Friday, July 14, 2006

Breakfast at Sweetheart's


... the coffee's hot, and the toast is brow-ow-own


I'm not going to talk about breakfast, but thinking about coffee got me humming some tasty Chisel. Pardon my inner shazza rising forth.

My day typically starts with a large plunger of strong black coffee. I tend to guzzle the lot and am surprised when visitors to my office look thirstily at said plunger expecting me to share. Later in the day I might have a latte followed by another plunger if I'm struggling to maintain consciousness. Well all right, that's an exaggeration. But I have become rather partial to my plunger, long and black.

Having given the supermarket brands the heave-ho I've fallen in lust with the java from Tas Coffee Roasters in Sandy Bay. The raven haired girl behind the coffee counter told me she mixes a bit of this and a bit of that to create her own personal blend. Perhaps it's time I started a bit of alchemy myself. Ah, the next step in my coffee edumacation.

Looking back over very early entries to this site sees me enjoying a Hudson's latte. My how a girl can change. I can't drink their coffee now. Maybe I've grown up. Regular readers will know my fave haunt recently has been Lansdowne Cafe (they use robusta beans, not arabica, much bettera). Took a luscious latte away from Criterion St the other day, but can't say much for Dukkah or Delicious in Elizabeth St. Of course I still heart T42.

But all you uni students ... how do you survive on that coffee from Lazenbys? It is atrocious.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Island Cafe in Elizabeth St seem to be particularly proud of their coffee making ability. Great breakfasts too.

Anonymous said...

Also, there's the place that recently opened next to Hudsons in Liverpool St. Only thing that let it down was the absence of nibbly things to munch on while reading the paper and sipping a coffee.

It takes some balls to open a competing independent store next to a franchise. I think its the same guys who had the suburban coffee roasting argument with the council.

Anonymous said...

Good on you GW. I think Hobartians are pretty much coffee addicted, so the Independants will have enough trade to see them through.

And I agree, there is nothing wrong with a bit of Star Hotel or Khe Sahn to get you going in the morning!

Food Kitty said...

Smurf, I agree, it's consistency I want, not bloody hearts and flowers in the crema. There's no point going to Aroma's or Island if the coffee is crap the next time you visit. Zum in North Hobart was the most consistent there for a while, but now it's gone all franchiseeish on us, so who knows?

Anonymous said...

Thanx Domi,
Smurf here forgot my password.
As i said if your in town pop into Zuba ask for your coffee to have there otherwise u get it in a paper cup.im not saying the coffee is Outstanding just pretty darn good and consistent without all the decorations on top. Im Not a coffee Snob BUT i do like my coffee, Im sorry to say i did try Criterion coffee today and the less sad the better on that my waiter was great Mark i think his name is i remember him from the Coffee shop in Battery point, Coffee was burnt and very disapointed as lunch was great oh well cross another so called Good Coffee hotspot off the list.

Anonymous said...

I'd say Oomph! have just about the most consistent coffee and the best extraction around (next to Hudsons on Liverpool).

It sounds like I'll have to give Zuba another chance - I'd written them off based on a few horrific experiences shortly after they opened.

Brew is also up there with Oomph and Island.

smurf said...

Hey bernie,

from what i experienced Zuba wasnt the best on opening either but gave them a try and i like there coffee besides have seen some familiar faces around there (the guy from Lark distillery, former Bar guy from Henry jones and everyones fav doorman Taz was there as well)as for Oomph havent tried there new store bad location for me have to walk past to many other places to get there

Anonymous said...

Dear Smurf

Some of us are Baristas with credentials (i.e. have attended internationally recognised coffee schools). The problem is that anyone who makes coffee can call themselves a Barista without qualifications.

They quality of the blend is often to focused on whereas the operator and more importantly the machine quaility and maintenance are usually overlooked.

smurf said...

