St Ali – South Melbourne. 2nd Review.

12-18 Yarra Pl, South Melbourne VIC 3205‎
(03) 9686 2990‎
Google map link
Date: Monday 25 October 2010
Time: 1115
Coffee Brand: St Ali

The success of St Ali can viewed by just turning up on a Monday morning……it was packed. Like a busy bees’ nest people were coming and going, wait staff guiding, organising, serving. A bit of action was in effect out the front in the lane way with a film crew, a man on a bench, Man With A Van and Salvatore.

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

While pleasant and easy to drink this suffered a little from being a bit too milk dominated. It was well made and presented with a tight creamy foam of perfect depth. Smooth and creamy sweet with mild espresso characters.

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

This short macchiato offered some soft acidity and mild chocolate tones. There was a gentle zing that swept behind the chocolate giving it a jaffa-like flavour. Contrary to our previous visit, the milk was a fine supporter of the espresso.

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

Not a heavy coffee but packing a bit of punch. Smooth and tutti fruity surrounded by some sweet acidity that wasn’t overt. It had a nice plump mouthfeel with a big kick towards the end. Well balanced, simple and likeable. Therein lies it strength.

Service3 /5

Ambiance 4/5

Busy 4/5

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Sensory Lab – CBD. 2nd Review.

Address: David Jones (street front), 297 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: (03) 9643 2222
Google map link
Date: Monday 25 October 2010
Time: 1000
Coffee Brand: St Ali

For this visit there were fewer people sitting down to enjoy their coffee, but many more take-aways being produced and shot out the window.

Two staff (both baristas) were very helpful, knowledgeable and pleasant when taking our coffee orders and guiding us towards their single origins. It added a friendly atmosphere. Out coffees arrived speedily, and all demonstrated good presentation.

Coffee: Cafe Latte S1 Blend
Reviewed by: SimonL
Score: 18/20

I had to check my notes of this coffee from the first review as I had a strong feeling of de ja vu. Quite correct. If all you can ask for at any place is consistency Sensory Lab seems to have it (at least as far as two paltry reviews so far is concerned) plus more. The S1 blend is perfectly suited to milky coffees with just the amount of roasted richness to balance out the milk. Malty, smooth and sweet creaminess, decent espresso richness….and balanced.

Coffee: Short Macchiato Costa Rica La Candelillia
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 18.5/20

Prompted by one of the baristas to try this single origin in a macchiato, I was very impressed. It was a great suggestion.

Plum, muted milk chocolate and earthy tones each presented themselves with every sip. I couldn’t notice any sweetness, but the notes suggested it was there. To finish off, some lingering tannins pleasantly faded over a couple of minutes.

Coffee:Espresso Burundi, Mwari

Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 18/20

The head barista warned that this coffee was highly acidic. He was absolutely correct. If you do not like a lot of zing in your espresso, perhaps steer towards a blend. As for me, I really enjoyed the point of difference that this single origin offered. It was zesty, and had a whole lot of zip & pop!

The presentation was great and the pour height was bang-on.

Coffee: Ristretto Costa Rica La Candelillia
Reviewed by: SimonL
Score: 18/20

Poured through the Slayer, this arrived without fanfare, although it really should of. A bright and lively coffee of light and shade. Brilliant mouthfeel and smoothness. Sweet citrus acidity was tempered and tamed by the gorgeous oily richness and even flow of palate showing some earth and dark berry. A lingering and pleasurable pocket rocket.

Service 4.5/5

Ambiance 4/5

Busy 4/5

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Dr Jekyll – St Kilda. 1st Review.

107 Grey Street St, St Kilda 3182
Ph: 03 9525 5999
Google map link
Date: Monday 11 October 2010
Time: 1200
Coffee Brand: Espresso Syndicate – Link

Tucked away on the fringe of St Kilda down near Barkly Street this quaint and inviting cafe has an open bar/service counter area with a dining room off to the left and a large leafy outdoor balcony at the rear. Space is well used, the venue seemingly small but it is deceptively open and airy. The coffee is by a local organic roaster based in Richmond.

Coffee: Cafe Latte
Reviewed by: SimonL
Score: 15/20

Like so many this fits into the mild mannered category. This coffee was the well liked and reliable yet uninspiring work colleague who is consistent yet reluctant to go to any extremes. A coffee with a lovely creamy texture and mild espresso bite.

Coffee: Short Macchiato
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 16/20

Sat before me was a well made macchiato. The crema offered a nutty and slightly dry bite. The espresso and milk were light in flavour with some moderate tannins, that hinted towards chocolate. The flavour hit was fleeting, but the aftertaste was pleasant.

Coffee: Double Espresso
Reviewed by: SimonL
Score: 15/20

Two pleasing things about this was its perfect sized pour (double strength thanks not a double shot in a bucket) and the deep crema. As with SamW’s rizza the cup temperature was nice and toasty. The coffee was old fashioned coming on strong with plenty a bite and bustle but it lacked in some fresh sweetness and acidity. A bit hollow through the middle and a dry finish carrying some dark cocoa and mild bitterness.

Coffee: Ristretto
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 16.5/20

Like the TV soap, this ristretto was bold and beautiful. The crema was thick and the espresso was rich just like a plump trust-fund baby. There was strong acidity that made my mouth water, but as compared to the macchiato, the tannins were overt.

The cup was hot to touch (pre-heated cup) and the pour seemed to be a good length. There was no faulting the presentation.

Service 3/5

Ambiance 4/5

Busy 2/5

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Espresso 3121 – Richmond. Overall Score 15.71

98 Balmain Street, Melbourne, 3121
(03) 9025 6720
Google map link
Coffee Brand: Veneziano

This is a good little cafe that chugs out good coffee. It fits nicely into the Cremorne/Richmond chic scene, and appears to service the area well. On our last visit we noticed that they had implemented a twitter direct message ordering service. This sits well with the flat-screen television that screens tweets. In fact,  the best way to keep up to date with Espresso3121 is through their twitter account as they advertise both their food daily and coffee when it changes. There seems to be only one or two baristas behind the box and their single origin coffee changes regularly.

Over our three visits the service has been consistent, as has the coffee which is a stronger and robust, if not edgy, blend. It certainly falls on the darker roasted side which suits milky coffees, and the espresso versions being a full throttle kick in the backside. Single Origins, when available, come across as more gentle, sweeter, cleaner and smooth proving that 3121 is a certainly cut above the norm.

Score Summary.

Cafe Latte: 15.5, 14, 16

Macchiato: 15.5, 16.5, 17

Espresso: 14.5, 16.5, 16

Ristretto: 15.5, 15, 16.5

Overall Mean Score: 15.71 Recommended

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Espresso 3121 – Richmond. 3rd Review.

98 Balmain Street, Melbourne, 3121
(03) 9025 6720
Google map link
Date: Monday 4 October 2010
Time: 1055
Coffee Brand: Veneziano

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

Subtle strength and deceiving power. Instead of waves crashing rocky shores it rather heaved and broke quietly – playful now but giving the impression of greater power. There was good balance richness and smoothness but coming across at first as a bit unassuming and easily forgotten. It wasn’t until finishing the last drops that I thought…I could go another one of those.

Coffee: Short Macchiato Costa Rica Origin
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 17/20

I am not sure what the tasting notes were, but this time around it was creamy and sweet and there was a strong acidity …almost like an unripe strawberry. The honey tones were there as with the espresso, but less pronounced.

Coffee: Espresso Costa Rica
Reviewed by: SamW
Score: 16/20

I quite enjoyed this little drop of honey in a cup and I almost expecting pooh-bear to step in and steal it from before my eyes. It was a bit woody and dry in some places, but made well. The height and pour were right on the money.

Coffee: Ristretto Costa Rica Origin
Reviewed by: SimonL
Score: 16.5/20

This was honey sweet and smooth with a lightness belaying the thick, deep and glistening crema. A gorgeous looking coffee with subtle aroma and perfect pour. There was some tangy sweet/sour notes and mineral salts and gentle acidity. Likable and well made. I had an espresso after, just for the hell of it, and concluded that I preferred this ristretto version.

Service 3/5

Ambiance 4/5

Busy 4/5

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