LUCAFFE

NOT SAYING MUCH, JUST WATCH OUT FOR THIS COFFEE!!

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)

THE BIRDS NEST COFFEE AND COLLECTABLES

DON'T BE FOOLED DEAR FOLLOWERS.  THIS ICED COFFEE WAS CONSUMED WITHIN MINUTES OF MY DETOX ENDING.  AND A VERY NICE WAY TO CELEBRATE THE END OF A DETOX I MIGHT ADD!

THIS ICED COFFEE WAS A WINNER WITH STRONG FLAVOURSOME COFFEE STAINING THE GLASS AS IT FLOWED DOWN THROUGH THE COLD MILK.

IT DID HAVE ICE - BUT THE STRENGTH OF THE COFFEE AND THE CREAMINESS OF THE MILK NEGATED THEIR PRESENCE. 

THIS IS A COOL PLACE TO VISIT WITH LOVELY LITTLE VINTAGE TOUCHES - GREAT IF YOU ARE VISITING GOMA AS IT'S JUST UP THE ROAD

Rating 8.5

44 Montague Rd South Brisbane

THE CHELSEA

AFTER A GOOD MEETING AT SUBSTATION 4 A FEW OF US GATHERED AT THE CHELSEA (THE BARRACKS PRECINCT - PADDINGTON).  I'D RECOMMEND THIS PLACE FOR MEETINGS, THE SERVICE AND ATMOSPHERE ARE GREAT - AS IS THE PARKING.

MY GOOD FRIEND ORDERED THIS ICED COFFEE AND I WAS KEEN TO HEAR HIS REVIEW!

THE I.C. WAS THE "MILK, ICECREAM, COFFEE" VERSION - THIS ONE TOPPED BY SWEET COCOA.  MY REVIEWER WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT IT WAS FAR TOO SWEET FOR HIS TASTES.  WE SUMMISED IT MUST HAVE HAD A SUGAR SYRUP ADDED TO THE MIX.

THE COFFEE WAS STRONG AND THE ICE CREAM CREAMY BUT THE SWEETNESS DID OVERWHELM THE CONCOCTION.

Rating - 6.5

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)

EVO

THIS LITTLE SLIVER OF CAFFEINE WONDERMENT WAS RECOMMENDED TO ME BY MARTIN HOOD OF BELLE PROPERTY SOUTH BRISBANE. (IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A FABULOUSLY GENTLE AND WARM REAL ESTATE AGENT WITH AWARD WINNING RESULTS MARTIN COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

EVO SITS IN A SPACE ONCE OCCUPIED BY A GARAGE.  NOT A CAR WORKSHOP BUT WHERE YOU MIGHT PARK A CAR.  YES, IT'S THAT SMALL!  EVO IS ACROSS THE ROAD FROM YERONGA STATE SCHOOL.  THE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE YUMMY MUMMIES AND EVO IS OBVIOUSLY NO ACCIDENT

I WAS ASKED HOW I'D LIKE MY ICED COFFEE (EITHER FRAPPE STYLE OF SIMPLY OVER ICE).  I OPTED FOR THE 2ND CHOICE.  THE COFFEE WAS STRONG AND TASTY.  IT WAS A SIMPLE ICED COFFEE WITH NO DISTRACTIONS.  IT GAVE ME A MUCH NEEDED BOOST ON A RAINY GREY DAY.  

PLEASE TRY EVO.  THEIR HOME MADE SANDWICHES AND CAKES ARE WORTH ADDING TO YOUR COFFEE ORDER.

Rating - 7.5

Evo - School Rd Yeronga

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

LUCKY DUCK EXPRESSO

LUCKY DUCK EXPRESSO IS A NEW LITTLE CUTIE ON GLADSTONE RD HIGHGATE HILL.

THE ICED COFFEE WAS QUITE CLASSIC IN IT'S STYLE - JUST COFFEE, MILK AND ICE.

THE COFFEE IS BLACKSTAR (FROM WEST END) AND IT WAS TASTY AND STRONG.

JUST A CLASSIC ICED COFFEE.

Rating - 7.5

THE BIRDS NEST

OPEN ONLY 2 WEEKS NOW WE DISCOVERED THIS HOLE-IN-THE-WALL CAFE ON ONE OF OUR POWER WALKS DOWN MONTAGUE ROAD (JUST NEAR THE JOYNT)WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE WAS THE TINY SIZE OF THIS CAFE AND THE COLLECTABLES INSIDE AND OUT.

