Keffa Han – Port Melbourne. 2nd Review.

Address‎: 816 Lorimer St, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207
Phone: 03 9077 4384 ‎
Google map link
Date: Monday 20 September 2010
Time: 0930
Coffee Brand: Coffee Snobs

This time around at Keffa Han there were a few more people floating in and out of the venue. The coffee and service were provided by the sole operator, which is also the owner.

Coffee: Cafe Latte
Reviewed by: SimonL
Score: 15.5/20

This was a coffee to brush away the morning cobwebs, to prime the mind to face the day. Rich and full with light malt, chocolate and nut, and a lovely creamy milk base. It was moderately smooth having a slight raw edge. As a “standard” cafe latte this could be a bit too punchy for some; the espresso part was certainly not shy.

Coffee: Short Macchiato
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 16.5/20

This coffee had good depth of chocolate with a lovely balance. There was an elegant smoothness and softness of the milk, that was really sung within the coffee. The blend came through a little harshly, but was on par with our last.

Coffee: Espresso
Reviewed by: SimonL
Score: 16.5/20

The colour was dark and foreboding. The pour was spot on with a deep layer of oily glistening crema. Fresh with a full mouth-feel, gentle acidity and moderate smoothness; there was dark fruits and cocoa coming on with a mild sweetness initially then finishing on a more dry, savoury note.

Coffee: Ristretto
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 16/20

This coffee had a greater acidity than the macchiato, which was not unbalanced, but welcomed. It hung on my palate like dried fruit, but did not seem unpleasant. It was just a little fresh.

Service 4/5

Ambiance 3/5

Busy 3/5

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Final Step – South Yarra. 1st Review

1C Murphy St, South Yarra VIC 3141
0414 503 248
Google map link
Date: Saturday 18 September 2010
Time: 0945
Coffee Brand: 7 Seeds

Sitting on the edge of an area saturated with cafes, Final Step, after only one visit is a place worth seeking out. There is friendly warmth, a simple and small interior, milk crates for outside tables with footstools as seat. You have to love the unpretentious rustic simplicity. A single blend plus single origin was on offer both by 7 Seeds.

Coffee: Doppio Ristretto Costa Rican Sin Limites Honey Processed
Reviewed by: SimonL
Score: 19/20

How do you put something so exquisite into words? All sorts of metaphors, adjectives and analogies are swirling around in my head. Perhaps the best way is to put it simply. This was a coffee highlight of the year for me, a ristretto of majesty. First of all it was the first time I (and Sam) had come across a honey processed coffee, of which I had only read about. This was perfectly roasted and I suspect and the peak of its resting period. The extraction was nigh on perfect with pure crema. It was sweet, delicate with a full mouth feel and power, decadent oily richness, tangy citrus acidity woven through the coffee, smooth body and…………….lingering finish. The class of 7 Seeds as roasters and the skill of this Final Step barista are clearly evident here. A dynamite coffee.

Honey processed coffee. 7 Seeds link http://brotherbababudan.com.au/coffee/costa-rican-sin-limites-honey

and also this great article on Different Processing Methods

Coffee: Espresso Costa Rican Sin Limites Honey Processed
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 17.5/20

As an espresso the Costa Rican Sin Limites offered the same amount of sweetness with a rich lemon-like tang. The bitterness was more pronounced but still a very well-crafted coffee.

Coffee: Cafe Latte 7 Seeds Blend
Reviewed by: SimonL
Score: 15/20

Call me old fashioned, and I can hear the industry grumblings before I even type this, but I do prefer cafe lattes with more obvious espresso character. For the punter who does like their cafe latte a little more toned down this would be perfect.

7 Seeds is a supreme roaster and their black coffees are brilliant. What is undoubted is the barista skill here and the quality of the coffee itself. Full marks for the presentation and true to style. This coffee was enjoyable, the milk texture was fantastic but the espresso component a little lost. While understanding that a cafe latte is essentially awash with milk some more prominent espresso part for me without falling into the strong category is preferable.

Coffee: Short Macchiato Costa Rican Sin Limites Honey Processed
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 17/20

This was quite a sweet single origin that hung wonderfully in the tiny dollop of milk that the barista gave. The creaminess extended beyond milky characteristics and finished off with a cleansing bitterness.

