3a Carlton St, Prahran 3181
12 September 2009 @ 12.45pm. Coffee Brand Italcaffe
Score 17/20
By SimonL
I don’t know anything about Italcaffe but it is my understanding that the owners of the brand have set up this cafe. It is tiny, with a window for takeaways and a small indoor/outdoor bench at the front and a smattering of tables inside circling a large square communal table. The barista and chef are all penned together in a kitchen area less than the size of a Ferrari’s boot.
This coffee was well balanced with a juicy mild acidity on the front palate and a cleansing finish leaving a pleasant lingering bitterness that sneaks up a few seconds after swallowing. In between is a fine, delicate coffee flavour of cocoa powder, roasted oats and a beautiful clean silky richness. Freshness of the coffee bean and subtle power are the hallmarks here. Certainly Barista do not make extreme coffee but the styles we tried were full flavoured and well made and highly satisfying.
Coffee – Short Macchiato.Score 15.5/20
By SamW
Barista is a café that presents a bold statement to the world (or at least Chapel street), and their short coffees epitomise that statement. My short macchiato was loud, proud and bold to boot.
It was served in a short glass presented with the perfect amount of crema and obligatory steamed milk. The storminess of the milk in my cup complimented the roasted grain flavours of a very biting blend. The bitterness of the roast swept through my mouth and cleansed my palette without lingering for too long.
Overall this was an impressive coffee, that was served with immediacy, good presentation and a well-rounded flavour that suggests that the barista works to the strengths of the Italcaffe blend.
Coffee – Cafe Latte.Score 16.5/20 By SimonL
I am starting to feel like a broken record with my Cafe Latte descriptions. The good ones seem to be very similar from place to place. They have good strength (without over extracted or burnt characters), smooth creamy background and a fine dense milk foam on top. This version at Barista fits the bill just nicely thank you. The roast used here is a generous style with genuine depth and richness
Coffee – RistrettoScore 16/20 By SimonL
This is the kind of opulent, teeth staining coffee that scares the hell out of your dentist.
A fresh delicate roasted coffee aroma greeted the nose. The crema was shiny, like freshly varnished wood, a wonderful golden caramel colour that was perhaps a little thin. It was velvety and rich in flavour, yet delicate. An initial juicy acidity was quickly washed away by silky, sweet, oily, toasted cereal grain like characters that coated the mouth. Bitterness came from the depths of this building slowly with a little kick at the end that was both cleansing and lingering. A well balanced and very satisfying coffee.
Service 3/5Ambiance 4/5 Busy 4/5
