Nineteen Squares - Blessington Street, St Kilda (House blend)

The cafe: Somebody should drop a bomb on the triangle that is made up by Carlisle St, Acland St and Barkly St...just make sure Cicciolina survives...that place is damn good. Fortunately, just around the corner from that Bermuda Triangle of trash is a peaceful little strip of shops on Blessington St. Not the part near the 7-11...the part behind Prime and where the laundromat is. Although Nineteen Squares now seats more than 19 people, it is still a small-ish cafe. Outside there are tiny tables almost made for children and a few milk crates. On the inside, you still can't swing a cat in the original space (and they need to get rid of those spoons on the wall). The new part is a lot more spacious and has a cool little kitchen at the rear. However, they look like two different places...which is a little awkward... The crowd is a lot more relaxed (and sober) than other parts of St Kilda. And I only heard two Irish accents whilst I was there... Reasonable breakfast options, a few sangas, some salads and hamburgers on Friday and Saturday nights. The staff could smile a bit more...

The coffee: As can be seen, it's quite neat looking. The aromas are predominantly roasted and charcoal with hints of creaminess. The charcoal is the most interesting one...not burnt but definitely 'well cooked'. It is quite evident on the palate too and the finish has lengthening dark chocolate flavours with hints of licorice. The froth was quite thick and heavy and wouldn't blend into the liquid. Hence you get a shot of coffee and a shot of froth...not exactly ideal. Not overly complex and a little out of balance. Temperature was good. $3.50. Score 7.5/10.

Foxy Brown - South Crescent, Westgarth. (House blend).

The cafe: If I hadn't started this blog, I think I would have lived the rest of my life in Melbourne without ever driving down South Crescent in Westgarth… (I get the impression Westgarth is sub-suburb of Northcote). However, I'm certainly glad I did... Foxy Brown is damn fine! If somebody ever needs to film a scene at a café from the 1970’s, all they need to do is turn up there... Retro chairs, light fittings, colours, ceiling fans and even a retro air conditioner! The stereotype powers were smiling on me the day I visited. A braless lady on my left and a lesbian couple with a child on my right…all I needed was a chick with a sleeve to get the Northcote trifecta! Foxy is extremely kid friendly with lots of high chairs for the littlies, toys for the slightly bigger ones and a good selection of children's books too. The staff are super friendly and there is a cute little menu. Being an aficionado of fine tofu, I decided to try the tofu burger...and I highly recommend it. There is no attitude, everybody is welcome and you will never feel intimidated. At first they lost a few points for the background music being some chick slaughtering RUN DMC but quickly won them back when they cut short Macy Gray and jumped to Madness instead. It must be love...

The coffee: A nicely presented coffee that gets served with a little biscuit. Maybe it's to match the nose as there was plenty of biscuit in the aroma in addition to pleasant smells of straw. The palate had coffee wafer on the front end and light citrus acidity on the finish. The after taste had subtle hints of licorice. Medium bodied and not too creamy or textural. The milk quantity was spot on but it could have done with a little extra liquid...so it was a fraction unbalanced. Served a bit warm but not unpleasant. $3.40. Score 8-8.5/10.

Dead Man Espresso - Market Street, South Melbourne. (House blend)

The cafe: Located between Gotham City and The Boardroom, two of Melbourne's finest establishments, Dead Man Espresso sits in quite an industrial part of South Melbourne. From the outside, it has a waterfront restaurant look about it. Plenty of places to sit and observe the view. But considering it's surrounded by buildings and not much else, I'm not sure why you'd even bother. Maybe people like to watch who and what comes in and out of the aforementioned establishments? Nice comfortable wooden chairs and tables and good space too. It probably seats 50-70. However there is not much natural light and it's very noisey (especially if seated near the kitchen). The menu is safe and whilst the staff were very attentive, they certainly didn't look happy. But I was there mid afternoon on a Sunday so maybe they had a busy day... The crowd was young that day too...20's and early 30's.

