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Home  Articles Recent Articles My cup runneth Down Under
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My cup runneth Down Under |
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Written by Adam T.
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 A few notes on coffee while visiting Melbourne:
Know this up front: I'm not going to be a fair judge. I'm still learning the subtle ways of the savage bean. Besides, I'm writing this from one of the fairest and most liveable cities on Earth, a place I wouldn't mind calling home someday. So my mood is elevated even before the caffeine hits my bloodstream. You have been warned.
That all said... wow. I'm not sure I've ever seen a town where the entire economy seems to be based so totally around good food, good books, good coffee, and occasional fits of modern dance. I didn't expect a river town to be so lovely, but then I grew up in 1970s Cleveland, where the polluted river itself once actually caught fire. But I haven't had a bad meal or a bad cup since I got here, whether it was in a Thai place in Fitzroy, the Italian joint in Carlton, or the family-run Vietnamese/Chinese fusion restaurant in Richmond.
My favorite stand-by is what Aussies refer to as a "flat white" -- nothing more than espresso and steamed milk, which I take with a little sugar. But most of the places I've been serve a surprising variety, and the macchiatto seems almost as standard here as a simple filtered brew is back home.
The language is a bit different, too, with "long" and "short" taking the place of what I'm used to seeing in Los Angeles variously as large or small, grande or petite, or venti or tall [sic].
Speaking of menus requiring a "sic," Starbucks seems all but nonexistent here. I've passed exactly two after covering almost the entire city on foot, and neither were busy. Instead, for a franchised cup, Melburnians seem to much prefer Gloria Jean's outlets, so much so that I started wondering if they had originated here instead of American shopping malls. (Answer: nope.) I expected I'd also see the occasional Robert Harris shop (a name I personally find fairly memorable), but nope -- apparently the New Zealand chain has yet to hop the Tasman.
If you're looking to diversify from one tropical bean to another, there's also a Max Brenner location, where the Israeli-based chain can sell you a variety of pretty damn powerful chocolate. I'm still mentally swimming in a cup of peppery molé that made me feel like an Aztec warrior.
Given the San Francisco-like climate here, which has taken the coldest midsummer turn in 40 years, I suppose you can't be surprised that folks here know how to pull a rejuvenating cup.
Bob Harris calls Los Angeles home but it very comfortable in Australia, Canada, Thailand, heck anywhere... He has been writing for the CoffeeCrew from time to time.
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Subject: Re:Original Atomic Espresso Machine For Sale - by: JerseyStyle
Yes, Im actually listing it for my mother who is back in NJ. But she seemed to think it was pretty hard to find, couldnt find anything relative on eBay so we werent sure on price....
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Subject: Re:Original Atomic Espresso Machine For Sale - by: colin
You are in Portland Oregon?
That is a fairly rare model of the Atomic.
Good luck....
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Subject: Original Atomic Espresso Machine For Sale - by: JerseyStyle
Thought you might like to know I found one of these packed up in our basement and we've listed it on eBay. If you have any question please contact me via eBay. Happy bidding!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws...
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Subject: Re:Flavor - by: colin
Every origin arabica coffee has some degree of lemon, citric or bright notes - some more muted, some less. Some of the brightest tasting coffees are classic Kenyan Double-A's - not my favorite. Fruit ...
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Subject: Flavor - by: sachermom
Does a slightly acidic/almost lemony nuance to a coffee tell a coffee tester anything about what type of bean the coffee is made from? Nothing objectionable, not to me anyway, in fact, I like it espe...
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Subject: Re:Coffee employment on Vancouver Island - by: colin
Tell me what you really want to do, and I will give you some suitable tips.
The current rule is: If you are not employed within one hour of trying... in Victoria B.C. Canada - you are lacking a pul...
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Subject: Re:Coffee employment on Vancouver Island - by: ivorygirl4ever
I'm moving back to Victoria in 2 weeks and thought I'd do some online scouting for great coffee shops before I arrive (I found a couple when I visited this summer, so I knew that there were great ones...
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Subject: Coffee employment on Vancouver Island - by: colin
I have been watching the cafe scene in Victoria since the mid-seventies... I know, since before some of my most loyal readers were born.
We are in an interesting time now - there are more jobs than...
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Subject: Re:Saeco Royal Cappuccino taste problem - by: colin
Yes - the problem is...
It is a super-automatic machine.
The water for the coffee touches so much plastic and travels through so many tubes... the coffee is brewed in a plastic or composite brew m...
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Subject: Saeco Royal Cappuccino taste problem - by: Didi
Dear All,
I have Saeco Royal Cappucino, testing it for several type of different coffees from around the world, but the funny is the coffee taste always the same. It has prebrewer function and I di...
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