Veteran,

I dont doubt that there are people out there in the community who know what they are doing, I just think these people are in the minority who usually work someone where one day they are on the machine and the next day a pimply 16 year old is.

I also think that the coffee industry is to blame as well so many different brands out there just putting machines into businesses without the proper training on these machines. so i say if you have the experience you say you do that i could get a decent coffee (anyday any time)at your establishment if you have one. Im not having a go i just think that training in all aspects of the hospitality industry in Hobart needs a boost and id rather see people like yourself who have the skills to do it.

Anonymous said...

Hey Hobart Restaurant Vegetable & Smuff, It's COFFEE not a life or death situation. Have a lie down and a BEX for godsake!

Food Kitty said...

Oh, be slow my racing heart. This morning had a solitary shot at Zuba(good; pity about the crap on the counter next to me), then a coffee date at Kara (also good).
Anon is right, it is just coffee, and then, some people are just arses, aren't they?

Anonymous said...

I'm not the earlier anonymous but would just like to say....why would you drink cofee when you can have tea?

I only drink that coffee stuff once in a blue moon when I need to stay awake at work. Then I slip it down quickly to get it over with, it being like awful and stuff.

Grab yourselves some Ceylon, or Darjeeling, or green tea and relax people.

Anonymous said...

Sorry - can't live without coffee. Gave up everything else and you have to have a vice

Anonymous said...

Anon, I agree about tea - I live on green tea at work.

I did make the mistake of trying Chai tea - yech, yech, yech, spit. That said, I have a friend who actually enjoys that Chai muck with soy milk.

Anonymous said...

Yes Stephen you can't beat a good gunpowder sencha

Anonymous said...

hrv, that sounds vaguely obscene.

Anonymous said...

Where do I sign up?

Anonymous said...

Stephen,
You are right about that chai stuff, it is foul.
However, I believe it has medicinal properties, not something I seek in an everyday cuppa.

There are weird and wonderful beverages out there masquerading as teas. All sorts of ginger, cardamom and vanilla thingies.
Sorry, they don't qualify as proper tea at all. Neither do those black teas with blackcurrant etc.
Now, proper herb teas such as chamomile and rosehip are okay now and again but still not the tea that can soothe all ills.
Cheers, Anon

Tassiegal said...

As certain ppl who have posted here will attest I dont drink coffee regularly. It makes me hyper...VERY hyper. BUT I love the smell of coffee...and out of all the coffee places in Hobart Oomph has the best smell.
As for Lazenbys....I dont know how people drink ANYTHING that place makes...even their hot chocolates are bad.

Anonymous said...

I like Criterion coffee. Have it first thing every morning.

Tea makes me feel sick.

Anonymous said...

I have say that breadd (no I haven't mispelt it) diagonally opposite from Zuba make a great coffee using coffee beans from Oomph. My other favourite is Refuel in Criterion street.

Anonymous said...

Such huge debate over such a small issue! or is it? Maybe a really good example of a ever growing problem/s that seems to be present here in Hobart- people deciding to work at or in an industry that perhaps they need a little sneky bit more training in first, it is actually a little offensive to those of us that actually do it for a living and take pride in what we do. Not being elitist but I mean really how many other industries can you just decide to pick up a little extra work in and all of a sudden be responsible for an individuals experience? FRUSTRATING!! Also it seems the other thing that is starting to run riot in sunny tasmania is that god awful tall poppy syndrome that I think plagues everyone from time to time. I know it sounds like a I have completely turned around, but I haven't, it seems as soon as some good publicity is shone on an establishment then everyone is a critic- I know we put our selves out there but really lets be reasonable and support these people that are really making a go of things in Hobart. I think people need to remember that we are a small community and that means we don't have endless numbers of trained enthusiastic staff and sometimes like everyone we do get tired and we do have a bad night but I can hardly believe that it ets so bad that a night is ruined, at least not in the establishments I have worked and am working in- It would also be nice to be told if there is something we can do to improve things and not read about it on a blog!! Wow that came from nowhere! And on the coffe debate, Oomph! rocks but is very expensive, $5!!! Refuel was great but has changed hands, any feedback? Love Brew made coffee not a fan of Merlot and I actually had a great coffee at Aubergine the other day, cool little space as well!

