I'm back and its A Whole new World!



More Proud Mary Moments! Ahhhhhh

On Friday  I was like a little girl on Christmas morning !!! Skipping with enthusiasm to my local service station to pick up a copy of the  The Age Magazine Top 30 "Cafes"  (or coffeehouses as they may be more likely referred to  in the future!)  I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy and see who had made the grade! I wonder what I will be like when they release the Age Good Cafe Guide this month featuring 250 cafes, maybe leading me to dream the impossible dream! If I get through my 100 in one piece and not  admitted to some kind of clinic with a serious caffeine addiction ..then  what is  an extra 150 to do ! Easy peasy!!  



I was dying to see which ones I have already been to on "my journey" .... My Score card  read: 22 out of 30 and all since February!  Pretty impressive huh!?? Before February I was sitting at a measly 4 !!! That was before my coffee revolution... crazy what you can do in a few short months when you really have a goal huh!? So much easier than sticking to a diet to  lose that pesky 5kg!!  

Coming from a  relatively new coffee lover.. I think I have only dipped my toe in the water of what the Melbourne coffee scene is really like, and I like what I see..  I  think I am still  discovering that  I may  actually have a  a deep riding passion for coffee after all, well I don't know any other crazies doing such a thing.. but I'm sure they are out there and its only a matter of time before I bump into them over a soy cappuccino... my soul mate perhaps!?!?! 

 My  ability to never stop being surprised and delighted by everything ,big or small  is a quality I love about myself  ....  and It has allowed me to see that I am so much more a creative - right -side- brain  person than I ever thought I was... better than any Myers Briggs assessment would tell me !  

Now I only have 38 to go... and  I have no  one holding me back.. I'm running my own show and  I actually know I will achieve this goal... I am excited and exhilarated thinking about it! 

This new found confidence is now ready to be applied to other aspects of my life! I'm not saying I'm not still feeling sad and sorry for myself at times, I am ..... but  I have Adele on  my play lists to help me thought that ... Coffee has allowed me to immerse myself in the world all by myself and without having to really try, but now I am ready for the scary stuff.. putting myself back on the dating scene... the thought of it runs shivers of terror down my spine.. but hey gotta start somewhere!! Will keep you posted on this one if there are any developments, a handsome barista perhaps, I don't think there is a shortage of those.... 

As  for coffee this week, the highlights again have  been the Pastel cups!!! This time at Hardware Societe.. I have a love love love of pastel cups... as seen in Proud Mary and also at Duchess of Spotswood too!! They just look so pretty and I feel so elegant drinking my coffee... ahhhh... I am going to find some, but it wont be the same drinking out of them at home...Ok so back to Hardware Societe. I walked there at lunch time, a 30 minute power walk round trip! The coffee was fabulous and soo cheap $3, seriously for a soy too.. pity it is on the other side of the city! The french inspired cafe is so inviting with warm yellow splashed everywhere and little touches that demonstrate they care about the little things... and I wished I could have stayed for lunch the food on other people tables looked so appetising, next visit  for sure. I might have to swap my coffee for a Pot of Tea, served with a tea cosie and all!  Lovely!

Kate out the front of Proud Mary
Very Happy with her coffee!!!!

I did make it back to Proud Mary on Saturday with Laura and Kate.. slightly under the weather  from a few too many vino's the night before.. I could still manage to get myself to order a coffee here.. normally a big no-no in my hangover recovery book... but how can you resist at one of the best places to drink coffee  in Melbourne! I don't regret it! It was so smooth and actually fixed my headache and gave me the caffeine kick that I needed to get through the day! We ate breakfast here as well which was the perfect hangover cure!The Hash browns are a must!!  The staff were attentive and friendly, and very helpful  and the noise that normally engulfs cafes on a Saturday was not even an issue!  I feel redeemed from my suggestion to come here after my last cafe suggestion backfired in February! 

Will be back here without a doubt! 

I also picked up some very helpful and pretty postcards  that explained all the different coffee brewing methods from French Press, to Syphon, Chemex and Espresso! They have dispelled a few  mysteries for me and I may one day actually order a Pour over...



A cup of Teal Goodness from the Duchess! 

On Monday I went to another home of Pastel Cups... Duchess of Spotswood, just a few short minutes from home and a diamond in what is a rough industrial area of Melbourne.. The barista wearing a very funky hat... (read my next blog all about hats!) served up a strong and sweet coffee in a wonderful Teal cup and pale blue saucer (and Darby had his in a pale pink cup! ) I keep meaning to come here to eat, as the reputation of the food produced here is pretty high and the anticipation is making me want it more... Monday morning is a perfect time to do it and escape the weekend traffic! We might even walk here to work off what could be a very decadent treat!

Ahh well that's it from the week.. I will be back to my regular  posts from now on!  

