124 Gardenvale Rd, Gardenvale, 3185. Ph: 9596 4186

322 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn, 3122. Ph: 9819 0093

Coffee: Axil Coffee
Roaster on site: It is called Axil Coffee ROASTERS isn't it?
Machine: La Marzocco

Melbourne's newest coffee roaster has opened today ( I know, im such an early adopter) in the good old commercial precinct of Burwood Rd, Hawthorn. Axil coffee has been the worst kept secret in the industry for a while now and this latest offering from David Makin and Zoe Delaney was already a winner before it's doors even opened. Twitter has been abuzz for a while and the fact that this area (filled to the brim with commercial office buildings and residential towers) is starving for some good coffee means that success should be a sure thing for the Axil team. And from what I saw today, I wasn't wrong. For a first day it was pretty damn busy. The first thing you will notice is that the place is massive. The canteen-like layout allows for shit loads of tables and shit loads of tables it has.

The roaster sits in the back room, visible through a strip of glass. I like that the roaster is visible, but would have loved for it to be incorporated more into the design. (i know it's not practical, but i don't care)

The design is quite nice, but also expected: polished concrete, plywood tables, hanging cage lights etc. It ticks all the boxes of a Melbourne warehouse-style cafe.

Now, this isn't a bad thing, as the standards for a Melbourne cafe are quite high, but i would have loved to see something a little more different. However, one thing that is different compared to most of the other roasters is that they have a huge kitchen with a big f*** off menu.

This is not just a wraps and bircher cafe. They have a kick-arse all day breakfast, lunch, rolls, cakes, you name it. And going by the chorizo and egg roll that I devoured, im guessing that every dish is as extremely delicious.

And for all you pork-belly snobs out there, yes they also have a pork belly dish on the menu.

Now to the most important part. The coffee. Opening up a roastery is in Melbourne is a big deal, and if you dont get it right, you will most certainly be chased by pitchfork wielding hipsters. So, does Axil get it right? Well, considering that I (cruelly) came here on opening day, usually filled with Murphy's law moments, im going to say that they have got it right. I ordered a double ristretto, but was advised that the ristretto's weren't coming up too well today and that i should opt for a double espresso instead,

so I did and it came to me in the form of a dark, rich extraction that was just sublime.

(however it did lack that depth that a double ristretto usually gives me, but considering it was opening day, ill let the no ristretto fly).

Next up was a latte, constructed of velvety milk and a dark chocolate flavours. It was a very nice latte indeed, in fact I probably enjoyed the latte more than the espresso, but I have been in a milky mood of late.

Overall the coffee at Axil is very good. And considering the paint was still wet, I can only imagine that on second and third visits it is only going to keep getting better. And I will definitely be going back.

They also have what seems to me will be a very thourough retail section. Although it was not completely ready for opening day, It looks to be quite big and from what i can see will be very impressive when ready, and should cater for all your coffee needs.

If you work in the area, Axil Coffee Roasters should automatically become your default coffee choice starting now. No ifs, buts or whats.

126 Union St, Brunswick. Ph. 9388 8202

Coffee: 5 Senses
Machine: Synesso

With RMIT and that monstrosity of an apartment block in close proximity, the little hub of storefronts on Union St in Brunswick seemed like the perfect place to put a cafe. So good apparently, that someone decided they needed 2 cafes. Next door to each other. Walking up to them it reminded me of the choose your own adventure goosebumps books. The cafe on the right, or the cafe on the left. Lucky for me, I chose the one on the right, Miss Marmalade. On walking in you will notice a crispy clean Synesso on the bench surrounded by a kitsch inspired space. The good kind of kitsch that is, not too heavy, not too light. I was impressed by the space. Especially because i got the 'best seat in the house' over by the window, next to the very friendly barista, Jorizze.

First up was the double ristretto,it was the usual 5 senses/synesso fare, which means pretty damn good.

