Taylor blend – Stoneyfell, SA

1/34 Hallett Road, Stoneyfell, SA, 5066

Taylor Blend was one of the very first speciality coffee places recommended to me to review when I started this blog – and after nearly three years and 99 other coffee reviews, I finally made it.  Yes – for those who are good at maths, this is my 100th coffee review – congratulations to me, and congratulations to Taylor Blend for making the 100th review such a [spoiler alert] positive experience.  Nestled in the leafy green, well to do suburb of Stonyfell, Taylor blend is exactly what you’d want and expect from a speciality coffee place.  It is inviting, comfortable, spacious – has a great outlook, friendly staff, skilled staff, coffee conscious staff – and other than it being out of the way – it is up there with my other favourite locations.

a mother’s milk – Unley, SA

105 Unley Road, Unley, SA, 5061

I have waited so long for this place to open – I even made an aborted attempt a few weeks back only to discover I had chosen the only day in seven that they are closed (Tuesday) – and today, with my friend and colleague David in tow – the threshold of a mother’s milk was crossed.  Now remembering that this place has only been opened now for about a month….The first thing you notice about this most recent addition to the Adelaide speciality coffee scene, is that it is warm and inviting – and that is not just a comment on how it appeared during the cold, wet and wintery final day of summer on which I first entered – because the aesthetic is trendy, yet comfortable – and then there is the customer service. We were greeted like long lost brothers – “Glad you could make it” was the greeting.  Now, while I have met the owner (Stef) on two occasions at his previous place of employ – the chances are that he wouldn’t know me if he tripped over me – but with such a simple, yet sincere greeting (rather than a person behind the counter looking up from their facebooking, inwardly groaning and then plastering on a fake smile) Dave and I were able to relax, shrug of the stresses of the morning and peruse the substantial menu before deciding just on some coffees (assuming that six constitutes ‘some’).  Like all the speciality coffee places across Adelaide, a mother’s milk had a number of coffee types on offer – and this was the first time – ever – I was asked which bean I’d like to try – and you’ll find out which if you read on. 

Delish Espresso – Adelaide, SA

195 Victoria Square, Adelaide CBD, SA 5000

Located in the centre of the city, facing the generally beautiful Victoria Square (at this time of year it resembles a fancy smancy caravan park – with all the tents and temporary buildings of the Tour Down Under) Delish Espresso is the last in a line of cafés that begin at the Franklin Street end and create a wall of caffeinated opportunities heading south. What sets Delish apart is also what drew me to them in my search for quality coffee, is that they are the only one NOT sporting some kind of large coffee roasting company paraphernalia on their store, umbrellas and bollards.

A fairly small establishment, with plenty of outdoor seating (6 tables outside, 2 inside) – Delish is run by Barista Marcus Clarke (I assume NOT of the State Bank) and when I was there – his Mum – serving ’boutique coffee’ and light lunches to the many suits (lawyers, bankers, journalists and politicians) that frequent the area.  My order was quickly received – after the possibility of a ristretto was confirmed with Marcus –  the ultimate of espresso beverages does not appear on the menu board – and I took my seat amidst the ambience of the poplar shaded alfresco area to wait.  In less than 2 minutes, Marcus had brought my coffees to the table and when asked about his coffee blend, he told me that he blends his own beans, sourced from 5 Senses.

PURE Boutique Coffee-Bar – Glenelg, SA

Cnr Jetty Road & Durham Street, Glenelg, SA, 5045

This place has the potential to one day be printing money for its owner.  It is the ultimate expression of the burgeoning speciality coffee industry in South Australia, located in what is arguably the city’s premiere tourist strip, one street back from Moseley Square and the beach, in partnership with three of the best coffee roasters in the land – yet, on my first visit I was left with a nasty taste in my mouth (literally).

I ventured in on my wife’s birthday (with her blessing) and I said to her , “I would be – no longer than 30 minutes MAX” – and then would catch up with her.  I went in, and there was one couple ahead of me waiting for service.  We waited (there was four people behind the counter – one of whom was the barista – although it was not 100% clear who that was either) – and looked around at the dark decor, and read all the wonderful coffee ideals on the wall – and we waited – I checked in to Foursquare.  Eventually the couple in front of me were served – while a couple who were already seated approached the counter, and embarrassingly asked whether their order had been forgotten…I had a sinking feeling.  Finally it was my turn for service and I ordered my standard – a Latte and a Ristretto (always interesting to see what order they come in) – and waited to be asked what beans I would like (assuming that this would happen as they promote their various suppliers on their wall) – but nothing. Hmmmm.

