Mario’s Coffee House – Hawthorn. 2nd Review

666 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn 3122

Thursday 10 September 2009 @ 9.30am. Coffee Brand – Monte Coffee

Coffee: Cafe Latte

Score: 13.5/20

By SimonL

This time around the quality and consistency of Mario’s is becoming clear. I am happy visit this place if I’m in the area and drink their coffee which is good rather than startling. This cafe latte rated a little lower than last time. Its presentation was fine, the colour being attractively strong looking with a reasonably dense, but a little bubbly, head.

Lacking in real depth the flavour was creamy and nutty with mild caramel and earthy bitterness. With reasonable strength and even flavour this was an acceptable cafe latte but it just fell short in genuine interest.

Coffee: Short Macchiato

Score: 14/20

By SimonL

I was a lot happier with this coffee. The pour was perfect as was the temperature (the cup was hot but not too hot to touch) with a strong dark caramel crema and the required dollop of foam. An attractive wavy stain weaved its way through the black.

While I wasn’t going to run naked excitedly down the street shouting that I just had the most amazing coffee experience on earth, there was genuine depth and strength to the flavour. It does sit on the mild side of strong however but the flavour is evenly distributed. Quite earthy, dusty and smooth with a hint of cocoa powder through the middle, mild acidity on the front palate and an oily lingering bitterness kicking in nicely at the end.

Coffee: Espresso

Score: 12.5/20

By SamW

There is not much to report on this espresso, other than it is the kind of coffee that does not detract from the conversation or company. This espresso is similar to the shy kid at the party. Sure, we all know that they’re there, but they don’t do anything to stand out in a good or a bad way.

The draw was a bit light on the head, and the black peaked through the top of the crema. The temperature was cool to touch and all flavour was daftly hidden behind a watery blend of earth and bitterness. I would have liked a big espresso hit, but instead I got a light finish.

A very passable coffee that is consistent, but it wont blow your doors wide open.

Service 3/5

Ambiance 3/5

Busy 3/5

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Replete Providore – Hawthorn. 2nd Review

302 Barkers Road, Hawthorn 3122

Friday 27 August 2009 @ 9.30am. Coffee Brand – Di Bella

Coffee: Espresso

Score 13.5/20

By SimonL

One thing we are starting to learn about the coffee at this place is that it is consistent. Consistently average. While I feel the coffee is made competently here it doesn’t satisfy me on at a fundamental level. The style and presentation of this espresso was fine. It was a little to long in pour and the cup nearly scalding hot to touch. Crema was a nice rich caramel colour but thin. There was a gentle nutty, earthy flavour that came on strong at first but quickly lost it’s way mid palate and was now where to be seen shortly after that, leaving a pleasant if not mild bitterness at the end. This is a straight down the line coffee, nice but not memorable. While it is not our job to rate the food and other associated parts of the places we visit I can truly recommend eating here (and have done many times), it is amazing, but the coffee is very tradesman’s like and will not appeal to someone looking for an outstanding place to drink coffee.

Coffee: Cafe Latte

Score 13/20

By SimonL

I could just about repeat what I wrote about above. This cafe latte was very good in every way except for flavour. This was coffee flavoured milk. Presentation, heat and style I couldn’t fault. However there was a lack of genuine depth and strength of flavour. Just a creamy, milky drink with a hint of coffee. For mum’s and bubs, not for coffee nuts.

Coffee: Short Macchiato

Score 12.5/20

By SamW

Ahhh, Replete…perhaps more aptly named Repeat. This caffeine experience was very similar to our previous visit, the only difference being that I ordered a short macchiato instead of a long macchiato.

I was served a well-measured macchiato, that was heavy on the milk and light on the flavour. My taste-buds were working overtime to define the faint flavour of the Di Bella blend, awash with too much milk and a thin espresso extraction. Upon finishing this middle of the road coffee, I craved…something else. Perhaps a stronger coffee? Behind Replete’s doors lies an average coffee that is consistently made, but a bit too light for my liking. Far from terrible, but too distant from brilliant.

Service 3/5

Ambiance 4/5

Busy3/5

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Replete Providore – Hawthorn. 1st Review

302 Barkers Road, Hawthorn 3122

Friday 24 July 2009 @ 9.30am. Coffee Brand – Di Bella

Coffee: Espresso

Score 13/20

By SimonL

While Sam was completely disappointed by his coffee, I found a few positives. Unfortunately they applied only to the look and style of the coffee. This espresso looked fine and the quantity was spot on, around 30ml. The crema did appear a bit thin and light coloured. However the taste wasn’t what I would expect from a good short black. There was plenty of bitterness but lacking in body, flavour and strength. I agree with Sam, the grind was perhaps too coarse resulting in poor extraction.

Coffee: Long Macchiato

Score 12/20

By SamW

This coffee was presented in true fashion, a double shot of espresso that appeared to be stretched out with hot water. The milk was heavy-handed, which resulted in an opaque length of milky-long black. The heat was well-maintained through out the drinking (which leads me to believe the barista used hot milk & hot water), but similarly to the espresso the crema departed all too quickly. The flavour was also weak, which inflated my espresso ego (“I could drink 10 of these”), but subtracted from the whole drinking experience. In summation, this coffee is best served in the late afternoon following a light stroll but before an afternoon nap.

Coffee: Cafe Latte

Score 14.5/20

By SimonL

This was the best of the three coffees. The let down is a familiar trend, a lack of real strength and depth. The coffee presented well with what looked like a Protea flower image in the froth (unintentional I suspect). Density and thickness of foam was spot on (no thicker than the thickness of my little finger). Colour was light tan hinting at a mild coffee. The taste was fine with a mild nuttiness and rich creamy milk in support. This is a straight down the line Cafe Latte bordering on coffee flavoured milk. there was just enough nutty, roasted flavour and bitterness to be appealing to the masses. It just didn’t have the drive and body to rate any higher. This is quite typical of milky coffees here – text book like. I prefer a bit more grunt.

Service rating: 3/5

Ambiance rating: 4/5

Busy rating: 4/5

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