WELL DONE JOSH RUSSELL - CUP COFFEE - WEST END

IF YOU READ THIS BLOG YOU'LL KNOW I'VE BEEN MIGHTILY IMPRESSED BY THE COFFEE, SERVICE, VIBE, ETHOS AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL AT CUP (RUSSELL ST WEST END)

OWNER, JOSH RUSSELL, HAS JUST BEEN NAMED BARISTA OF THE YEAR IN THE LATEST QLD WINE AND FOOD AWARDS (COURIER MAIL)

"You can't help but be impressed by the intensity of the coffee-making brigade at Cup Coffee, and they don't come any more focussed than owner Josh Russell. Cup Coffee has been open for less than a year but it's already a by-word for caffeine excellence. The beans which are roasted in-house on a Probat L5 are traceable to specific farms and 10 percent of coffee sales help children in coffee growing countries. The team holds regular public coffee tastings or cuppings, helping educate Brisbane's coffee community."

Cup Coffee, 85 Russell St, West End; Ph 3846 3746

Little Greek Taverna

It's been a long time between drinks but as the warm weather kicks in again it's time to investigate some more of the great iced coffees Brisbane has to offer.

To start the Iced Coffee Season I stumbled upon this wonderful surprise when out with my girlfriends at the brilliant Little Greek Taverna in West End.

I noticed the "Little Greek Frappe" on the drinks menu and when it was explained that its just very strong coffee with milk over ice and as sweet as I like it I jumped at the chance.

Ahhh just how I like it - strong, sweet, cold and simple.

Please visit this wonderful must-do in West End and please try this iced coffee!

Rating - 8

R.I.P. Cibo West End

THIS ICED COFFEE BLOG BEGAN WHEN I LIVED IN THE BURBS AND HAD A TERRIBLE ICED COFFE AT A ZARRAFFA'S AND DREAMT OF LIVING IN WEST END SO THAT I COULD BE CLOSER TO THE BEST ICED COFFEE IN TOWN AT CIBO.

MY MY, HAVEN'T THINGS CHANGED.  I REALISED MY DREAM AND DID MOVE TO WEST END AND FOR ABOUT 6MTHS ENJOYED THE FRIENDLY EFFICIENT SERVICE AT CIBO WEST END. I INDULGED REGULARLY IN THE ICED COFFEE WHICH WAS STRONG, OVERLY GENEROUS IN ITS HELPING OF ESPRESSO GELATO AND CONSISTENTLY GOOD.

AND THEN THE ROT SET IN.

NEW STAFF LET THE BRAND DOWN.  THEY WERE ARROGANTLY IGNORANT.  THE FINAL STRAW WAS WHEN ONE YOUNG PUNK TOOK OUR COFFEE ORDER WHILE HE CONTINUED TO CHAT ON THE PHONE.  THE ICED COFFEES BECAME MEAN SPIRITED LIKE THE STAFF.  THEY OFTEN RAN OUT OF THE GELATO AND THE COFFEE WAS LACK LUSTRE LIKE THE ESTABLISHMENT.

THIS IS SUCH A PERTINENT LESSON TO ALL BUSINESSES.  NEVER REST ON YOUR LAURELS, NEVER ASSUME YOU'LL BE AHEAD OF YOUR GAME, NEVER EMPLOY STAFF THAT AREN'T 100% PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PRODUCT, NEVER ASSUME THAT YOUR CUSTOMER ISN'T WATCHING VERY CLOSELY, NEVER STOP IMPROVING AND WORKING HARD.

CIBO IS NOW CLOSED/FOLDED/GONESKI.  A VERY SAD ENDING TO WHAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP.

PS - (WE'VE TRIED THE NEW FARM OUTLET SINCE THEN BUT WERE MET AGAIN BY ROBOTIC STAFF AND SUBSTANDARD PRODUCT - HMMM SMELLS LIKE TROUBLE)

CUP (THE OTHER ICED COFFEE!)

I RETURNED TO CUP AT WEST END A FEW DAYS LATER TO TRY THEIR OTHER ICED COFFEE.  THIS ONE IS A COLD DRIP FILTERED VERSION. 

AS MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE ICED COFFEE LANDSCAPE OF QLD (AND BEYOND) CONTINUES THIS IS THE SORT OF DRINK THAT'S TAKING MY FANCY. SERVED UP IN THIS STYLE I CAN FEEL THE "CONOISSEUR" COMING IN OUT IN ME.  THIS STYLE MAKES ME STOP AND CONSIDER HOW MY TASTEBUDS ARE INTERACTING WITH THE COFFEE.  LIKE A FINE WINE OR THE BEST SCOTCH SERVED ON ICE, CUP'S COLD PRESSED COFFEE STOPS YOU IN YOUR TRACKS AND ASKS YOU TO BE MINDFUL RATHER THAN SIMPLY A CONSUMER.