Then something caught my eye on the coffee menu. A Clever Drip. Me being me, i asked what it was and got a detailed explanation from Jorizze. Then i asked for one, which i don't think she was expecting. I also don't think anybody had ever asked for one. And although admittedly she hadn't made one in a while, she was more then happy to give it a go.

And what can i say the first cup was brewed to rather well. It was a delicately light and clean tasting coffee.

Probably because she poured the first one for me. There was so much left that I offered her a cup to taste her new brew. Well, let's just say i let down the Happy to Serve You name, because one of us (and im pretty sure it was me) poked a hole through the filter and ended up pouring half a cup of grinds. Sorry about that. But i will surely be back, because i thoroughly enjoyed the first cup, that she poured.

But as a little note, they don't get many orders for alternate brews down at Miss Marmalade, and i know that they are keen to try all different things with coffee. But if the demand isn't there they won't be able to do it. So when you go there, try something different and i can guarantee they will add more to the menu :)

The other side to this place is the food. It is incredible. I've eaten here several times and never been disapointed. Always impressed.

My sister and her friends swear by this place for lunch.

If you go to RMIT brunswick. This is where you should be before class, after class and if it were me, during class.

Very happy to be featured in Feasting Never Stops, one of the best food related websites on the web!

http://www.feastingneverstops.com/1154943/A-Week-Of-Coffee

also featured on Eric Demay's blog, a designer based in Montreal. Actually quite a good blog. I say actually because if he's talking about me i just thought it would be shit.

http://ericdemay.com/links/happy-to-serve-you/

Honestly these are really sweet sites and im super proud to be even mentioned in them.

10 Hall Street Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 - 0400 937 418

Coffee: 5 Senses
Machine: Synesso

Moonee Ponds. Hello, old friend, it seems we meet again. I have a love hate relationship with this suburb (and surrounding areas. that's you Essendon). I've schooled there. Worked there. Lived there. But for the last 24 years it has been exempt of quality coffee/cafes. EVERY CAFE. YES, EVERY CAFE THERE SERVES SHIT. And i don't want to hear any arguments, because you will lose. Trust me. I always had the vision of opening a cafe here to show them how coffee should be done. But i had a gut feeling that the area just wasn't quite ready for it yet. So as I was telling James ( from Brunswick east project fame) my point of view about the area, he mentioned a cafe that i had never heard of called Nabiha. So i took his advice and set out to discover this mythical cafe in the west. From the outside it looked promising. Custom designed stools and perforated design in the copper(if my memory serves me correct) window shades. The interior is just as nice with a modern architectural vibe about the place. It was rather quiet for a pre-lunch time (ill get to this in a second) and i ordered the Happy to serve you favourite the Double Ristretto. When i first saw it, i thought someone was playing a joke on me. It looked perfectly extracted with a dark caramel crema. But I was in Moonee Ponds? It can't be true.

Then the real magic happened when the taste hit my palate. It was amazing. And not just for moonee ponds standards.

But being the scientific man i am, i ordered another, to make sure it just wasn't dumb luck. The second came out to the same exacting standards as the first. I was left dumbfounded. The first good coffee in the area in 24 years. fuck me. as i walked out the barista asked me if i had noticed any difference between the two extractions, i said i wasn't really paying attention. She told me that the second was extracted through a naked group head. so not only great coffee, but coffee enthusiasts too. fuck me twice. To be honest the reason i wasn't paying attention was due to the fact i was left in shock from the first shot. but i didn't want to tell her that. On the way out i noticed the trademark Synesso/5Senses combo. This alone always says a lot about a cafe. except at t.m.c. back to the point where i said it was reasonably quiet. It was. However the coffee shop which must not be named (the coffee club) a few stores down was pumping. Which leads me back to my original thoughts about the area, is it ready for good coffee? Well i can't answer that just yet, but i do hope it is. All i can say is this:

If you live in the moonee valley region and go anywhere else but to Nabiha for coffee. then F*** you.

P.S A personal thank-you to Nabiha and 5 Senses for finally bringing some good coffee to this area