THIS GUY IS PRETTY PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS COFFEE AND BELIEVES AN I.C. SHOULD HAVE ICE IN IT. I DUNNO - THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON THAT ONE!
I DID ENJOY THIS ICED COFFEE - IT'S DONE VERY MUCH THE SAME AS ALOT OF ICED COFFEES IN BRISBANE. THE FLAVOUR AND STRENGTH WERE PERFECT.
I'VE INCLUDED SOME PICS OF HIS COUNTER TREATS - WE DIDN'T SAMPLE - AND BOY WERE THEY HARD TO RESIST! MAYBE NEXT TIME.
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

CAMPOS COFFEE

WHY WHY WHY???

THIS PLACE HAS JUST WON - BEST CAFE IN AUSTRALIA BY THE FOOD CHANNEL (FOXTEL) NOT STATE WINNER - AUSTRALIAN WINNER!!!!

WAS MY EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS I.C. HIGH? YOU BETCHA BOTTOM DOLLAR THEY WERE!

VERDICT?

YUKKY CREAM!!!!

ICE!!!!!

BITTER COFFEE!!!!! - MUST I GO ON?

ADD POINTS FOR SOME FORM OF GOURMET ICE CREAM FOUND IN THE BOTTOM

Rating 5

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 Meets Its Match - DESMOND AND MOLLY JONES

WE HAD HEARD GLOWING REPORTS OF THIS LITTLE CAFE IN STANLEY ST WOOLLOONGABBA. I HAD A PERSONAL INTEREST IN IT ALSO BECAUSE THIS LITTLE GEM HAS BEEN OPENED BY TORI GARRETT (DIRECTOR) JAMES GREVILLE (PRODUCER) AND JONAS MCQUIGGAN (DIRECTOR) OF TWO LITTLE INDIANS

SO THAT THEIR PRODUCTION COMPANY CAN HAVE A DECENT COFFEE IN WOOLLOONGABBA AND TO KEEP THE WOLVES AT BAY IN THE LEAN TIMES OF FILM MAKING

WOW! WE'VE FINALLY FOUND IT! AN ICED COFFEE WORTHY TO SHARE THE EXHALTED HEIGHTS OF OUR CIBO EXPECTATIONS. A BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED AND GENEROUS ICED COFFEE BRIMMING WITH COFFEE GELATO AND TOPPED WITH A HUGE SCOOP OF CHOCOLATE MOUSSE. THE COFFEE ITSELF (GENOVESE) WAS STRONG RICH AND SWEET. THE ADDITIONS (MILK, COFFEE GELATO, GOURMET QUALITY CHOCOLATE MOUSSE) RESULTED IN A DECADANT EXPERIENCE OF EYE POPPPING PROPORTIONS.

WE CHOWED DOWN ON TOASTED PANINI'S THAT WERE ALSO EXTREMELY PLEASING! THE CHEEKY BOHO STAFF WERE PRETTY DAMN COOL TOO!

WE'LL BE BACK!

DESMOND AND MOLLY JONES 615 STANLEY ST WOOLLOONGABBA

RATING 9

BLACKSTAR COFFEE - WEST END

Hmmm bit of an oddity in West End - but I do love odd things!

"hello, do you do iced coffees?" I asked

"No, we don't - but we have our own bottled iced coffees"

Ok, so I was sucked in - purchased a $5 bottle and took it home to investigate.

The coffee is locally roasted, cold pressed and it's fair trade organic. It's bottled in the store and has its shelf life clearly marked.

The verdict- YUK - tastes like milk plus Bickfords coffee flavouring. The addition of maple syrup and vanilla extract doesn't help this "artificial" taste. The coffee flavour is not strong enough for my liking - I'd prefer to buy a "Rush" or other packaged flavoured milk before I'd return to this one. 10 points for innovation - but this product has a long way to go.
Rating - 4
44 Thomas St West End Ph 3217 2323 Blackstar Coffee

BUSY PEOPLE NEED TRIVIAL PURSUITS

I am the busiest woman in Brisbane (well, that's how we all feel isn't it?).

With my interest in small business, entrepreneurship, my passion for Upload Youth Entrepreneurs camps, my own "enterprise" in the film industry, my Brady Bunch family, and all the housekeeping that comes with these compartments of my brain comes a strong desire to switch off. In fact, I have learnt through a Do Well conference that this switching off can be a form of spirituality that improves our lives.

Ok ok, so what am I crapping on about? By persuing an investigation into the intricacies of The BEST iced coffee in Brisbane I will be a better mother, better location manager, better vicarious entrepreneur, a better friend, a better lover, a better mentor, a better daughter, a better dog owner, a better person.