The coffee: The highlight of my visit was my reunion with the barista Jackson. I used to consider him to be my 'personal' barista when he worked at League of Honest Coffee. He used to belt out some killer short macs and was always up for a good chat... The nose had some light smokey and roasted aromas. The taste was mainly of a strong ice-coffee with some hints of dark berries too. Good liquid to milk ratio and the coffee was served slightly hot. It cooled down to a better temperature quite quickly so this was not an issue. A very light licorice after taste...but not long at all. Whilst it appeared to be well made, it was a little weak, not very viscous and lacking in body too. At $3.80, I wouldn't rush to try it. Score 7/10.

Penny Farthing Espresso - High Street, Northcote. (Kayanza Kinyovu, Burindi)

The cafe: Driving down High St in Northcote, it's easy to see the gentrification that has occured in this 'hood. A peek down some of the streets that run off High St will reveal some housing which would not be out of place in Malvern or Armadale. Fortunately, it still has character...and in spades too... Penny Farthing Espresso is a cheerful little place surrounded by some interesting shops in a very eclectic part of the street. There are a handful of small tables out the front, a few larger ones inside and a decent sized communal table too. Extremely friendly staff, nice little menu, cool vibe and barista's working overtime. There seemed to be quite a few people on their own reading books or using laptops...this is always a good sign of a relaxed and chilled environment. Lots of take-aways going out the door too. Yes, this is the north end of town and the cafe title has the word 'espresso' in it...but there were plenty of people drinking white coffee so the black coffee nazi's won't scoff at you if you order a latte!

The coffee: You know these guys are serious when you get a card with your coffee that details the town your coffee beans came from, shows a map of where it's located and describes the terroir too! A delicate nose that didn't give too much away. My guess is that the decent sized dollop of froth just probably didn't allow the coffee to oxidise enough. But just like many a good chardonnay, the subdued aroma did not lead to an equally subdued palate. Quite bitter on the tip of your tongue but this quickly blended into a nice round mid-palate. The finish was extremely interesting; very racy and citrus flavoured with a nice acidic lift. The after taste was moccha dominant with hints of licorice. Medium viscosity and palate weight. A very pleasing coffee. As already mentioned, there was a good whack of froth in this...but I think it's just their style and it was definitely a well balanced short mac. $3.50. Score 8.5+/10.

Market Lane Coffee - Prahran Market, Commercial Road, South Yarra. (Seasonal Espresso blend).

The cafe: Located at the rear of Prahran market, Market Lane is candy store for grown-up coffee lovers. With Fleur, the daughter of Australian cheese legend Will Studd at it's helm, this coffee roastery and cafe is one seriously cool establishment. And being an off-shoot of Melbourne Coffee Merchants, it has some of the best beans in town too. Impeccably clean, colourful and comfortable, Market Lane is not just about drinking...it's a total coffee experience. With quality blends and single origins available to try, an amazing selection of coffee paraphernalia to purchase and a great take-home selection to boot, its no wonder Market Lane is a coffee crowd favourite. All sorts of people can be found waiting patiently for their coffee goodness here. At busy times, a little patience may be required...but all good things come to those who wait!

The coffee: This blend was made up of beans sourced from two different places in Brazil and one place in Rwanda. There was a small poster at the front counter detailing the blend. On the nose there are clean smokey, roasted and wafer biscuit aromas. The palate is silky smooth and beautifully balanced. A very creamy texture and medium+ body with hints of light chocolate, raisins and nuts coated in honey. Perfect liquid to milk ratio. A short mac than can be enjoyed equally by those who prefer light and those who prefer heavy styled coffee. A must try for any serious short mac fiend. $3.50. Score 9/10.

