joy and love, but the aftermath is never ever pretty! Suffice to say there will not be much coffee drunk today! Hangovers and caffeine don't mix for me! 



Gingerlee Soy Cappuccino



 Having said that though, when I felt less fuzzy and dehydrated and more spritely or maybe still a little tipsy this morning I did have a Soy mocha with my hangover cure (Eggs and Bacon at Le Chien).

The cure has not worked its magic and its a slow and steady decline!

Oh well Ill have to perk up now as I am taking Elisha out on an excursion to a coffee place I haven't tried and then I can't say no to coffee! Suck it up Jane..... Here goes.....



Elisha and I head over to our old stomping ground of Brunswick! So much has changed  in the years since I moved to the West. I always get reminiscent having spent 4 years living there in my twenty somethings! Ahh the memories! I do romantically wish I lived their now, the shops are better, there are dozens more cafes and the coffee and availability of good coffee in Brunswick has more than tripled.. Brunswick  covers at least 10% of my Melbourne Coffee Review List.



Passionfruit Cheesecake with Lemon Curd



Today we pulled over to a place on Lygon St  - Gingerlee.  Elisha and I had actually been there 2 years ago and I remembered it well.  We sat outside overlooking busy Lygon St and ordered our coffees. Mine was delicious!  Could not fault it, the only thing maybe was that the cup was a tad under full  but nothing too major there! I also had a wonderful little passion fruit cheesecake with lemon curd.... was the perfect  size so I didnt feel too guilty scoffing it down!

Ill be back to Brunswick...  very soon I hope , they know how to nail a good coffee, just hurry up car so I can get over there again!   

Until next time xxxx



Elisha and her Skinny latte

The Finished cheesecake



Coffee Machine Broken ?&*%#!

Day 2 of public transporting it and its still going well! No complaints yet! 

Darby and I trekked over to North Melbourne where we were meeting cousin Kate and Laura for a coffee. Kate has been a  tremendous supporter of my blog so far , so  as an out of towner she wanted to go to one of the coffee places I had written about. So after some research on Friday I decided upon a new place I had not heard of and  actually not on my MCR list that reportedly made very good coffee:  Maison Ama Lurra http://www.amalurra.com.au/ in Howard St, North Melbourne.

I should have been worried when we arrived. The owner had a very concerned look on his face and seemed reluctant to come and serve us. When we were greeted by the waitress we were told some VERY VERY bad news! I think she actually phrased it as interesting news not as devastating as I found it.  The coffee machine had broken down! OMG!!!

She obviously didn't have the same obsession for coffee as I did and I was greatly offended when she offered me the tea list.... As if!

The only coffee they  did have  available was filtered coffee called the Trifecta, Kate and I decided to give it a go! I don't think I have ever ordered a long black, so this would be an experience.  To be honest though it did not rock my world, nor did it have the effect I thought it would have- I always imagine after drinking long blacks you were left buzzing on a caffeine high! None of that buzzing felt here! 

The food was also interesting and certainly not for every ones taste and they may need to find their niche to get them off the ground, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt and come back and try their coffee, lets hope next time their machine is in top form! I might just call ahead to check!

Seven Seeds - 10 out of 10



I couldn't let Kate think I was terrible at picking my places for coffee and we were still in desperate need for a good cup of Java.  So we wandered down a few blocks  to a new favorite of mine  Seven Seeds http://www.sevenseeds.com.au/, surely that couldn't fail us and I knew they had a plethora of coffee machines! One specially there to make Take Aways too! Perfect! ...

Of the two times I have been, I have found Seven Seeds hard to locate, it really is tucked away in a side street and my map reading skills need a little work!!!!!


Of those times there it is always filled to the brim with people. Word of Mouth Advertisement really speaks volumes here with no signs needed out the front! They even have a very handy indoor bike parking, which seems in vogue for all the cool cafes i have been to lately! Might have to get myself a bike so I fit the bill!!



