tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44391410891309014132024-03-14T00:36:47.384-07:00ask the coffee guya blog about life as a cafe owner and about getting the most out of your coffee!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-26041945792431480232013-02-26T04:03:00.001-08:002013-02-26T04:03:48.531-08:00awhile between drinks<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ok its been awhile between drinks - so its time to get cracking with a bit of an update!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on the home front I've had a few equipment changes of recent</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">gone is my prized Rancilio S24 - which although old and a bit bedraggled made excellent coffee - to be replaced by a two year old Rancilio Epoca single group semi-commercial machine</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And although the Epoca (terrible name btw remind me to fire the marketing guy on that one) looks the biz and makes great coffee with plenty of fire power - the actual build quality seems to be a lot less sturdy than its predecessor</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My home machines need to be presentable and funcional - as I often use them for catering jobs / fund raising etc and although the Epoca ticks many of the right boxes, the flimsy plastic sides snap right off even after fairly minimal use / transportation</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I've replaced these with custom build stainless side, and, much to my chagrin, the plastic front panal popped off recently too - so I'm getting a custom build stainless front made for the machine as well, which, to its credit, makes great coffee, and, with the addition of a synesso steam tip, has unprecedented steam power, which, I would say, far exceeds manufacturer specifications!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, I'll post some before and after shots so that you get a better idea of what I'm talking about!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iups1YZTQG0/USyjOx6eFhI/AAAAAAAAEhE/2hNvxMsvlcM/s1600/url.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iups1YZTQG0/USyjOx6eFhI/AAAAAAAAEhE/2hNvxMsvlcM/s1600/url.jpeg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">heres a stock image of the before shot which pretty much is what my machine looked like prior to renovations - all in all not a bad looking machine - but again many off the bells and whistles on the plastic facade are just that: a facade only which is prone to breaking or snapping off under heavy usage / transportation!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also recently swapped my home roaster over from a KKTO to a Gene Cafe, whcih is in no way a slight on the KKTO - which is and awesome roasting device - but I decided it was time to try something different to see how it worked and what results I could get out of it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, that's a tale for a different day, so night folks, and keep an eye out for the newly modded Rancilio, oh and the Sunbeam Em6910 which I rescued from hard waste and restored to better that new working condition - soon to be revealed!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-78826667030356124482012-05-03T05:51:00.001-07:002012-05-03T06:00:27.198-07:00you're full of shit (or not you're usual day at the office)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok when I was attending cafe owners training school (does such a thing even exist?) I'm sure this question never came up:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q) What happens if you are up to your armpits in shit plunging out your blocked toilet, and you 'accidentally' flood the adjoining neighbours bathroom with raw sewage as a result?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See, if someone actually asked that question, I'm sure that I would've been listening, coz:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a) It's such an implausible question that it's never likely to be asked, and </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b) I'd be keen to hear the answer, I mean really, really keen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why? You ask? Well I'm pleased to say that I can tell you as I found out first hand just yesterday!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It happened like this</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly my plumber stopped by the cafe for a coffee in the morning, which is a fairly rare occurrence, say every six months or so, and then only when he has a job on in the area</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And secondly my toilets backed up shortly thereafter - which has been a fairly regular occurrence of recent, but usually I can take care of it myself with some fairly routine maintenance, but not yesterday morning</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So after an hour or more of plunging and cleaning, I call my plumber, and he sends around a couple of his trusty workers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately though, the cafe occupies a split tenancy, with a residence located next door, and we both share the same water line out, leading to a boundary trap located in the enclosed rear courtyard of their property</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And because the neighbours weren't home we weren't able to access the 'riser' to pump the line clean</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we set to work on plunging my mop bucket sink (which is on the same water line) instead, with some fairly industrial equipment, which seemed to eleviate but not eradicate the problem of the blocked loos, and the plumbers left vowing to return first thing in the morning when they could access the neighbour's back yard, and do the job properly</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which was all good and well until my neighbour arrived and said, "Do you realise that my bathroom floor is covered in raw sewage? You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I'm not saying that my neighbour is gay or anything and it wouldn't matter if he was but he is, er, meticulous with his appearance, and I have no reason to doubt that his designer apartment is anything less than spanking</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well I soon had reason to find out as I inspected the damage in the bluestone tile lined bathroom, resplendent with red chandelier and matching 'hot lips' red painted WC - and I wont go into too much detail here except to say that I was glad that I was not the one who had to clean it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After all it was those pesky plumbers always wanting to pump something who had saturated the neighbours bathroom - not me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I few quick phone calls latter and the plumbers came running and I have to say that they did a great job of identifying the problem (shifting foundation in the back yard moves pipes and casuses blockage due to the expansion and contraction of soil underneath) - and rectifying it - line feed mechanical coil to unblock the pipes and trace the cause and location of the blockage</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps less so their cleaning abilities - as I pointedly asked, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Have you guys cleaned up inside and is there anything in there that I need to take care of?