Monk Bodhi Dharma - Carlisle Street, East St Kilda. (House blend)

The cafe: Although I'm a non-meat eater, I generally prefer to go to 'normal' cafe's and restaurants and order vegetarian meals rather than visit the many vegie haunts popping up around Melbourne. Monk is an exception. The vegan food prepared here is fantastic. Hidden off the main road, Monk is a haven for those looking for something slightly off the beaten path. As with most of the best cafe's in Melbourne, it is fairly cramped with only a few individual tables, a communal table that seats a dozen or so people and a small counter. The wooden stools weigh a tonne and can double up as a workout! And if it's too busy inside, you can sit on milk crate out the front too... The crowd is interesting. It can be full-on hippie, SOY's doing NOY, locals, students, business people and family. But by and large, Monk is frequented by 'clippies'... What's a clippie? It's a 'clean hippie'. Usually pretty, well dressed girls in their 20's and early 30's who dress a little hippie but are gainfully employed, wear shoes, wash their hair and have one additional piercing at the very most... Warning: The area on Carlisle Street near Monk is somewhat 'derelic' these days...so just be aware.

The coffee: Heading from Westbury St towards Chapel St, Carlisle St would have to be one of the most densely populated coffee areas in Melbourne. Fortunately they've saved the best for last. The aroma is very creamy with hints of nuttiness. The colour is dark and brooding and so is the flavour. Rich, high quality dark chocolate bitterness with amazing length and good acidity. The bitterness is insanely well balaned and not at all sharp. Perfect temperature and liquid to milk ratio. This is not a short mac for the faint hearted. Some may find it a little intimidating and/or confronting. But for my palate, this is what coffee is all about. $3.80. Score 9/10.

Che Drez - Coventry Street, South Melbourne. (House blend)

The cafe: Chez Dre is a charming patisserie down the end of a laneway at the rear of 285-287 Coventry Street. It's certainly not a small place with seating upwards of 70-80. There are arty wooden tables and chairs at the entrance, marble topped tables and a small communal table in the main area and then a medium sized courtyard at the rear. The marble topped table's help give it a French feel. There is a huge open kitchen and the counter displays some delicious looking pastries and macarons as well as croissants and breadsticks. If today wasn't Day 3 of a diet, I would have road-tested at least one of the pastries! I didn't see the menu but judging by the size of the kitchen, I would assume it would be a decent one. The crowd was very South Melbourne (I'm not exactly sure what I mean by that...), the staff were extremely friendly and many people were using it to walk to and from the market with their retro shopping trolleys.

The coffee: A fairly creamy nose backed up by smokey, roasty and chocolatey aromas. On the palate, it had quite a light mouth feel and the body was slightly fuller than medium bodied. The taste reminded me of a very creamy and decadent ice coffee. The espresso shot was a smidgen under 'standard' in volume (not a criticism) and as can be seen by the above photo, the milk quantity was perefct. The temperature was spot on too. A very smooth, enjoyable and clean coffee. For my palate, it was probably a tiny, little bit 'thin' but that's just a personal preferance. Many people would probably enjoy it a lot more than some of the richer coffee's around town. $3.50. Score 8.5/10.

Balmain's - Were Street, Brighton. (House blend)

The cafe: The people of Brighton have been the butt of many Melbourne jokes for as long as I can remember. Of course, they will claim its Tall Poppy syndrome. Possibly... But as long as 'outsiders' visit Church St, Bay St or Dendy St on any given weekend, Brightonians will retain their snobbish reputation... So where does one go? Well, why not by pass all three of these streets and head to Were St instead? This quiet, leafy street is home to a good, old fashioned shopping strip. A milk bar, chemist, local IGA, hairdresser, cute little restaurant and the peace de resistance, a fish and chip shop! Oh, Balmain's is there too. I visited at lunch time on a Sunday yet it was entirely pleasant and relaxed with a bit of Frank Sinatra playing in the background. A good amount of comfortable chairs and tables inside and plenty of room too. I sat on one of the three outside tables and watched the exceptionally well behaved local kids skateboard up and down the footpath. The glass doors and windows are a little boho and there is a good sized blackboard menu. The staff seemed pretty friendly too.