Until Next time... Lifes too short to drink crappy coffee... xxx

Monday at Mary's

I have been very slack lately with my writing, I could rattle off 101 excuses my number one has been focusing on my movie making skills! I have loved combining my passion for photo taking and music with my coffee drinking! I now just need to get a decent camera... although I must say my IPhone has done a pretty good job to date!

Some of these photos taken at Proud Mary I think are my best... Maybe it was just the environment to take them - all that Blue cup glory....

Darby and I walked into Proud Mary on a cold Monday afternoon to the soothing tones of Bad Moon Rising by Creedence, some might not automatically think of CCR as soothing, but it reminds me of my dad and puts me automatically at ease! At first gaze around the busy cafe I am instantly impressed by the Massive and Grand Blue (Synesso I'm guessing) coffee machine, it takes up a whole bench and is beyond words!

What I love here the most are the signature Blue cups.. they are simple but so different and really set this place apart from the rest. Darby and I managed to get a table overlooking the coffee machine and we both stared at it in wonder.. his wide eyes lighting up every time the Barista said "Coffee Up" ... he turned to me so innocently and said "Mum when I grow up I want to be a coffee maker!" Bless his heart... my eyes filled up with proud motherly tears!! He is going to be one hell of a barista one day!  Hopefully I don't take up a new hobby any day soon!   My coffee came and was pretty as a picture... I could have looked at it for hours.. but decided the best thing to do was to drink it! Mmmm heaven is all Ill say! Maybe I will use a massive cliche here and say I did 10 Hail Marys to wish every coffee I have is this good!

Proud Mary is an impressive place to eat and drink at! There is the usual exposed brick/concrete floor combo in a converted warehouse that I am becoming accustomed to, yet it doesn't feel too industrial or cold.. in any case it oozes with warmth! I keep coming back to the blue cups.. I seriously have to get over my major fetish and get some of my own!



All Gone... it was soo delightful!!

Every way to make a good coffee is demonstrated here, from the  single origins here plus interesting blends too, down to the clover/syphon/chemex etc methods of making ..... plus cold drip as well... The one that caught my eye was Velvet Underground.. next time I will be ballsy enough and just ask for it!   

 I really want to come back here on the weekend to eat, drink and soak up some more Mary vibes.... and I have a coffee date with my cousin Kate.. and after a let down in February I am out to impress this time so I think Proud Mary will be my top pick! Until next time xxx

Life is too short to drink crappy coffee .........





  





What a week its been

This past week I had lost the writing vibe... oh no!! Its only a temporary glitch, but writing about coffee had been the last thing on my mind. The joy that is my daily dose seems frivolous in the midst of tragedy unfolding around the world and closer to home. Maybe though this is the time to be enjoying the things  that bring  joy to my life, you just never know how quickly worlds  are going to be turned upside down.  This week I am praying for peace for people suffering and hope for those whose lives will never be the same.  So my thoughts for the day are: Savour the people in your life, enjoy the the things no matter how big ... or little that make you happy. Live every day like its your last, laugh a gallon ,  enjoy enjoy enjoy  whatever tickles your fancy!!!! 

 This blog even though about my "Great Coffee Journey"  is also beginning to heal the wound   that a year of pain and change has brought to my life. Day by Day, coffee shop by coffee shop I am slowly feeling as though I am being sewn up again. At times the thread comes loose and I start to unravel a little, but I feel a sense that I am coming back together (hopefully as a better person, albeit a more coffee knowledgeable one!)  Who knew coffee was such a potent drug for life change?!?! (Ill keep it as my little secret, if you will?!)

On to the  coffee run down for the last week ! Ill try and keep it short, but I'm covering alot of ground! ....

I have had an up and down week of coffee tasting - my coffee tasting is definitely in sync with whats going on around me!!

I finished last week on a high going to Broadsheet cafe. http://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/food-and-drink/article/broadsheet-cafe-coffee-operator-schedule

The cafe was organised through Broadsheet paper  and had some of their favorite roasters and cafes churning out the coffee, the scrummy food was from Earl canteen and the delectable macaroons and sweets from Lux Bite ... yummy!!! Janine and I caught the train up on Friday lunch time of a glorious Autumn Day! I had desperately wanted to get there when it opened and as it only had 11 days  (chances in my book was I would never get there)! But alas I saw Proud Mary on the schedule and I just had to go!

I loved my coffee even though it was made as a latte... and a dash of choc put on top when they realised Id ordered a cap! Id forgive them....
I'm loving these collaborative approaches to coffee - sharing the love between all the best coffee places in Melbourne has gotta be a good thing! (They would make nice babies he he!) 

There is a harmonious sense of community between them all... Yay!!!

We couldn't snag our self a seat.. they were packed.... would have been great as they were using their signatory blue coffee cups.. and I am yet to sip a coffee out of one! Hopefully we see the Broadsheet cafe brought back to life in the coming months! (please!!)

