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Blu C Cafe – Christies Beach, SA
1/13 Beach Road, Christies Beach, SA, 5165
Location, location, location – potential, potential, potenial – I mean check out the view from the café - uninterrupted ocean views of Spencer Gulf, a beautiful park with playground – the inside of the Blu C Cafe was nice – but that is about all the good things I can say. And I don’t like to be negative – do a search on ‘Bad’ from the TAGS – and see what I mean.
Latte Quality – Bad – it was just…bad. My wife made me throw it away because of how much I complained about it. For starters – the milk was already in the jug from who knows how long ago – being that I waited f0r 10 minutes and the customers already served had cool drinks…then the frothing wand on the machine was dirty – covered in dry milk from previous use – the milk was frothed then sat aside while the shot was poured – again, coffee was already ground in the hopper. Check out the bubbles on the latte – photo before first sip.
Cost – $4.00 for regular
Coffee Supplier – Monjava Coffee
Fairtrade – No indication
Customer Service - 
- acknowledged my presence and value as a carbon based entity – but not much more; there was an employee at the counter when I walk in – she looked at me coming and left to go on a break – she came back twice to see if I was still waiting and then returned to her break. The other employee who also saw me enter, but went out the back on the other side of the shop, only came back in after I had rang the bell on the counter, twice.
Venue Suitable for:
- Quiet Chat, Deep and Meaningful, and/or Study and Reflection – As I said – the location and the potential of this place is just awesome – but bring your own coffee – or (dare I say it) go to Jamaica Blue or Gloria Jeans at Colonnades first.
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
Just Penny’s – Yankalilla, SA
98a Main South Road, Yankalilla, SA, 5203
When you are on Main South Road heading south (we in SA are just so imaginative with our road naming ability) Just Penny’s is just around the corner as you veer right in Yankalilla. If, after travelling roughly an hour since your last good coffee, reach Yankalilla and think “hmmm, I could go a coffee about now” just drive on past Just Penny’s and go to Normanville. Other than than customer service – which is often a complaint of mine, but here was pretty good, my experience of the coffee was just bad, bad, bad.
Latte Quality – Bad – was way to hot – milk was scolded (as was my tongue) and, if I hadn’t watched her make it I would have thought it was instant.
Cost – $3.50 – which is about average.
Coffee Supplier – there was nothing to indicate, which should have been my first tip.
Fair Trade – probably not.
Venue Suitable for:
- Quiet Chat, Deep and Meaningful, Study and Reflection – Yes – we dropped in on a Wednesday afternoon and there was only one other person there. The furniture in the cafe is locally made from polished rough cut timber, which is very nice – but with a 2.5 year old we here hesitant to hang around just incase we had to then purchase an item of furniture. The guy ahead of us purchased food and he seemed pleased enough, but perhaps bring your own thermos….
Shipwreck Bay Café – Warrnambool, VIC
Pertobe Road, Warrnambool, VIC, 3280
Located in the midst of holiday villages, bowling greens, broadwalks, Norfolk pines and 5 star hotel accommodation (a blight on the landscape) this little holiday kiosk come café was immediately across the road from where we were staying. With very friendly service, I can imagine this place being 5 or 6 patrons thick in the summer time, but on the day I ventured in, my family were the only customers.
Latte Quality – Bad – not a good start for sampling Victorian coffee. It was way too milky and the beans were under extracted.
Cost – $3.00 – which is good.
Coffee Supplier – Beraldo Coffee
Fair Trade – No.
Venue Suitable for:
- Quiet Chat – if the weather was fine – there were a few outside seats.
- Study and Reflection – Yes – under the same conditions as above – but I would give it a wide berth in the warmer months.
Squisito italia Caffe Bar & Ristorante – Glenelg, SA
1 Moseley Square, Glenelg, SA, 5045
Located on the ground floor of the Town Hall Building, whilst also spilling out onto the boardwalk, Squisito has one of Adelaide’s most envious locales for wining, dining and lattéing (new word – go with it!). After a morning in the car, we ended up there having heard so much about their Gluten Free Pizza – and with my mother-in-law having traveled from overseas to try one – there was no stopping us (although Glenelg parking did its best). From what she said, Squisito make Australia’s (if not the world’s – as she did try one in Finland…) best Gluten Free Pizzas’ with a particular recommendation for the Sweet Chilli Chicken variety. She also made particular mention of their Gluten/Dairy Free Soy Hot Chocolate. Ambiance is wonderful, with unimpeded views of the jetty and azure blue of the gulf, and while the table service was not great – although this did improve greatly when a second hostess assumed duties (I assume from her happy attitude, that she was an owner) it is still worth a look. But now for the all important coffee review:
Latte Quality – Bad – the coffee was burnt and basically undrinkable. And while I was not in the mood to send it back, when the second hostess asked why the coffee wasn’t finished and was told, she happily refunded our money.
Cost – $4:00 for a regular, so a little pricey.
Coffee Supplier – Lavazza Coffee
Fair Trade – No indication in store, nor is there any mention by Lavazza on their website.
Venue Suitable for:
- Quiet Chat – During the week (not school holidays) definitely, particularly outside meal times – although lunch time today was quiet.
- Deep and Meaningful – again, Yes – see above – both inside and out – although in warmer weather the crowds, and therefore the noise levels are larger.
- Study and Reflection – no – too many noise/visual distractions – although there was wireless internet available if not there, then nearby.
