Famish'd - CBD

Feeling Famish'd?

You wont be once you've visited this legendary CBD coffee and lunch haunt of many. Nestled smack bang in the centre of the hustle and bustle you'll find Famish'd on Little Collins street in between Russell & Exhibition. Seriously scrumptious treats, salads and winter warmers to compliment a solid St Ali Specialty Coffee and Single Origin espresso. 

The boutique familiarity of St Ali's specialty coffee invites a deliciously full and fruity blend with a mild acidity that triggers a mouthful of flavour. An espresso that simply melts in the mouth. I couldn't go past the indulgence of a creamy flat white and lamington as I watched the world go by and the afternoon coffee drinkers buzz around me. A beautiful spot in the centre of the CBD and a two beaner worth finding on that fairly famished occasion. 

Famish'd - Salads n' Stuff

130 Little Collins Street

Melbourne CBD

Cafe Bisqui - CBD

What a little treasure to find a quaint spot in the city for a moment to daydream. It really was quite unexpected to walk into this sweet cafe to be greeted by smiling barista's and a low buzz of lunch time in the city. Proud of their home made quality treats and sweets that compliment a solid Toby's Estate blend from Woolloomooloo. My latte was promptly delivered with a neat rosetta and a smile. I sipped to find a well textured, all round good coffee at perfect drinking temperature.  It was creamy, pleasant and well made by my barista.

Cafe Bisqui faces onto Flinders Street and is a stones throw from Fed Square camouflaged by city buildings but worth seeking out for a quite instance of joy. A nice spot for a bite to eat while you get some work done or watch the world go by. It's most certainly a 'locals' cafe in the city and will no doubt surprise you with its warm welcome presence and slow you down for a much deserved coffee occasion.

Cafe Bisqui

130 Flinders Street

Melbourne 3000

Find Cafe Bisqui of Facebook

Big Cup - Camberwell

Oh boy Oh boy! Usually I'd start telling you about how fantastic my experience was, but I'm so excited I need to tell you about the coffee RIGHT NOW! Apart from this perfect flat white you see before you, complete with the finest rosetta, we must talk about the delicious crema of a perfectly extracted sensory lab espresso. Every shot extracted by master barista Eric takes a life of its own. Barista Erics exudes the utmost care with every shot ground, packed and poured. The result is an espresso so rich in body and a buttery texture that it fills and pleases your tastebuds. Nothing but crema baby!

Located directly opposite the Camberwell Market catching the warm afternoon sun, this cafe really has a bit of everything for everyone. Loaded with all the coffee aficionado could ever want or need, as well as quality tea, chai, soy and crockery! You will be sure to be greeted by the warm, friendly and attentive staff that are really going to make you feel welcome. A really lovely cafe and a delight to visit. Thanks Big Cup!

Apologies for the photo - it's just an iPhone :)

Jackson Dodds - Preston

The Caffeine Queen cannot be seen with anything other than Coffee Supreme. 
Or so the tale goes. Today the tale is told far from my inner city Kingdom to the land of Preston where lies the valiant throne of Jackson Dodds. I have set off on my merry caffeinated venture to chase the account of MCR loyals and asses the treasure that lies there. As I dined and rhymed and let my taste buds do the talking I am afraid to claim that the strength of my first forlorn flat white did not pack the punch that el supremo has before. Without enough texture or heat in my milk based drink the lacklustre espresso was lost on my palate. I invited redemption for this otherwise inviting corner cafe by ordering an espresso, to find that an over extracted shot of coffee supreme, however crisp and clean is no Caffeine Queens dream.

Before I part my fair followers I must give due credit. The most impressive breakfast menu awaits you at Jackson Dodds, the drive was made worth it for the royal standard of delights at peasant prices. Grilled haloumi sat beside free range poached parcels of joy, however no match for my rich and light ricotta pancakes with perfectly seared bacon smothered in maple syrup fit for a Queen to bathe in! If you are in the land of Preston, this kingdom of culinary delights, while not a 3 beaner will certainly indulge and invite you on a wholesome ride.

