For a South Indian who's grown up on a staple diet of filter coffee ('kapi' for those in the mood to nitpick), it's difficult to shake me from my preference for how it's made the traditional way. I can't stand the instant variety and my biggest peeve (come to think of it, probably my only peeve) about travelling is not getting my morning cuppa. But that's not to say I won't taste any other kind. In fact, I am quite enthusiastic about tasting and have even come to relish a few, though for sheer comfort, it's always the filter coffee. But I digress. So on a cloudy, slightly nippy Saturday morning, I went on a coffee tour in Melbourne with Maria Paoli of Evolving Success, gazing at quirky and unusual cafes, and came away fascinated and impressed. Not to mention of course that I was so loaded up on caffeine, I could bounce around for a whole week. Oh well...
Padre Coffee which leads Melbourne's new wave coffee movement and their beautifully creamy, rich and invigorating coffee below.
The Hardware Societe, a yuppie hangout where the queue usually goes round the block, especially during weekends.
Krimper, (above) located in a warehouse kind of place banked on the place's history as a cabinet factory, was utterly cool and their 10 hour cold drip brew (below) served with a large blob of ice had the finesse of vintage liquor.
I got a glimpse of the cold brew process at the quirky Little Mule Cafe.
It was also quite a surprise to stumble across a cafe called Brother Baba Budan; the lush, green slopes of Bababudangiri and Chickmagalur came to mind.
But the most endearing experience was a day later at Heronswood Garden, just outside Melbourne, where the coffee was nice and rich, served in a set of bright mismatched cup and saucer and came with that most English of things - fluffy scones with clotted cream and blueberry jam. This is the stuff of complete bliss!
Padre Coffee which leads Melbourne's new wave coffee movement and their beautifully creamy, rich and invigorating coffee below.
The Hardware Societe, a yuppie hangout where the queue usually goes round the block, especially during weekends.
Krimper, (above) located in a warehouse kind of place banked on the place's history as a cabinet factory, was utterly cool and their 10 hour cold drip brew (below) served with a large blob of ice had the finesse of vintage liquor.
I got a glimpse of the cold brew process at the quirky Little Mule Cafe.
It was also quite a surprise to stumble across a cafe called Brother Baba Budan; the lush, green slopes of Bababudangiri and Chickmagalur came to mind.
But the most endearing experience was a day later at Heronswood Garden, just outside Melbourne, where the coffee was nice and rich, served in a set of bright mismatched cup and saucer and came with that most English of things - fluffy scones with clotted cream and blueberry jam. This is the stuff of complete bliss!