Rating - 9

Cup Specialty Coffee - Russell St West End (next to Suncorp)

CUP SPECIALTY COFFEE WEST END

I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE OPENING OF THIS CAFE WITH GREAT INTEREST BECAUSE IT'S CLOSE TO THE WEST END POST OFFICE WHICH IS A DAILY DESTINATION, IT'S BEING OPENED BY A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF VENEZIANO COFFEE (AMAZING COFFEE EXPERIENCE)  AND BECAUSE THIS IS A START-UP BUSINESS BY A YOUNG PERSON (ONE OF MY PASSIONS)

I'D HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU SEEK OUT THIS LITTLE NOOK OF HEAVEN IN RUSSELL ST WEST END.  THE COFFEE IS GOOD, THE PASSION IS EVIDENT, THERE'S A BIG BIG TABLE FOR MEETINGS AND IT'S WORTH SUPPORTING NEW BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY WHEN THE RISK TAKER IS YOUNG AND DETERMINED.

THE ICED COFFEE WAS STRONG AND SMOOTH.  I LIKE THE WAY THE BARISTA ASKED ME ABOUT MY PREFERENCES RATHER THAN JUST CHURN OUT A COOKIE-CUTTER CONCOCTION.  INTERESTINGLY, HE BLENDED THE ICE CREAM INTO THE COFFEE - SOMETHING NEW FOR ME AND PLEASINGLY GOOD.  A DASH OF HONEY ALSO SET THIS COFFEE APART FROM THE REST.   I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT THAT YOU GET A BOTTLE OF WATER AS SOON AS YOU'VE SAT DOWN.  ATTENTION TO THE CUSTOMER IS EVERYTHING.

AS I ALWAYS SAY, THE SIGN OF A GOOD BUSINESS IS ONE THAT TALKS TO THE CUSTOMER ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AND THEN EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS BY VALUE ADDING AND CREATING INDIVIDUALITY IN THE PRODUCT.

CUP HAS A LOYALTY CARD AND ALSO ANOTHER CARD THAT RECOMMENDS YOU TRY OTHER COFFEE ESTABLISHMENTS LIKE VENEZIANO, ONE DROP AND PIONEER COFFEE.
THIS REALLY STRUCK A CHORD WITH ME.  THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC ATTEMPT TO  LET CUSTOMERS KNOW WHAT YOU VALUE AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS WORTHY OF THEIR BUSINESS.  JUST LIKE SOCIAL NETWORKING THEN, YOU BECOME SEEN AS A KNOWLEDGABLE PLAYER IN THAT INDUSTRY.

WILL RETURN SOON TO HAVE CUP'S COLD FILTERED ICED COFFEE - SIMIAR TO VENEZIANO'S THAT I RATED SO HIGHLY.  STAY TUNED

Rating - 8

Cup Specialty Coffee
85 Russell St West End
http://www.cupcoffee.com.au/

FIRST POUR - THE ALTERNATIVE

FIRST POUR - THE SHOWROOM FOR VENEZIANO CAFFE RATED VERY HIGHLY IN MY RECENT REVIEW OF THEIR COLD DRIP FILTERED ICED COFFEE.

THIS TIME I RETURNED TO TRY THEIR ICED COFFEE FRAPPE BUT WAS SADLY DISAPPOINTED.

THE ICE (CRUSHED THROUGH THE PROCESS) REALLY WATERED DOWN WHAT I KNOW IS GOOD COFFEE. THE MILK WAS PRETTY SOULESS AND I GUESS THERE WAS ICE CREAM THERE BUT IT WAS LOST IN THE ICY MESS.

SIGH! BACK TO THE ORIGINAL ICED COFFEE (SEE PREVIOUS REVIEW)

Rating - 5

STOVE

STOVE IS A COOL PLACE TO HANG OUT - JUST NEAR DAVIES PARK WEST END

(I WONDER IF IT'S OPEN ON MARKET DAYS?)

THE ICED COFFEE WAS PRETTY DAMN GOOD AS FAR AS THE FLAVOUR OF THE COFFEE (STRONG ASSERTIVE DISTINCT). IT'S SERVED WITH ICE (BLERK!) AND A MODEST SERVE OF VANILLA ICE CREAM (COULD BE MORE)

I DID LIKE THE GLASS IT WAS SERVED IN - SETS STOVE APART FROM THE USUAL AND REFLECTS IT'S MINIMALISTIC DECOR AND "LET THE FARE SPEAK FOR ITSELF" ATTITUDE.

2 PERKY YOUNG WOMEN RAN A TIGHT SHIP - VERY WELCOMING OF THE JUMBLE OF HUMANITY THAT WEST END OFFERS AS CUSTOMERS.

91 JANE ST WEST END

Rating - 7

FIRST POUR - IS FIRST CLASS!