Took a seat – and waited.  According to my check in, it was 20 mins until my Ristretto and Latte arrived – together.  I proceeded to ask what the beans were and where they from – and I was told they were 5 Senses from Perth.  I clarified my question, and was told that he thought they were from Costa Rica.  My sinking feeling continued…but now to the review.

Red Berry Espresso – Glenside, SA

1A L’Estrange Street, Glenside,  SA, 5065

‘Twas the night before a few days before Christmas…and I was checking my Twitter account when I discovered I had a new follower (with only 40 or so – I notice every new one) from a mysterious (meaning I had never heard of them before) company called ‘Red Berry Espresso’ – and so – as we polite tweeters are known to do – I tweeted back ‘Thanks for the follow – and where are you?’  The following morning a reply came, with an address – and I added Red Berry Espresso to my ‘MUST VISIT’ List.

As luck would have it – my wife needed to go to Adelaide to conclude the Christmas Seafood Shopping that very day – and due to the heat and potential stress of the situation asked me to drive her and the two boys – after a quick consideration, I agreed on the proviso that I get to check out one coffee shop on the way home – they reluctantly agreed.

After purchasing big from Angelakis Brothers – I headed the few streets down Greenhill Road from BV Darling – to check out – Red Berry Espresso.

Red Berry Espresso is one back from Greenhill Road and is almost like a self contained hole in the wall – in the middle of a carpark – but it does, beyond the shaded outdoor seating, have a front door, and some comfortable chairs/tables inside.  Once inside I met Walter – owner, barista, cyclist and coffee afficianardo – who had only opened the place seven days previously.  I also met and admired his gorgeous assistant – a brand spanking new SanRemo Verona TS in Pearl White, which looked like it was convertible sports car lost in time from the 1950s, just waiting for Arthur Fonzerelli to snap his fingers and say “hehhhhhhhhh.” Walter roasts all his own beans, under the Red Berry Espresso label – and has plans afoot to include a roaster on the floor of his shop, so that customers can see the hypnotic action that brings them forth the espresso goodness.  And now, to the coffee review…

A’ vila Coffee – Adelaide, SA

22 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, SA, 5000

This is one of those fortunate occurrences, that some would call luck, some would call an answer to prayer – while others, to quote Sheldon “who are unfamiliar with the law of large numbers would think this to be a coincidence.”  But on my most recent trip to the city for a day of coffee and reading (also in preparation for my next 21st birthday) I  decided that I wanted to check out The Espresso Room, Coffee Branch and if time allowed – another place.  Well as time and weather would have it, I made it to The Espresso Room, had to rush past Coffee Branch on my way to NOT BE LATE for lunch with my mother, and then after a quick search on The Beanhunter discovered this gem across the square from my Mother’s office.  On a side note, I had tweeted Campos Coffee a few weeks back trying to find out if anyone in Adelaide served their beans…and now I discover this place, who since their grand opening in early October, have become the ONLY place in Adelaide for Campos.

Nestled in a nice part of the city, you’ll find A’Vila coffee – named such, because the of the Spanish inspired colour scheme that was already in place when the current owner decided to turn it into a coffee place (the staff tell me it  has been toned down a bit…).  In what I like to call the ‘old Academy Cinema City’ part of Hindmarsh Square, A’Vila is pretty much adjacent to the new Crown Plaza hotel, with a nice view of the recently re-grassed landscaping of the square.  If you squint, you can also see the guy (there was only one the day I was there) who is the Occupy Adelaide protest….

With the possibility of outdoor seating, this place was a quiet spot for a coffee and a chance to recoup before the drive home. So, to the coffee review…

The Espresso Room – Adelaide, SA

57 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5000

My second stop for the day, after a glorious breakfast at The Pantry on Egmont, was The Espresso Room – a place I became aware of after it (they) friended me on Facebook earlier this year.  Situated on Adelaide’s North Terrace, adjacent the Adelaide West Campus of Uni SA (my alma mater) and across the road from the future Royal Adelaide Hospital Precinct, this place has potential written all over it.

Making good use of the more than 100 year old terrace house, The Espresso Room takes pride in its coffee – sourcing its beans from the Coffee Barun out at Sefton Park, and has a quality barista (whose name I have forgotten – but was known by Junko the award winning barista at the other place I ventured too for coffee – see above) who knew his art and took pride in his work.

Plenty of seating is available both inside – taking up many of the original rooms – and outside, both in the front behind glass as per the picture, and out the back in a beer (perhaps that should be coffee) garden atmosphere which leads directly into the Uni campus behind.  But now to the all important review: