202 Carlisle St, Balaclava 3183 (In Lane-way beside Safeway Supermarket).
03 9534 7250
Google map link
Date: Friday 30 April 2010
Time: 1030
Coffee Brand: 5 Senses
Monk Bodhi Dharma are hitting their straps. This 3rd visit was nothing short of a genuine coffee experience. No white lab-coat, sterile, controlled, environment; just two guys (and a lovely young lady joining us), enjoying excellent coffee in its natural environment – simple.
Coffee: Cafe Latte Brazil Ipanema
Reviewed by: SimonL
Score: 18.5/20
The most satisfying Cafe Latte at this venue over the three visits. While it flirted with the strong side, for my tastes it was spot on. The blend and the milk marrying perfectly with the espresso character the more obvious partner. Rich and creamy still there was dark chocolate, roasted nutty notes and malty backbone. Standing out was the silken texture and knife edge balance. You shouldn’t need to work hard to find espresso character and I didn’t need to here.
Coffee: Macchiato Brazil Ipanema
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 17.5/20
Consistency is the real quality at Monk Bodhi Dharma, which they demonstrated in our third and final visit. The barista noted that the Ipanema blend had been slightly modified. To me, the blend seemed bigger…the bitterness kicked like a mule and the flavour king-hit like a drunk punter at QBH on a Saturday night. It did this in a very balanced manner, so that the whole caffeine experience was amplified, as opposed to over the top.
The macchiato was a good pour and extraction, but a little shorter than I prefer. However, this is only a tiny criticism.
Coffee: Espresso Sumatra Lintong
Reviewed by: SimonL
Score: 18.5/20
An intense and reasonably concentrated espresso. It arrived showing a swirling chocolate caramel colour. Deep crema, nicely heated cup and spot on sized pour. The texture was smooth and rich, but not overly so, showing grapefruit acidity moving seamlessly into a darker character of earth before tapering off. After a moment there appeared a nice woody tannin finish. Delightful.
Coffee: Ristretto Sumatra Lintong
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 19.5/20
Almost flawless. This ristretto was made with great skill, drawing out the delicate flavours of this single origin. Full points were received for presentation and style.
The flavour profile was immaculate! At first I noted black forest cake, but without the chocolate. Then a series of mildly acidic flavours sung a chorus underneath a melody of earthy tones. As the flavour faded, gentle tannins crept in…flying low and under the radar. My original tasting notes stated: “like licking a forest floor”, but it was so much more pleasant than that!
Service 5/5Ambiance 5/5 Busy 5/5