I'VE JUST READ "THE ELEMENT" BY KEN ROBINSON. THE ELEMENT IS WERE NATURAL TALENT MEETS PERSONAL PASSION. WHEN PEOPLE ARRIVE AT THE ELEMENT THEY FEEL MOST THEMSELVES AND ACHIEVE AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVELS.

AND THE PEOPLE AT FIRST POUR HAVE CERTAINLY FOUND THEIR ELEMENT!
THIS WAS A CAFE AND ICED COFFEE EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER IN BRISBANE.

WE MET SIMON FROM THIS CAFE/SHOWROOM FOR VENEZIANO COFFEE. I WAS SO IMPRESSED BY THE TIME HE SPENT WITH US AND THE PASSION UNDERLYING THIS CUSTOMER APPROACH. HE DID THIS NOT BECAUSE WE WERE HOLDERS OF THE WALLET BUT BECAUSE HE TRULY BELIEVES IN WHAT HE IS DOING AND WHAT HIS COMPANY IS ACHIEVING.

THIS PLACE OOZES PASSION AND PROFESSIONALIM.

WE CHOSE THE COLD DRIP ICE COFFEE. (see apparatus pictured)

AS SIMON SAYS (HA HA!) THIS IS HOW COLD COFFEE SHOULD BE MADE - WITH COLD WATER DRIPPING THROUGH THE BEANS - ONE DRIP EVERY SECOND - TO PRODUCE AN AUTHENTIC ICED COFFEE.

IT COMES ACCOMPANIED BY A JUG OF MILK - AND NEXT TIME I WON'T ADD THE MILK - IT WAS GORGEOUS JUST ON IT'S OWN. YES THERE WAS ICE - BUT IN THIS FORM IT SEEMED RIGHT. THIS IS AN ICED COFFEE WITH INTEGRITY.

369 MONTAGUE RD WEST END

Rating - 9

POSTO

THIS PLACE IS IN BOUNDARY ST WEST END

THE ICED COFFEE WAS "GOOD" BUT STILL NOT REMARKABLE.

COFFEE FLAVOUR WAS GREAT - ICE CREAM WAS "ICEY"

(CAFES MUST REMEMBER TO KEEP THEIR ICE CREAM COVERED AT ALL TIMES OR FACE SERVING INFERIOR PRODUCT)

Rating - 7

CIBO REVISITED

I WAS FEELING VERY SORRY FOR MYSELF - FULL OF THE WOG - OR WAS IT SWINE FLU? WHEN YOU'RE NOT WELL - YOU SEARCH FOR COMFORT - SOMETHING FAMILIAR.

I DIDN'T HAVE THE FORTITUDE TO VENTURE INTO UNKNOWN TERRITORIES FOR THE SAKE OF THIS RESEARCH BLOG. INSTEAD, FEELING GLUM, I HEADED FOR CIBO.

PERHAPS IT WAS MY SNOT FILLED ANTICIPATION BUT THIS ICED COFFEE WASN'T MY USUAL REVELATION. NOT SURE WHY - BUT STILL VERY VERY GOOD AND STILL WAAAAAHAAAY AHEAD OF THE PACK

GREAT COFFEE-GREAT CONSISTENCY-AND THAT AMAZING CAFE GELATO!

RATING 8.5

ALBERTO'S SHOT - WEST END

ALBERTO'S SHOT WOULD HAVE TO BE OUR CLOSEST COFFEE SHOP

I LOVE THE FACT THAT HE'S POSITIONED HIMSELF IN A NICHE AREA - A BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY - CLOSE TO THE CITY CAT STOP AND ORLEIGH PARK AT WEST END BUT FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE COMPETITION IN BOUNDARY ST AND HARDGRAVE RD. PLUS HE'S JUST TYPICALLY AN ARROGANT ITALIAN. WE WOULDN'T WANT IT ANY OTHER WAY. (Post Note - His staff are just rude in their attempt to be funny. Cut the crap guys and just make the coffee!)

I FIRST MET ALBERTO WHEN HE WAS WORKING AT CIBO WEST END - AHA! THE LINK - THE TOP RATED ICED COFFEE PLACE ON THIS BLOG. SO HOW DID ALBERTO'S ICED COFFEE STACK UP?

I'M NOT SURE WHETHER IT WAS A VEEEERY STRONG SHOT OF COFFEE OR THE COFFEE HAD BEEN BURNT WHEN ROASTED (YES IGNORANT AREN'T I?) BUT THIS ICED COFFEE HAD A VERY BITTER TASTE. I DON'T USUALLY LOOK FOR SUGAR WHEN I TAKE AN ICED COFFEE BUT THIS ONE HAD ME PLEADING FOR SOME RELIEF FROM THE BITTERNESS. ICE CREAM - THE USUAL & NO ICE - GOOD! TAKE-AWAY PRESENTATION - PAPER CUP, BETTER THAN PLASTIC

RATING 6.5