Category Archives: Vittoria
Xpress-O on Flinders – Adelaide, SA
281 Flinders Street, Adelaide, SA, 5000
I haven’t been getting out much recently – and with Advent/Christmas rapidly approaching the opportunities to get out and get caffeinated are going to be few and far between. However, earlier this week after making a hospital visit at the Wakefield, I decided it was time to grab a coffee and read a book. I considered, for all of half a second, just grabbing a coffee at Hudsons which is in the hospital building – but then decided to venture further a field - but for some reason went to Flinder’s Street and not to Hutt. Xpress-O on Flinders – with signs showing where it is from Hutt Street, is a comfortable looking little cafe, snack and take away bar which I am sure services a few of the local businesses – and indeed at around 2pm was around half full. However, after my experience – I will not be going back – in fact, if I find myself in the area again – I’ll go to Hudsons! Read the rest of this entry
Instant tan, instant coffee or both?
Apparently, according to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in America, drinking moderate amounts of coffee or even applying coffee to the skin has been shown to help prevent non-melanoma cancer.
“Using mice that had been genetically altered to suppress a protein called ATR, researchers showed the rodents were able to fend off cancer even when exposed to ultraviolet light…The altered mice eventually did develop cancer, but three weeks later than normal mice. Previous studies have suggested that drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee per day has the effect of suppressing ATR and triggering the die-off of cells harmed by UV rays. The altered mice eventually did develop cancer, but three weeks later than normal mice.
The team were able to confirm their hypothesis that caffeine – when consumed or applied to the skin – works by inhibiting ATR. Now they say more studies are needed to see how it may work on humans.
Cosmetic brand Cucina Cosmetica already supports the benefits of caffeine as a beauty product, and has developed a cosmetic range from 100 per cent recycled coffee grinds collected from restaurants and cafés across Australia. The natural, food-based products such as the Body Grind Rejuvenating Body Polish and Espresso Repair Natural Skin Moisturiser are infused with caffeine and high levels of anti-oxidants aiming to reduce cellulite to de-toxify skin and reduce puffiness.”
To read about this via the BeanScene Magazine click HERE – to via the Herald Sun click HERE
Now, being of the fair hair (whats left of it) and fair skinned variety this really doesn’t hold much hope for me – just sitting here at my computer and thinking about the sun has caused my skin to develop some sun burn – but I wonder – could rubbing coffee grounds into your skin actually negate the need to go out into the sun at all?
Stay with me here.
For those who use an espresso machine at home will have experienced the occasional coffee stain that develops on your hands after a messy pour, or a wiping away the afters from an overly ambitious tamp – so I suggest that just by rubbing the use grounds onto you skin, you could perhaps develop an instant coffee tan! No need for the sun at all!
Can’t you just see it now? A romantic Nescafé add which ends not with drinking their horrible so called coffee – but with the leads rubbing each other down with coffee to develop that healthy caffeinated glow – or perhaps the new Vittoria Coffee ad with Al Pacino getting his yearly espresso tan, ready for his next close up Mr DeMille? The instant coffee tan could come in Long Black, Short Black, Cappuccino, Latte and Ristretto(for those who want a really sweet looking yet very temporary tan).
As an aside – did you know that Billy Connelly used to go into coffee shops and order a Robert De Niro? He used to forget the name of a cappuccino but knew it has something to do with a great actor with Italian heritage….
The Organic Market and Café – Stirling, SA
5 Druids Avenue, Stirling, SA, 5251
This is a follow up review to one of the very first I completed back in June 2009, as I had the opportunity and the desire to visit The Organic Market and Cafe on August 5th, because they were one of only four cafes in South Australia to signup to the CaféSmart promotion.
The Organic Market and Café is still a very comfortable, very trendy little Cafe – attached to an Organic Market nestled in a side street, off the main tree lined street of the picturesque and pricey, Stirling. Parking is still a problem, but that is typical of Stirling at most times of the year. A good thing to do is park up near the steam engine playground, and enjoy the short walk to the Café.
As you do the rounds of the food/coffee review websites, this place seems to get many comments which align with my experience – in that, customer service is not a priority. After ordering my coffee, I was ignored – do I stand and wait? do I sit down and wait ? – they didn’t ask for a name, so I assumed to should hang around close to the front – because we are all crammed in tight, I was required to move to my left by an assertively sighing waitress whose flow towards the counter was interrupted by annoying customers just wanting to be served. Seriously folks – if you want to see how good customer service is done – visit The Two Bees in Victor Harbor, The Coffee Barun in Sefton Park, or La Terre in Willunga….
Latte Quality – Good – good temperature, good flavour and $1 of my cost went to a good cause.
Cost – $3.50 for a regular (pretty small) take away coffee – in one of the BIO Cups (fully compostable)
Coffee Supplier – Even after two years they still do not promote whose coffee they sell – so, while waiting I ask the barista who then dived under the table and came up with a bag of Vittoria Nero Blend – which is their standard coffee (not organic in any way, shape or form – it is standard ‘food service blend’ by Vittoria – however, they also have an organic bean which you must ask for – however this doesn’t happen very often I was told, and she didn’t know where the beans came from – although the bag and the hand writing on it look suspiciously like it came from ‘The Coffee Barun….
Fair Trade – No – Vittoria do not do a Fairtrade blend, although you can purchase a Rainforest Alliance Ground Coffee from supermarkets (although why, know one knows….)
Customer Service - 
- acknowledged my presence and value as a carbon based entity – but not much more;
Special Notes - Their standard coffee is NOT organic – which seems to fly in the face of their name, and beliefs from their website – when you order a coffee, make sure you explicitly ask for their organic blend coffee – however, it may cost you a few cents more (not sure, but I do wonder….)