Anonymous said...

excuse my ignorance. where are merlot and aubergine

Anonymous said...

Here Here Anon

Anonymous said...

well said anon, I wonder if people loo at there own buisnesses or industries outside hospitality, and think they give great service, try get a smile from a bank teller, try and get the right answer from a bank teller, eye contact in a supermarket by there cash register personal, hang on coughing over the items you ve bought is acceptable practice , i forgot, try get a deccent explanation from your car service provider about why you have to pay $80 an hour labour when you can look through the window and watch the mechanics dancing to the what ever staion they are listning to, I DONT PAY TO WATCH YOU DANCE, IF I WANTED THAT ID ATLEAST GO TO THE STRIP BAR, try explaining to the traffic warden the machine was out in of order when I parked, Im sure we ve all experianced similar thing and dissapointments, lets rather go out and try and enjoy were we go, and if there is a problem Re: service or taste, maybe be constructive in our retorts, as it seems only in hospitality( must be the name) can we bastardise the staff or the product or the industry

just a thought

Marc said...

My two favourite coffee places in Hobart:
1) Jack & McRoss in North Hobart but only if Mary (a proper, trained Barista) is the one making the coffee.
2) Magnolia in South Hobart. I know, it sounds strange - a florists for a coffee. But very good stuff. They also have great soup.

By the way, I think both places use Tas Coffee.

Marc said...

I meant JackMAN and McRoss, of course.

Anonymous said...

zuba is good coffee,good service, guys look great but the girls? suggest they get the big guy from bakehouse security,not taz, but friendlier than zuba staff put together!

Anonymous said...

re Zuba

Ive been there several times now and have come to the conclusion that their still is an issue with quality (as many people have noted about them soon after opening)

One time i will get a great coffee and the next, its either to cold, not very strong or burnt.

They need to identify why they are so inconsistent..until that time, they will continue to get such varied reviews.

ps. my favourite place is Breadd - in Murray street (diagonally opposite Zuba and up towards Hadleys)

Rick

Anonymous said...

i have been drinking and making coffee in hobart now for about 3 years and before that it was in mel, and in euro. and you know what, hobart people are used to bad coffee the coffee i had at a few places 3 years ago is the same weak dish water coffee. yes there are a few places opening up now that use better blends or brands
but i am sorry half the people that i serve want there coffee very hot still ?? or even worst they want instant coffee in a coffee shop wake up hobart and yes iam also talking to half of the old people on this site who only judge on there taste (not cool) and not the coffee bean it self. learn good coffee, and maybe try and find your brand or blend before you judge coffee.
ps love the real bitch

Anonymous said...

Yes Lazenby's coffee is atrocious! I had one that was actually burnt last week..this is the norm. Coffee is either burnt or just seems to be warmish milk. I have taken to bringing my own teabags to uni and just getting hot water...so far they haven't messed this up. However I would like to implore any potential business peoples in Tassie....OPEN A COFFEE SHOP IN SANDY BAY! You will make a fortune. Until Brew getting a decent coffee in Sandy Bay was unthinkable. But for us poor lazy students Brew is too far to walk for a quick coffee between lectures. Maybe the York Store could start doing coffee??

Anonymous said...

For good coffee that is consistently good I don't go past the cafe above Fullers...yes occasionally I have had a bad or average coffee which they are more than happy to redo for me. However for all this coffee debate have a thought for tea drinkers (like me) who have yet to come across anywhere (okay when Satis was in Sandybay the tea was fantastic but not that it is Gilt it is not so great) that can brew a pot of tea :( For restaurants and cafes that can't just use tea bags. I would rather a bag than a weak horrid pot of leaf tea.