Kojo Brown has a fantastic feel about it. It is exactly what you’d think a Melbourne cafe should feel like. The staff were pleasant, and the atmosphere was just right. The coffee on the other hand was quite disappointing. It was bitter, and there was no attempt at Latte Art at all. If you are after a cafe with a great vibe, this could be on your shortlist. If you are after a great coffee experience, try another cafe, there are plenty in Melbourne.

Peaberrys serves great quality coffee and has quite a large range of beans that they roast themselves (at another location). Because their focus is on selling beans, it might not be everyone’s favourite, but if you like quality coffee it is certainly worth a visit. The staff are pleasant and helpful.

Peaberrys Coffee Roasters main business is selling beans, serving coffee at the same time. Because the focus is on selling beans, rather than coffee, it is quite different from most other cafes, but well worth a visit (if you can get there when it is open).

Staff were polite, one staff member stood at the door to welcome guests. It was raining this evening, so there was no outdoor seating, and inside was full. Because it was so full, there was a cramped feel, but it was not unpleasant. Though Goldberg’s was not outstanding at either end, I’ll go back to check their consistency.

This was my second visit to Lotus Espresso, and to be honest, I was a little disappointed on the consistency front. The coffee just didn’t taste like the one that I had last week. Consistency is such an important part of a good café. You need to know what you are going to get. I’ve given it a rank of 2, as the coffee was still average (what you’d expect from any café), but just not as good as the last one. Also, I was charged a different price? On the plus side, the feel was just as good at night as when I went in the morning, and the staff were very courteous.
If it were the only café in Newcastle, I’d be quite happy to drink there, but there are more cafés to review (I’ll still go back at least once).

Lotus Espresso has quite good coffee, and I’ve been told that it is consistant, so I’ll be back in the near future to sample it again. The area around the cafe has a great vibe to it. I know that doesn’t affect the taste of the coffee, but it helps the feel of the cafe. I look forward to going back.

I’m sorking on the presentation of reviews, which is why there is no posting at the moment. I should have a format to present the reviews in by this weekend, and then shall have some content to post.

In the meantime, though, I have been drinking coffee, and have something to say about coffee in Darby St, Newcastle, as well as Bellingen, Coffs Harbour and Sawtell.

Sorry to keep you waiting, but it will be worth it.

Jim Howlin

I wanted a coffee before a lecture yesterday morning, and was recommended to try a coffee cart on the campus. I was sceptical, as I’ve had mixed experiences with coffee carts, but I took a risk on a $2.50 latte. I was quite impressed with the taste and temperature, but here is the problem, they are a coffee cart that only does takeaways, and are within the grounds of the University of Newcastle, so not very accessible. Also, as it is a cart, there is no option of a glass or a seat, which means you can’t get a coffee and relax.

In all though, when I want a coffee at the University, I’ll go back there. You’ll hear about it, as I will get some more details to share, as well as have an ability to judge consistency.

Jim Howlin

Once I finalise my checklist, I plan to go back to Split and see just how they rate according to the list. I hope they do well, as I had planned to use them as a benchmark for other cafes. I suppose I’ll find out soon.

The other cafe is called Morfish (Karmee), at Park Beach Plaza. They are great, I don’t get there enough because it is out of the way for me, but they are recommended if you are on the north side of Coffs. I’m also interested in seeing how they rate on the checklist.

I’d be interested to find out any other experiences at the above cafes.

Jim Howlin

I want a list of review criteria, so that I am comparing each cafe on the same items, and not just what I might notice on a particular visit. eg, if the music is too loud, I’ll certainly notice, however if the music was background music like it should be, it may not be noted, if not on the list.

Another idea behind having such a comprehensive review checklist list is that once it is correctly refined, other coffee lovers will be able to take the checklist and review cafes in their area, increasing the scope of this site quite quickly. Along those lines I’ll work out a ratings system for people that post reviews. By having a set review criteria, and a ratings system for people doing reviewing, the quest to review coffee in Australia could be quickly complete.

Review Criteria

Cafe Details:
Cafe Name
Address
Webpage
Phone
Owners name
Business card
Machine type
Grinder type

Coffee:
Taste
Presentation
Consistency
Price
Latte Art?
Milk Texture
Glass / Mug
Spoon adequate
Serviette

Experience:
Time to:
- be seated
- get menu
- take order
- bring order
- clear table
Menu presentation
Menu choices
Staff:
- Manner
- Dress
- Presentation
Feel
# of seats
# of full seats
Music
General cleanliness
Cleanliness of coffee prep area
Internet access

Visit Details:
Date
Time

Jim Howlin

Having given this question some thought, I have come up with my own answer. If the intention of the blog is to share ideas with peers, then no visitors, means no sharing of ideas. If intention is linked to existence, which is fair to assume with a blog, it effectively does not exist.

If, however the intention of the blog is for the author to maintain discipline or keep accountable to a particular matter, and blogging is the choosen method of dicipline or accountability, the very act of blogging meets the author objective, so it exists.

Unfortunately, I’d put my blog in the former category, aiming to share ideas and to have interaction, so I guess by my own definition, it doesn’t exist. Yet.

Jim Howlin

This blog is for everybody who is passionate about coffee, that leaves their home town, and needs to find the best possible coffee experience wherever they are travelling to.

I have recently moved to Newcastle, NSW, and will share my search for the best coffee available in the area. I will have a list of criteria with which to judge not just the coffee, but the whole café experience.

In the process of finding the best coffee experience in Newcastle, I hope that this blog can become a forum for coffee lovers, to share their thoughts on where to get the best coffee experience, which can serve as a guide for all travelling espresso lovers.

I look forward to your thoughts and comments.