Ghin Kopi - Windsor

Sawat dee!

That's Hello in Thai!

This funky place is no ordinary Thai restaurant. Right across the road from the Windsor train station on Chapel Street. It is in the heart of our cafe culture right here in Melbourne. I've visited this funky restaurant a couple of times now and find myself at home listening to the good tunes and ordering my coffee. The front half of the restaurant boasts floor to ceiling windows that showcase its prime corner location to the world passing by. Fantastic grand light fixtures and features throughout the dining section behind me cast a warm glow on an otherwise grey day. There is also a function room upstairs that has a view right down the guts of Chapel St. Awesome place to be for breakfast, lunch, dinner or an espresso fix like I am today.

My flat white, as you can see (or hear even), is calling my name and is inevitably a pleasing cup of coffee. It doesn't last long, gone in minutes! I would have liked it a little hotter, perhaps. I finish with a nice round espresso, extracted by my attentive barista Billy! He is a great host and adds to the fantastic atmosphere at Ghin Kopi!

Ghin Kopi serves Genovese Coffee with a Mazzer grinder and classic Wega 3 group machine and also serve breakfast, lunch and Thai food from 5pm 7 days per week.

58 Chapel St, Windsor.

A Thousand Blessings - Richmond

The best piccolo's in Richmond. I'm not even exaggerating. There are several other things that are the best about this cafe also and I strongly suggest you go and find them out for yourself. On my frequenting of this blessing in Highett street, I happen to enjoy the best piccolo latte's and choc chickpea cookies. Often. Boasting a beautiful La Marzocco and Mazzer combo and backed by a talented barista and supportive and hardworking team, it is a noticeably passionate environment to walk into.

A Thousand Blessings is a cafe unlike the rest. No need for a sign or advertising, it is built on quality, consistency, reputation and passion for all that is good and organic in life. The digestives of Melbourne and the essence of Richmond, found here daily. My favourite time to visit is after a stroll at the Saturday fruit and veg market to watch the people pass and to appreciate the ambiance that makes Richmond such a wonderful place to live. The culture of a community cafe in the heart of Richmond is something almost indescribable unless you have experienced it first hand. I guarantee that whether you pass by once or visit regularly, Barnee and his team will make you feel at home and welcome.

Roasting daily for in house use and wholesale supply, A Thousand Blessings offers quality organic Melba coffee, also without need for advertising or marketing, it is a quality coffee that literally sells itself. Complimented by breakfast, lunch, charming conversation or a quiet corner to watch the world pass you by, go and say hi to Barnee and Evelyn and invite the first of a thousand blessings into your life.

A Thousand Blessings

251 Highett Street, Richmond VIC 3121

Barnee and Evelyn

Melba Coffee and Tea

Selection Cafe - South Melbourne

I really like South Melbourne! Lots of hidden potential here and some serious competition with some secret specialty coffee in the area. It was nice to find a decent cafe on Clarendon Street doing a good job of striving for the high coffee standards we've set in Melbourne. Many cafe's are jumping on board with the single origins and we are all grateful for choice and quality. Selection Cafe offers a dark roast from Atomica Coffee as their house blend and are also currently grinding a single origin from Cuba. Smokey tobacco flavours and a bunch of regulars that stroll in daily for their fix. The place has a good feel about it. Red feature walls and little touches every where. The opportunity for communal sipping/dining and a feast for the eyes with a coffee machine suspended by chains in the centre of the cafe. Chairs and blackboard quotes pinned to the walls to keep you entertained while you drink your poison. I've started with a short mac and although a little surprised to find the less traditional version (a little more milk than usual and served in ceramic) it was still a strong and dark punch in the taste-buds. My cafe latte was well textured and perfect temperature and again served in ceramic. They have taken the what we all love about coffee and tweaked it to make it their own here and the place has great potential to boost the coffee scene on Clarendon Street. Worth a visit, deli sandwiches and treats available for lunch and lots of love for their coffee and the bean. Thanks!