Venue Suitable for:
- Quiet Chat – No – a very busy place, with people coming and going regularly.
- Deep and Meaningful – probably a good place for it – enough background noise to allow for safety in conversation topic, but quiet enough so you don’t have to keep repeating yourself.
- Study and Reflection – being a really busy place, and with there sometimes being a wait on tables – it is probably not the best place for that.
Caffé de Carlo – Goolwa, SA
Shop 4, 33 Hutchinson Street, Goolwa, SA, 5214
For some unknown reason, this place has never been reviewed on MakeCoffeeNotWar.com – so after our bi-monthly Goolwa Connect meeting, it is high time it was. Caffé de Carlo is one of the more popular places in town, where locals can go for eats and drinks either before or after their weekly shopping at either the big green one who owns all the pokkies, or the local Foodland supporting South Australians. Situated just inside the doors at the river end of the Goolwa Shopping Complex, Caffe de Carlo can satisify your hot/cold/alcoholic/standard drinking desires, while also sating your appetite with your café standards – foccacias, door stops, salt & pepper squid etc.
Latte Quality – Good – nothing wrong with it at all – just in comparison to some that I have tried lately, it ranks as good.
Cost – $3.40 – which is below average for standard sized latte glass.
Coffee Supplier – Vittoria Coffee
Fair Trade – No – although until recently there used to be a sign up indicating that your could purchase Fair Trade coffee here – not sure what happened.
Special Notes – There are inside and outside areas.
Venue Suitable for:
- Quiet Chat, Deep and Meaningful, Study – most likely – although this is not a venue I would choose for any, due to it being so close to such a busy thoroughfare.
Stadium Café Bar & Lounge – Mulgrave, VIC
In the later part of my Melbourne years (Jan 2003-Dec 2007) this place became as much my local as did GJ’s over the hill – and again, it was probably just as much about the friendly staff as it was about the coffee – and the awesome fries with this addictive mayo kind of dipping sauce this – do you remember Jarrod? Well the friendly staff that I knew have gone [Jo] as has the dipping sauce [although that did disappear while I was still there - which brought an end to weekly sessions and sent us looking elsewhere] but it is still the closest Café to the College (at least until the Tabor one is fully operational) and so while I was there for a week’s study – we had to get a ‘real’ coffee.
Latte Quality – Good – Excellent. I had a couple of cups from here – all takeaway, so it largely depended upon the barrista.
Cost – $4.50 – for a large take away cup.
Coffee Supplier – Vittoria Coffee
Fair Trade – No mention in the café nor on the website – however Vittoria do have one variety which is Rainforest Alliance Certified.
Venue Suitable for:
- Quiet Chat/Deep and Meaningful/Study and Reflection – During the daylight hours definitely - I used to meet here weekly for peer mentoring, and there was generally a quiet table to be found somewhere – either inside or out. It you are tragically a Hawthorn Fan [Peter] , this is the place to come to watch the boys run around on the training ground. The Stadium Café Bar & Lounge is in the only remaining part of the old VFL Ground known as Waverley (aka Arctic) Park – for South Australia readers – just think Football Park, as they were almost identical in design and construction.
Cafe Palazzo, Norwood, SA
89a The Parade, Norwood, SA, 5067
I made the trek up to the ‘big smoke’ recently for a few days of conventioning, and happened to catch up with a large number of colleague at this Cafe on the Parade. Plenty of space inside with the ability for quite a large booking should the need arise – the food menu looked great, as did the gellato under glass. One of the advantages this café has over others along the popular Parade is that there is ample parking behind!!
Latte Quality – Excellent – great colour, not scolding hot and a really pleasant taste. Best one of the day!
Cost – $3.50 – so about average
Coffee Supplier – Vittoria
Fair Trade – No indication in store, nor after lengthy exploration of Vittoria’s website.
Venue Suitable for:
- Quiet Chat – Yes – seating both inside and out – and plenty of it. The venue was rather warm inside – but other than that it was good. It may get busy during meal times, but there was still a good distance between tables.
- Deep and Meaningful – Yes – for the same reasons as above. Outside seating is protected from the elements by Cafe blinds, and heating is available.
- Study and Reflection – Yes – as I keep saying – plenty of space to spread out – good sized menu for lunch and dinner – you could do an entire day there!!
The Organic Market and Café – Stirling, SA
5 Druids Avenue, Stirling, SA, 5251
A very comfortable, very trendy little Cafe – attached to an Organic Market (hence the name) nestled in a side street, off the main tree lined street of the picturesque Stirling. Parking is a problem, but that is typical of Stirling at all times of the year. A good thing to do is park up near the steam engine playground, and enjoy the short walk to the Café.
Latte Quality – Excellent – only a thin foam but with a 25 second descent rate. Really nice flavour.
Cost – High – at least to begin with – $4.00 – but when the cup (read – bucket) comes to your table, the four bucks seems to be a bargain.
Coffee Supplier – According to the small label on the Coffee machine, the beans used were Vittoria.
Fair Trade – No – however, RIO Fair Trade Beans (and other brands of Fair Trade Tea and Coffee) can be purchased in the Market area.
Venue Suitable for:
- Quiet Chat – No – a very busy place, with people coming and going regularly.
- Deep and Meaningful – probably a good place for it – enough background noise to allow for safety in conversation topic, but quiet enough so you don’t have to keep repeating yourself.
- Study and Reflection – being a really busy place, and with there sometimes being a wait on tables – it is probably not the best place for that.
