Liar, Liar – Hawthorn. Overall Score 16.58

90 Kinkora Rd, Hawthorn 3122
(03) 9818 8864‎
Coffee Brand 5 Senses & St Ali

Summary by SimonL

This is my favourite local. Liar, Liar, recently purchased by highly regarded St Ali roasters is deserving of the score we have given. This is a funky, edgy, yet personable and inviting place. It could do with better chairs outside – it is like sitting on a milking stool, my wife’s comment – not mine, but they suit its style.

Over the course of our three visits the coffee has changed from 5 Senses to St Ali roasts. The third review, in the end, is a formality. Consistency at a high standard has been proven and the coffee is true to style. SamW, in the third review, after much deliberation decided to score their macchiato as high as he did because of the ultra-consistency, faith to the traditional style and great flavours. Full points were given for the first time to True to Style and Presentation fields. We felt that this is just reward.

This has become a little bit of a “place to be seen” like a piece of Chapel St in Hawthorn. There are mums & bubs, before school mums and dads with their private school kids, students and enlightened locals. It is lively and bustling – sometimes exceedingly so. The coffee here is nothing short of fantastic, the staff seem knowledgeable, are attentive, and friendly. What impresses us is the faithfulness to styles, especially our bugbear – the macchiato. Single origins are changed daily and should be tried.

I have been a regular here for a while now and I have seen the place so busy that it has been hard to get into the place and when I have things have been a bit slow. However that is just the price of being a fantastic place for not only coffee, but breakfast and lunch, or just hanging out.

Liar, Liar – keep up the great work.

Score Summary.

Cafe Latte: 16, 14, 15.5

Macchiato: 16, 18, 19.5

Espresso: 16.5, 16, 18

Ristretto: 15, 17.5, 17

Overall Mean Score: 16.58

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Liar, Liar – Hawthorn. 3rd Review.

90 Kinkora Rd Hawthorn 3122

Thursday 19 November 2009 @ 9.15am. Coffee Brand Now changed to St Ali

Coffee – Espresso – Colombian Curazao

Score 18/20

By SimonL

The Columbian Curazao roast was gorgeous with flavour in the dark fruit spectrum. Blackberry, fig and cocoa with gentle, integrated sweet acidity, a velvety body and mouth coating viscosity. Good length on the finish with some late, back palate bitterness that I was wishing had a little more intensity.

Coffee – Short Macchiato – Colombian Curazao

Score 19.5/20

By SamW

The highest scoring Macchiato to date, and unlikely to be beaten. There’s not much Liar Liar cannot do. Although this is our third time here, it feels like we could come here a million times and expect the same consistency in their coffee. Top-notch quality!

I had a single blend macchiato and it ticked all the right boxes: (1) Height, (2) length of pour, (3) served in a glass and most important of all (4) a ‘stain’ of milk.

The flavour profile of the Colombian Curazao angled itself towards fig and chocolate tones with an oak-type finish. I am quickly developing a fetish for single-blends and this one was particularly good.

Coffee – Cafe Latte.

Score 15.5/20

By SimonL

This was less bold in flavour this time around and I suspected it was the new “Music” blend not the regular “Hotpants” house blend. My suspicion was confirmed when asking a staff member. The “Music” blend is the new house roast. In fact what has happened is that Liar, Liar has now completely switched over to St Ali made roasts, which makes sense it being a sister store to St Ali. This blend will please most people as it is an approachable roast for espresso and produces a finer, more delicate style of Cafe Latte. Personally I need a bit more richness, this being too milky for me.

The cafe lattes here have been ultra-consistent in their presentation, structure and (apart from the change in roast) flavour.

Coffee – Ristretto – Colombian Curazao

Score 17/20

By SamW

This coffee mirrored the flavour profile of the macchiato.
It was served in a hot cup and retained the heat well. The extraction was tiny, perhaps a bit too small but what it lacked in size it made up for in punch. Contrary to previous visits the cup had no coffee splatter.

Service 3/5

Ambiance 4/5

Busy 4/5

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Liar, Liar – Hawthorn. 2nd Review

90 Kinkora Rd Hawthorn 3122

29 October 2009 @ 9.15am. Coffee Brand 5 Senses

Coffee – Espresso. Dominican Femenino (Single Origin Free Trade Organic)

Score 16/20

By SimonL

This was served showing a caramel-whip coloured, gloriously oily-looking crema. Aromas of roasted nuts and cedarwood and a nod towards a darker character.

The flavour and texture had me. Seductive with pronounced sweet acidity that hinted towards some fruity flavours but abruptly gave way to chocolate and earth. It was ever so smooth and dense with a mild grainy texture and bitterness. Not a complex coffee but highly pleasurable……so I ordered a second…………..

Coffee – Short Macchiato. Dominican Femenino (Single Origin Free Trade Organic)

Score 18/20

By SamW

These guys are doing it right! In a very busy café, the crew at Liar, Liar delivered a spectacular looking macchiato, crafted with a small dash of milk and topped by inch-thick crema. The macchiati (macchiato plural) at Liar Liar are served in a traditional manner without the pretentious ooh-la-la modifications found at other cafes in Melbourne. For this I am very thankful.

The flavour was dark and foreboding paved by a faint liquorice bite and a deep chocolate finish. I detected a hint of spice that gave this roast a flavour balance not often found in single origin coffee.

Coffee – Cafe Latte. House Blend – Hot Pants

Score 14/20

By SimonL

This coffee was presented with a good strong colour but a thinner than expected and slightly bubbly head that dissipated fairly quickly.There was a gorgeous yet overly strong creamy flavour and texture about this coffee that swamped the espresso. Was this because the espresso wasn’t extracted well enough? Or was the milk different in some way? This was the exact same “Hot Pants” blend that I ordered last time for a cafe latte and the coffee component then shone through.

Coffee – Doppio Ristretto. Dominican Femenino (Single Origin Free Trade Organic)

Score 17.5/20

By SamW

The flavour profile for this coffee was more pronounced than the macchiato. The nose was a bit dry, almost woody. The taste offered a sweet and rich chocolate with very little bitterness. I slurped this coffee quicker than Oliver Twist and his bowl of broth.

The presentation was a bit sloppy because I could see the extraction stains on the inside of the cup however the pour length was bang-on. The cup was also hot, which made me feel warm and fuzzy. I am quickly becoming a big fan of Liar, Liar….

Service 4/5

Ambiance 4/5

Busy 4/5

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Liar, Liar – Hawthorn. 1st Review

90 Kinkora Rd Hawthorn 3122

22 October 2009 @ 9.15am. Coffee Brand 5 Senses

Coffee – Double Espresso Single Origin Guatemalan Huehuetenengo

Score 16.5/20

By SimonL

The coffee machine must have been working extra hard to extract the espresso styles here. The basket must have been packed so tight that I can imagine it straining, spitting coffee in all directions and the staff diving for cover; the coffee cup was that much of a mess……..

But…..this doppio espresso was great. A shimmering, dark, golden syrup like colour coated the top and I had to dig deep to find the blackness underneath. Some stone fruit aroma, oak and cocoa greeted the nose. Sweet juicy acidity on the palate gave way to darker roasted characters. Very linear in its structure the flavour ran a perfect line and length right down the middle of the tongue, spreading across the back carrying gentle bitterness that slowly extracted itself and loitered with intent. Not terribly complex but this espresso had plenty of strength and interest for a good score.

Coffee – Short Macchiato Single Origin Guatemalan Huehuetenengo

Score 16/20

By SamW

Served in a stumpy-looking glass, this macchiato was simply outstanding. The presentation was perfect, albeit a bit messy. The coffee stood 40 mls tall and had the perfect amount of milk (just enough for a stain).

My first sip I noticed a rich toffee flavour that faded towards a cocoa finish. The acidity and bitterness were both mild, playing an equal role in balancing the coffee similar to Philippe Petite on a tightrope. It was balanced and deliberate without leaning too much in either direction.

Coffee – Cafe Latte. House Roast (Hot Pants)

Score 16/20

By SimonL

I didn’t ask about the origins of the name of this “House Blend” but I’ll endeavour to do this on the next visit.

This cafe latte had the required strength that got us both (the coffee and I that is) off on the right foot. Dark tan in colour, (the Gold Coast beach bunny comes to mind again. “Hot Pants” must have been playing on my mind) with a slightly thinnish head. Milk texture was beautiful – tight, creamy and retentive. A rich and creamy, caramel, nutty flavour ran rampant in my mouth with a dry, mild tea-like tannin finish.

You could face the day with confidence after a coffee like this first thing in the morning.

Coffee – Ristretto Single Origin Guatemalan Huehuetenengo

Score 15/20

By SamW

This coffee was also messy and splattered, but it was the right height and was covered with a thick head of crema. The top palette hinted at smoked tofu, almost ash-like and it finished with a cleansing bitterness. The flavours were straight up and bold, but this coffee is not for the faint-hearted. It is best drunk before exercise or activities that require a heart rate of 180 bpm or more.

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Replete Providore – Hawthorn. Overall Score 13.33

302 Barkers Road, Hawthorn 3122

Coffee Brand – Di Bella

Back in the day we would frequent Replete and were blown away by the whole cafe experience…and that is what Replete still represents for us.

On the whole the café does outstanding well, exemplified by its many awards for food and service. Bearing that in mind, the way they make coffee is the weakest of their otherwise formidable front. They are food oriented, and as such the coffee will always play second fiddle. If it is passable then it is not noticed and it is easy to rave about their Providore.

Their coffee is pedestrian and out of line with the rest of the experience. There would only need to be a small improvement here to take it to a recommended place for coffee. We must stress that because we only review coffee that this is in no way a slight against the business as a whole because they deserve their reputation and any foodie reviewing this place will find excellence.

We still love Replete, but there is a little work to do on the coffee front.

Score Summary. NOTE: No ristrettos were ordered on any of the visits. A long Macchiato was ordered on the 1st visit.

Cafe Latte: 14.5, 13, 16

Macchiato: 12, 12.5, 12.5

Espresso: 13, 13.5, 13

Overall Mean Score: 13.33. Not Quite There

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