The coffee: As I watched the barista make my coffee, I knew it was going to be good. I have never before seen anybody take as much care as this barista. And you know they are serious about coffee when you get a shot of sparkling mineral water to cleanse your palate with your short mac. The result was a sensory delight. The nose was very smokey and almost meaty. Roasted meat. The taste was very rich and creamy. Definitely a dark coffee but probably on the lighter side of dark. I have to be honest, when I took my first sip I was a little concerned that it was going to be a little bitter. But this tiny hint of bitterness was the entree into a beautiful, round and extraordinary balanced coffee. Very viscous and textural yet silky at the same time. The over-riding flavour was of extremely high quality licorice and the finish was exceptionally long. Nail on the head kind of stuff. Although it's just about at the furthermost point of official SOY territory, I suggest northerner's consider crossing the border to try it... All class. $3.70. Score 9+/10.

Pillar of Salt - Church Street, Richmond. (House blend)

The cafe: The strip of Church Street between Alexandra Avenue and Swan Street has never been my favourite part of Melbourne. Although it's technically north of the Yarra, it's definitely not a 'NOY' part of Melbourne. Mind you, it doesn't have a 'SOY' feel about it either. In fact, I don't know what it is... Maybe Richmond trying to do Toorak (badly) best describes it... Anyway, there is no doubt Kael and Matt have a pumping cafe going on down there. A few tables out the front, about 7-8 tables as well as a decent sized communal table inside and then seating for another 25-30 out the back. And it's always busy. It has a pretty good menu and there is always a line to get a table on the weekend. The weekend has a 'beautiful people' crowd and weekdays have a mixture of local office workers, Fitness First trainers from across the road and property developers dressed 10-15 younger than they should be... You may also see the odd celebrity there too.

The coffee: Firstly, I should point out that Pillar of Salt do not usually serve a short mac in this type of cup. It's usually a small shot glass but I always ask for mine in an espresso cup. The aroma is quite strong giving the indication it's quite a dark roast. And the taste is quite rich and viscous. Whilst the temperature is spot on, the overall balance is a little out of whack. The bitterness does spike a little on the finish. Probably a bit more liquid and touch more milk would help. There is no doubt they are using quality beans, but the execution needs a little work. A tad too much coffee packed into too small of a shot. Having said that, it's not at all unenjoyable and probably the best short mac in that part of town. $3.50. Score 7/10.

The Final Step - Murphy St, South Yarra. (Nutty Blend)

The cafe: After recently receiving a runner-up award in 'The Coffee Army Handbook 2012' and a nice little spread in The Epicure (including a pic of my cousin Josh), The Final Step seemed a logical place to get the Short Mac Mark blog going. And I decided to give it the ultimate test - 11.15am on a Sunday morning! The place itself is tiny. 15 - 20 seats inside and maybe 5-6 outside. It has a regular crowd feel about it with many patrons congratulating the staff on the recent accolades. A very cool older couple sitting hand-in-hand in the corner, two single girls in their 30's who had just done some sporting activity, a few single guys on their own who each looked a little worse-for-wear after a big Saturday night and a few families with kids and/or dogs. The place is a bit of an oasis in the area; it doesn't have that pretentious Toorak Road feel about it. The food menu is small but made up of perfect accompaniments for a cup of coffee. What more could one ask for? The coffee board has an interesting item written on it - 'No Fake Aways'. Ask the staff what it means...it gives a clue as to how passionate The Final Step is about coffee.

The coffee: Admittedly, I was getting a little frustrated as the wait for my coffee was getting close to the 10 minute mark. But, it was peak hour and like I said, it had received a lot of recent press so the place was literally pumping... And the take away line was probably much longer than usual too.. But when it arrived, the wait was certainly worth it! Served in a perfect sized cup that allows the coffee to oxidise, it gives off that magical smell of amazing coffee. The serving has slightly more liquid than most other short mac's, but the flavour and body more than hold up to the extra liquid. Nice viscosity with smooth nutty flavours and light chocolate dominating the palate and a medium bodied, round finish. Perfect temperature, extremely pleasant after-taste and the balance is impeccable. And the right amout of milk too. At $4.00 a pop, its certainly at the pricey end of town but what's an extra 50c when it comes to good coffee?! Score 9/10.

What is a Short Mac?

