Where do we go now?
August 29th 2006 06:05
I hate to oversimplify but I will just to tick myself off. Coffee drinkers can be split into two very broad groups:
1) Those that drink coffee purely for the buzz AND
2) Coffee lovers who are passionate about the aroma and flavour of the magical brew.
Those of us who love coffee will agree that it's hard to find a cup that tastes as good as it smells. Cafe's all too often produce bitter, acrid coffee that causes chaos in heaven - yes - every time someone makes a bad cup, an angel dies. This might sound extreme but so is my abhorrance for mediocre coffee.
All too often, we're assualted by cafe's that have little to no knowledge - or control - over the beans themselves let alone the roasting process. Cafe proprietors have had their palms lined with silver by big coffee companies and thus serve coffee that has often passed it's drinking window. It may sound romantic when you hear that your favourite beans have been 'roasted in Italy' but think about it. This means that your beans have been sitting on a boat for goodness knows how long. Beans are at their best usually around 4 days from the date of roasting and are best consumed within 5 to 7 days of this date.
Coffee lovers unite - there are some places in this great city that still serve excellent quality coffee. Toby's Estate has 3 locations in Sydney (Potts Point, Woolloomoolloo and Chippendale).
They source some of the best single-origin beans you'll ever throw into your grinder (or they'll grind them for you if you want to be a Philistine). Beans are roasted at Toby's and can be purchased at their cafe's or online. Try a 'Kenyan Peaberry' for something a little unique.
I've sampled coffee at each location and the quality is consistently good. Try the ristretto espresso for a little pick-me-up (my first ristretto quite frankly scared me). A ristretto gives you the essence of the espresso - the best of the emulsified oils and flavour distilled into one tiny shot. Cappuccinos are served with silky foam coated in rich chocolate (none of that airy-fairy crappola that one is treated to at - say - a shopping centre foodcourt). Their latte's are among the creamiest I've ever experienced and every other menu item is extracted and prepared to perfection. Take a seat, have a cup and take home some beans for yourself.
If you enjoy a weak cup of dishwater prepared by a pimply 12 year old with no knowledge of nor interest in where the beans came from, then go to a chain. For the rest of us - Viva La Revolution!
Click and check them out for yourself
1) Those that drink coffee purely for the buzz AND
2) Coffee lovers who are passionate about the aroma and flavour of the magical brew.
Those of us who love coffee will agree that it's hard to find a cup that tastes as good as it smells. Cafe's all too often produce bitter, acrid coffee that causes chaos in heaven - yes - every time someone makes a bad cup, an angel dies. This might sound extreme but so is my abhorrance for mediocre coffee.
All too often, we're assualted by cafe's that have little to no knowledge - or control - over the beans themselves let alone the roasting process. Cafe proprietors have had their palms lined with silver by big coffee companies and thus serve coffee that has often passed it's drinking window. It may sound romantic when you hear that your favourite beans have been 'roasted in Italy' but think about it. This means that your beans have been sitting on a boat for goodness knows how long. Beans are at their best usually around 4 days from the date of roasting and are best consumed within 5 to 7 days of this date.
They source some of the best single-origin beans you'll ever throw into your grinder (or they'll grind them for you if you want to be a Philistine). Beans are roasted at Toby's and can be purchased at their cafe's or online. Try a 'Kenyan Peaberry' for something a little unique.
If you enjoy a weak cup of dishwater prepared by a pimply 12 year old with no knowledge of nor interest in where the beans came from, then go to a chain. For the rest of us - Viva La Revolution!
Click and check them out for yourself
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