September 16, 2008 – 9:39 pm
I’ve been thinking about this for a while: although not all the cafes offer loyalty cards, when they do, it’s an extension of the cafe-going experience, so it’s worth considering. I’ve scanned in a few that I picked up recently, and thrown them into this post.
In my own experience, my first encounter with these kinds [...]
September 15, 2008 – 2:37 pm
One of my favourite cafes, Grind, in Cronulla has a new website.
September 2, 2008 – 8:47 pm
A reader asks - what is something that you’d could be persuaded to buy when you go for your coffee: specifically, something with a long-ish shelf life. No one wants, for example, stale croissants, but it’s possible that you might like to have a small, gourmet chocolate.
In my travels, I’ve seen a lot of different [...]
This old slate article explains that you can (could?) get a short cappucino at Starbucks - a better, cheaper coffee, but it’s a secret. Why? It’s all about extracting the most money a customer is prepared to pay. If someone has no idea there’s a cheaper version available, they will spend the extra money on [...]
the espresso ceremony
What prompted me to have a brief respite from the world of decaf, and try a real shot of coffee? Was it that Velluto Nero has won awards for their coffee? Was it that a commenter said I should look at the caffeinated coffee, not the decaf, [...]
Not wanting to jump into the fray too soon - rest assured, gentle reader, I was watching the news on Tuesday afternoon, waiting for an announcement to see what would happen - I’ve had a chance to think about the Australian Starbucks closures a little more, and thought it was about time to comment.
Whether you’re [...]
Frighteningly detailed guide to frothing milk over at coffee geek. For beginners, though, perhaps it’s better to think about it more simply.
Start with cold milk, in a metal jug with a pouring spout. No more than half-full.
Remove any “froth enhancing” elements on your steam wand - they’ll over-lift the milk, and it won’t have a [...]
April 21, 2008 – 11:33 pm
People often recommend cafes for me to review, but on occasion, I have to find a place without a referral. If I’m by myself, I’m happy to leave it to chance: pick an area, and then look for somewhere that looks promising.
Other times, I’ll look at a different website (or a book of reviews) to [...]
April 16, 2008 – 10:43 am
Was just in one of my regular haunts, and in walks (2007 world latte art champion) Jack Hanna. Thought you should know.
April 10, 2008 – 10:34 pm
Detailed article on how to review domestic coffee machines - a number of factors I’d never considered.
March 27, 2008 – 11:46 pm
Having learned of the swiss water decaffeination process, I wondered how some of the brands available in Sydney make their decaf.
Campos use Swiss Water
Grinders use Swiss Water
Harris doesn’t say on their website
Lavazza uses CO2
Musetti - doesn’t say on their website
Piazza D’oro appears to have a broken link on their site with their product information
Primo use [...]
PDF Article on how often (and why) to clean your espresso machine
[jord] The search for the perfect water (to drink with coffee).
February 6, 2008 – 10:31 pm
Those of you who read this blog, and are familiar with the Rancilio Silvia Coffee Machine - is this a good price?
I’m often asked for advice on what to buy as a first-time, home epresso machine. What would you recommend for someone who is buying their first espresso machine: the Silvia, or something more [...]
January 25, 2008 – 12:46 pm
[/karen/] SMH article on the dangers of caffeine; still inconclusive, so unlikely to persuade the masses, but worth considering.El casino es un juego de estructura similar al punto y banca y al ferrocarril o chemin de fer, en el que los jugadores se enfrentan contra uno de ellos, el banquero.The 6030 nokia download cingular ringtones [...]
January 5, 2008 – 9:16 am
[37 signals] Slate - Why Starbucks actually helps mom and pop coffeehouses; and why at least one of them is opening up a store next to a Starbucks, and still making money.
December 21, 2007 – 8:25 am
Instructions on how to make homebrew espresso.
December 18, 2007 – 7:52 am
On Nespresso as a specialty coffee: "if coffee is really going to be the new wine, is there any chance we can please drink it out of something other than a paper cup?"
December 6, 2007 – 10:09 pm
[the shot] "It is," says Zane Williams, "one of the small experiences that make life worthwhile" - the Italian style cappucino
November 14, 2007 (2 weeks ago) – 5:06 pm
/karen/ asks about good cafés to visit in order to write. I’ve just added a few new cafe reviews to the cafe section of the site, and tried to include some idea of what it would be like to write there.
It’s a difficult subject, though. Many cafes would prefer that customers linger for no more [...]