A 'short mac' is the shortened version of 'short macchiato' which is the Australian term for a 'caffe macchiato'. Caffe macchiato can also be know as an 'espresso macchiato'.

The word 'macchiato' means 'stained' or 'marked' and in the case of coffee, it basically means an espresso 'stained' with a little bit of milk. However, this 'stain' takes on various different forms and has become a very controversial and passionate debate amongst drinkers of this type of coffee. Some places will give you a coffee with a stain of milk. Some will give you a coffee with more foam/milk than espresso. And in some places, mainly in certain areas of Italy, the espresso becomes the stain as its poured into a small cup containing thick, foamy milk... And then comes the question of what type of cup should it be served in? So many variations for such a small cup of coffee!

Enough typing now...time to taste! And so the journey of this blog now begins!

Why short mac?

Without any shadow of doubt, I am a creature of habit. So did my short mac obsession sporn from the fact that my first ever coffee was a short mac? Maybe... But I think it was destiny. After a few weeks of drinking coffee and after I'd really begun to understand what I was drinking, the idea of a short mac really started to make sense. I had no desire what-so-ever to try anything else. Especially any coffee with more than just a splash of milk. Of the 1000+ coffees I've had in the past 15 months, only 25-50 have not been short macs...and they have all been either espresso's or double espresso's (after big nights!)...

There is no doubt that the espresso is the king of coffee. I wouldn't even try to argue against that. But the short mac is the prince. And for me, that 'stain' of milk that accompanies it is what makes the short mac the most desirable coffee there is. That tiny about of milk can either give an espresso that extra something special or totally destroy a perfectly good coffee. Its that fine line between pleasure and pain...and that is what makes it special!

So, this blog is devoted to the prince of coffee. I'm not here to debate anything. Its all about short macs. Occasionally you may find a post about another coffee...but they'll certainly be the exception and not the rule.

I'll be visiting cafes and blogging about their short macs on a regular basis. Most of these will be known for making good coffee. I'm not here to create enemies and I have no intention of creating any controversy. I'm not going to visit establishments that are not known for their coffee. Who wins if I publicly pay-out on a Ma & Pa operation who have no intention of serving anything but standard coffee?!

I hope you enjoy my reviews and please feel free to contribute...and be nice!

The beginning...

For some bizarre, unexplainable reason, I only began drinking coffee a little over a year ago. I had spent much of my life checking out new cafes but I only ever ordered tea... And its not like my taste buds were lacking either...food and especially wine have been an obsession of mine for years. And when I eat ice-cream, 9 times out of 10 it's coffee ice-cream... So why didn't I drink coffee? I don't know...I just didn't...

But then it all changed. Late in 2010, I went into a cafe owned by a friend of mine called Small World in Melbourne CBD. It was the cafe's final day. Adam wasn't serving food that day but he was still pouring coffee. Before I left, he asked if he could make me a coffee. I told him I don't drink coffee. He wouldn't take no for an answer so I gave in. And then about a minute later, he served me a 'short mac'. I drank it, shrugged my shoulders, told him I'd see him in a few months at his new venture and walked out. Suffice to say it wasn't a life changing experience.

A few hours later I spoke to my cousin Josh. Josh is one of my many friends who were perplexed by my lack of coffee intake. Towards the end of the conversation, I remembered to tell him that I'd had a coffee that day. Josh was flabbergasted...and demanded that I drop by his office on the way home from work so he could make me another coffee. So I did. And had another 'short mac'. It was basically much the same reaction as my first that day. But boy was I buzzing driving home! And was still awake at 2am that night!

I maybe had another 2 or 3 more coffees over the next few weeks. Subconsciously I was beginning to get the taste of coffee...but I didn't know it at the time. My first realisation occured when my friend Ari took me to a coffee place on Flinders Lane after we had lunch one day. To put it nicely, it tasted like shit. But more importantly, I had a sudden realisation what bad coffee tasted like. So on the way back from work that day, I visited my cousin Josh again. I needed to taste good coffee again. And one short mac later, it all made sense. The monster had been created...and it needed to be fed.