Soy Cappuccino - Perfecto





Finally a picture of me Enjoying my coffee!

Seven Seeds - hustle and bustle of Saturday morning

 We ordered our coffees and a biscuit for Darby and managed to snatch some vacant seats so we could enjoy the coffee experience there. From a quick head count it looked like there were about 4 or 5 Barista's making coffees, pretty extraordinary really. This place takes their coffee making very seriously. And we all enjoyed our coffees, I think I have converted Laura and Kate to come back.. I certainly will be.....

Laura and Kate sipping Seven Seeds

And so after a rocky start to the morning my coffee obsession continues...... Still 80 or so more to go.. but who's counting!
Until Next time, enjoy your coffee  xxx



The Other side of the River

My first day off without a car proved quite successful and my pedometer had never seen so many steps before (well apart from dancing at the George Michael concert - enough said!)  I thought it may combust....  

I made my way over to uncharted coffee territory  " the other side of the river": South Yarra.  I  was meeting bride to be Catherine,  Nicole and baby Kailani for a catchup, and whilst I was here I thought it would be only sensible to knock some places off my list as I'm not a South Yarra frequent flyer !

I had three cafes  to choose from - all I had heard good things, and they all rated equally in the Melbourne Coffee Review  (2 beans).
So first toss of the coin  was Outpost cafe which was easy to find, a short walk from the SY station. The cafe had a very fresh French provincial kind of  feel, as though  you were in somebodies first class kitchen watching them busily prepare food for the day. The other side was taken up with all things coffee, a glorious looking coffee machine... and St Ali beans hard at work being ground and made into coffee. In the corner was a syphon coffee maker, I am eager to try a syhponed coffee but a little scared as well.... This blog is really going to take me out of my comfort zone!!!

The aromas from the coffee (and the kitchen) were amazing and had Darby and I salivating!

Outpost Cafe

My coffee was of the highest standards, I have to confess I have a soft spot for St Ali beans, they really are amazing! Although I must admit even though my coffee looks like a work of art , I do whimsically wish that there would be the slight taste of chocolate on top. These days most cafes serving cappucinos do the swirl with the cocoa so you cannot taste it.. call me old fashioned (or perhaps even daggy) but I like my cappuccinos with a bit more on top!
 

Looks Yummy huh??

This sign was speaking to me!!!

After my lovely catch up with the girls I made my way  up to Darling St - for a Coffee Darling! So very posh!! The sign out the front had me instantly and I somehow felt very poignant, that somehow what I am doing is much much bigger than just tasting coffee , something of a bigger power that I couldn't describe was at play. I couldn't put my finger on it, but it really shook me up! So after I wiped a few embarrassing tears  away   I made my way into the very chic cafe. It was very minimalistic but still had a warm feel to it. As I had read, the coffee was ordered and within an instant it was ready and in my hand!

 I had never been a fan of Genovese beans, but after this coffee I will take it back, its all in the hands of the coffee maker as to what he does with his beans. The first smell and sip I wasn't too convinced, but after that it turned into a very very enjoyable coffee, just what I needed after my emotional moment! Ahh

My South Yarra trip was very successful , next time I will come and try Crue Coffee Lounge and will also be very tempted to go back to the other two!



Lamington and Choc Chip
The other 2 were long gone



Darby and I enjoyed the rest of the day wandering around the city and trying on lipstick and shopping for girly things, this is a luxury I dont get anymore and Darby seemed more than happy to be my little shopping buddy for the day! So as a reward we went to Little Cupcakes http://littlecupcakes.com.au/  in Degraves St! We got 4  cupcakes - and they were delicious, just the perfect bite size. We had a Lamington, Choc Chip, Red Velvet and White Chocolate and Raspberry - 2 were gone within seconds of leaving the shop and we savoured the other 2 for later!

Phew what a busy coffee and cake day with my little man - we were both exhasuted, although he had the luxury of being pushed around in the pram and had a little nap on the way home!  No rest for the wicked!!!