Service 4/5

Ambiance 3/5

Busy 2/5

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A Minor Place – Brunswick. 1st Review

103 Albion St, Brunswick VIC 3056
(03) 9384 3131
Google map link
Date: Friday 10 September 2010
Time: 1130
Coffee Brand: Atomica

This a very, very busy cafe tucked away in a residential part of Brunswick. It is an old rustic wooden converted house with big open rooms, an outdoor area and swarming with locals. We waited perhaps 10-15 minutes for a table so get in early or be prepared to line up (especially on a weekend we would imagine). Atomica is the coffee brand and if you are familiar with it you will recognise the style. A ristretto was to be reviewed but it never arrived despite being asked for twice. Were they too busy or having trouble making it? We can’t be sure, but the other coffees arrived without any noticeable delay.

Coffee: Cafe Latte
Reviewed by: SimonL
Score: 16/20

The coffee presented here was  genuinely likeable in the typical robust Atomica style. In this coffee the blend showed up very well. It is a darker roast with chocolate and caramel, roasted nut and low acidity that melded with the milk beautifully. The milk texture was fine, rich and creamy and the dark espresso sat proudly on top, a natural leader with a dedicated following carrying the rest of the coffee on a wave rich sweetness. A strong version would be for the brave.

Coffee: Short Macchiato
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 16.5/20

Arriving with speed, this coffee was beautifully presented. The milk was velvet-like and made for very smooth drinking. There were strong chocolate tones as one would expect form the Atomica dark roast. It was also a little heavy on the bitterness, but not altogether unpleasant.

Coffee: Espresso
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 15/20

The extraction looked a little strained and there were few bubbles in the crema. It was still a pleasant coffee but the darker elements of this roast were too pronounced for my liking. It was almost like charcoal and other flavours struggled to come through, making a punchy and intense coffee.

Service 3/5
Ambiance 3/5
Busy 3/5

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Willim Espresso – Malvern. Overall Score 16.33

90 Union St, Malvern VIC 3144
(03) 9509 8506
Google map link
Coffee Brand: 5 Senses

Willim Espresso does a few good things from its little nook on Union street. Try as they might, Willim espresso has attempted to introduce a different slant to coffee to a neighbourhood that may not be ready to embrace it. Beginning with single origins, they now have two blends that sit well with the mother-and-child drinking latte crowd, prominent in the Malvern area.

The service has been a bit varied across our three visits. Sometimes it’s table service and other times it is not. Sometimes the staff will discuss their coffee and other times they merely drop it and run. Regardless of their service, they have been fairly consistent with their coffee production, having a few baristas on the coffee-box.

We feel that their overall score is reflective of a cafe that is meeting the needs of their suburb and surrounding clientele. Could it do more? Perhaps not here…..although we can’t help but wonder how much they could achieve if able to push the envelope a little more.

Score Summary.

Cafe Latte: 16, 15.5, 17

Macchiato: 17.5, 16.5, 15.5

Espresso: 17, 15, 16.5, 17 *

Ristretto: 17, 15.5

Overall Mean Score: 16.33 Highly Recommended.

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* We both reviewed an espresso on the third visit.

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Dancing Goat – CBD. Overall Score 17.46

4/280 King St, Melbourne VIC 3000‎
(03) 9670 4002‎
Google map link
Coffee Brand: 7 Seeds (House Blend). Feature coffee – various sources.

Dancing Goat – where mutual respect for customer and coffee coexist.

What we have noticed in our three visits at Dancing Goat is that they offer the customer good coffee, free knowledge and no judgments. They take their coffee seriously and accommodate those individuals who like to doctor their coffee. As a result, we have felt very welcomed in such a warm environment. It is  noticeable in their clientele also, as each customer seemed to know the staff by name and vice-versa.

This is the kind of place where one can learn a lot by osmosis…merely by being in the presence of the brother team behind the coffee box. It is also the kind of place you can while away the hours, witnessing the hustle and bustle of the near-by King street. In summation, you can take Dancing Goat at your own pace, drink coffee the way you like it and absorb as much coffee related information as you see fit. All in the comforts of a good tutoring team.

Score Summary.

Cafe Latte: 14.5, 17.5, 17.5

Macchiato: 17, 17.5, 18.5

Espresso: 17.5, 18, 18. 17 *

Ristretto: 17.5, 19

* Denotes we both reviewed an espresso on the third visit

Overall Mean Score: 17.46 Highly Recommended.

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