Di Bella coffee

On Saturday morning I felt a little rusty.....  The culprit was only 2 bubbles and 3 G&T's the night  - god I am soft!! I needed coffee to be able to face the long drive up to Bendigo!  I hit Di Bella Roasting house in North Melbourne with Laura . I think I will set a pattern in place that I come here when I am hungover!

It took alot of will for me to not order eggs & bacon  and maybe even a hash brown!! mmm  alas I shared a boringly healthy fruit salad... actually it was quite nice and probably did help me out more than the Eggs and bacon would have.

The coffee was good, but really I should stick to good old H20 when I'm feeling under the weather.  I needed the caffeine purely to for my drive to Bendigo (3 Panadols and a coffee and I was laughing)

I was so excited to see Darby, although pretty excited to now be ordering some long overdue bacon and eggs. When it came I was sure the bacon on the plate could serve a small army... or at least do a good job at clotting some major arteries! I may have been feeling self indulgent but eating all of this would take it to a new undiscovered level. Luckily  I felt saintly and left alot on my plate.  Siesta time .. after all i had deserved it!

Next day I was in serious need of a coffee fix. In Bendigo I have a place I always frequent, I think when I am there I feel a sense of familiarity like I am back in Melbourne, seems strange when I am actually on a getaway from Melbourne. Anyway I made a deal with Darby that I would take him to the movies but coffee first was mandatory! The coffee did help me get through a torturous 90 minutes of Mickey and Minnie Mouse..(whats with Mickeys voice??) Bless Darbs .. he loved it!

On the way home to Melbourne on Monday, I thought I may tackle the very random cafe in Glenroy (certainly not the cafe capital of Melbourne). The map had me following all of these back streets - ironic that the cafe is called Liaison. If I was have a secret Liaison this would be a place where no one would find you!! I entered the street the cafe was supposed to be on , full of  old 60's suburban house and old ladies sweeping their driveways. I came to the "cafe" address only to find a red brick house with no sign of a cafe inside. I wasn't sure I wanted to continue my secret Liaison by knocking on the door, but from my guess I wasn't going to find them churning out Soy lattes and long blacks ahhhh

My map reading was either really off the radar, or the application has made an error!!

I googled Liaison cafe and the address and found a cafe with same name and address located in the top end of the city. damn damn damn!! MCR have made a mistake, so I hope no one makes the same trip that I did to find out!

Until Next time xx

The Premises and Proud Mary

Now Sundays in my world always call for lots and lots of coffee!! Must be the imminent sign that Monday is around the corner and the only thing to get me through is some good old caffeine! Its definitely my kick start to the day anyway. 
When I woke the first thing I did was try my St Ali beans... they were fantastic, although its just not the same flavour or experience you get when its made at home.. it was good, but I wont be doing it everyday. 


After that I tried a couple of places, one on my MCR list and another that I think should be on the list!


The Premises in Kensington (the one not on the list of 100) is becoming almost a local for me and it is only a hop, skip and jump away. This morning I went there with Sarah for a kid free coffee which is very rare, especially for Sarah. The place was busy, but we managed to get a good table tucked away at the back.
The coffee here is very tasty, they use beans from Seven Seeds, so they can hardly go wrong! The food is also delish. I ordered Fruit toast with jam,  the bread had squillions of apricots and figs- just yummy and kept me going all day (although maybe that was the caffeine!)
Ill be back here again and again and wont be at all surprised if this one makes the list in 2012! It certainly gets my vote!
Next off I trekked to Collingwood. (The thought of not having a car for 4 weeks has struck fear into me - how am I going to go for a month not being able to try new coffee with out a car???)
So I picked a "3 beaner" relatively close and made the journey over to Smith St!
Proud Mary is tucked down a side st off the main Collingwood strip and as it said in its review would be "pumping" with people on the weekend. I think that's the longest I have waited  for a takeaway coffee so I couldn't wait to taste! It was worth it, the single origin coffee was so smooth, I could drink it all day long!  It was out of this world and if that happens when you have a takeaway you are onto a winner.  I will come back here on a day off as I loved the feel of the place  (and the look of the menu). I especially loved the shiny sky blue cups they use for coffee, they were gorgeous! I'm going to have to try and find me some!

Plus the raspberry slice Darby had was very tasty, even with fruit in its name I don't think it was at all healthy, oh well it  helped him feel contented waiting FOREVER and helped me soak up some of that coffee buzz.....


By the afternoon I was having serious heart palpitations so I think I will stick to my usual one coffee tomorrow and not go overboard... 
I think without a car,  February will be my month of trying places locally and in the city.. there are heaps to try there and it will get me out on my lunch breaks and do some serious coffee hunting
Until next time  xxx