172 Oxford Street (corner Stanley Street) Collingwood, Vic 3066.
March 2010 @ 11am. Coffee Brand 5 Senses + In House Roasts.
Proud Mary have shown us what they are truly capable of storming home in this third review sweeping all before it like Kiwi in the 1983 Melbourne Cup. The only thing different is that Proud Mary hasn’t come from nowhere. Years of experience in running cafes and producing top-notch coffee has culminated in this remarkable place. Two coffees achieved 19/20 scores on this visit alone.
Score 17.5/20
By SamW
Highly concentrated syrup swirled in the warmed espresso cup, providing rich chocolate ganache flavours. The acidity was much more present than the bitterness, and the taste became sweeter as the flavour lingered. Aficionados of all things chocolate would bathe themselves in such a coffee.
Coffee – Short Macchiato. Costa Rican Terrazu EstateScore 18.5/20 By SamW
Building on the espresso review, this coffee had more refined flavours of chocolate. As the protagonist from the popular Cathy Cartoon (Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate—AACK), this macchiato would have suited her to a tee. Perhaps it was the milk that helped shuffle the flavour through, because it was brilliant and super delicious. Silky, smooth, chocolate….milky, creamy, chocolate…it was a truly favourable coffee.
Furthermore, this coffee was served with speed and deliberation which assuaged my concerns from last visit (when the timing was poor).
Score 19/20 By SimonL
Quite simply, this was an amazing cafe latte. The roast was in the darker flavoured spectrum and while it flirted with the strong side, it was balanced – albeit on a knife edge. The milk, an Oscar contender for best supporting role, sat just under the beautiful rich, caramel, chocolate and spiced nut espresso providing a sweet, deliciously smooth, creamy flavour. There was strength, balance and texture, and no playing hide and seek with the espresso. Yum factor…….stratospheric.
Coffee – Ristretto.Score 19/20 By SimonL
There was just not enough of this coffee. My palate pleaded for more, but like .05 Blood Alcohol I was mindful of my caffeine intake with a planned syphon on the horizon (just for the pleasure of it).
This was a benchmark ristretto:
Pour – spot on
Cup temperature – hot side of warm but comfortable to hold
Crema – infinite
Taste – gorgeous
Seriously rich and oily, this looked like a Rotorua mud pool just taking a rest – dark and swirly. Pushing the crema aside with the spoon it seemed to reach right to the bottom of the cup. The aroma was fresh showing high fruity peach and raisin that translated to the palate with a base of honey and earth. In the middle was a delectable smoothness, low acidity and a cleansing and refreshing hop-like bitterness that lingered with intent.
Service 4/5Ambiance 5/5 Busy 2/5
