Switchboard Cafe – City. Overall Score 16.55

11 & 12 Manchester Unity Arcade, 220 Collins St, Melbourne 3000. Corner Swanston & Collins Sts
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Coffee Brand Cafe Supreme

When one enters Manchester Unity Arcade, one is entering the orbit of chic-Melbourne (aka Land of the alleyway). Like a haircut that is styled to look like nothing has been done to it, Switchboard provides an environment that appears slap-dash and ‘thrown together’. However, the level of thought that has gone into maximising space and collecting purposely mismatched crockery, leads one to understand the opposite is in play. It is with the same level of thought that produces each coffee, exemplified by the consistency from latte to macchiato.

Switchboard has changed ownership several times over the last few years, but the coffee has remained attractive and the decor unchanged. The clientele is a comfortable mixture of conservative types and alternative types plus the discerning office folk in the immediate area. There are from time to time two baristas on duty that appear unhurried and unflappable, at least outwardly. The blend is a dark, strong roast that overall is fairly fresh and vibrant.

Switchboard is deserved of the highly recommended score and, as mentioned above, it is a little piece of Melbourne laneway culture in an arcade.

Score Summary. NOTE: No ristretto ordered on 3rd visit.

Cafe Latte: 17, 17, 15

Macchiato: 16, 15.5, 16

Espresso: 17.5, 17, 16

Ristretto: 18, 17

Overall Mean Score: 16.55. Highly Recommended

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Switchboard Cafe – City. 3rd Review.

11 & 12 Manchester Unity Arcade, 220 Collins St, Melbourne 3000. Corner Swanston & Collins St’s.

Friday 27 November @ 1.15pm. Coffee Brand Coffee Supreme

Coffee – Espresso

Score 16/20

By SimonL

The coffee this time around did appear a little tired. While the flavour and strength were mirror images of the previous visits, see review 1 and 2 for flavour profiling, there was a lack of brightness and vitality. This was a subtle character. Overall the coffee was rich, deep and satisfying.

Coffee – Short Macchiato

Score 16/20

By SamW

I could go on and on about how well this coffee was made, and how it lived up to expectation. I could discuss the same flavour profile from previous visits.

Instead I will just say that on this occasion the short macchiato was slightly shorter in length than in the past. It may be a nit-pick point, and one that certainly does not impact on the score. I have no other criticisms and that makes me smile. Switchboard has my certified stamp of awesomeness.

Coffee - Cafe Latte

Score 15/20

By SimonL

This time the coffee was a bit understrength, which was surprising. However it was still fairly decent, still exceeding my strength meter. The roast, as stated in previous reviews, is quite robust and blends in well with the milk. But there was a slight lack of genuine depth and strength, the coffee looking a bit tired around the edges.

Service 3/5

Ambiance 5/5

Busy 4/5

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