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To which they pointedly replied,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Nah mate, job's right!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well... I thought I'd better check the bathroom anyway to make sure that it was clean and let me just say that it was not, and leave it at that, eh?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Needless to say I was more than a bit apprehensive when the guys from next door (who'd left me with their keys when they went out so that the plumber could have access), came in the next morning, and I was expecting the fiery worst...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I could't have been more surprised to be told that the bathroom was spotless and probably wouldn't need another clean for a month! (Actually, considering how much effort I put in cleaning it in the first place it shouldn't have been a surprise at all but you know me - I hate to disappoint!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Anyway, job's done right mate finally by me in the end - and it's a big relief, I can tell you - thank god there's always great coffee waiting at the end of the rainbow!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-74917093701241724432012-05-03T01:41:00.001-07:002012-05-03T01:41:24.696-07:00Industry accolades and other adventures!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well... what a year its been already! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So far we've had a new head chef, new manager, and new barista, new menu, and now we're in the process of custom building a new four group La Marzocco Linea Mechanical Paddle espresso machine!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But first things first</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Approximately two months ago we were recognised by The Age newspaper as being among Melbourne's top 100 coffee destinations - which is a tremendous accolade and a testimony to the significant amount of work we've put into sourcing our single origons, and getting the blends right</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's also bought a lot more custom through our doors which has been good for cashflow - which is just as well as we've had two fridges, the cool room, the dishwasher, and the canopy exhaust all pack it in and need to be repaired, in no small part I'm sure due to the increased foot traffic and the increased demands that this puts upon infrastructure </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The increased patronage has also come at a time when my long term manager and head barista have moved on to their own separate projects, the first opening her own cafe in Fitzroy, and the other pursuing her interest in photography - which is divine providence if you ask me as long standing staff members tend to attract their own loyal clientele, and some of those clientele naturally look elsewhere if they dont have the same familiar faces and friendly banter to come back to...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the recruitment process has to be one of the most rigorous and demanding aspects of hospitality (and indeed any industry I'm sure) - but its sure not helped by:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a) most folks not considering hospitality to be a 'serious' career contender, and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b) the casual workforce for hospitality is a veritable movable feast - with a very high turnover which means in effect we are always naturally recruiting in anticipation anyway, and</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c) many students turn to hospitality to pay the rent but when they graduate most want a 'real' job, and lastly</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">d) as some Irish comedian said when he was out here recently, "You Melbournians are so lucky... There's so many cafes here you've got one for every person in every person in melbourne!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which mean that although in theory there are a great many individuals available for work in the hospitality industry, there are very few experienced industry professionals of a suitable calibre to staff those cafes and restaurants which pride themselves on providing the highest calibre of products and services</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we had to re-advertise our chef position for four months in a row, which is not only a considerable expense and impost on a business, but the shear logistics of bringing new personnel through a business, and training them up (and the additional labour costs associated with that), only to have them leave (or encouraging them to leave if they're not suitable) five minutes later is not only demoralising, but very, very physically demanding - and this applies o front of house as well</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, to cut a long story short - after six months of rigorous recruitment and training (including a bit of good old fashioned poaching) - we've finally got a great team and a permanent roster, which means that I can both sleep peacefully at night, and not have to work all the extra shifts myself until we fill the roster!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the (perhaps) most exciting news of all is the four group La Marzocco Linea rebuild - which we're fitting out with new groups, flow meters, PIDs, mechanical paddles, mother boards, multi-position ant-vac lever operated steam wands, and other ancillary bits and pieces, most of which come straight off the Strada in terms of parts and technology, to create a mechanical rebuild which to all intensive purposes (appart from the actual paddles themselves!) - will look much the same from the outside, but which will purr under the bonnet with all the latest equipment and technology that the specialty coffee espresso industry has to offer!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More to follow and pics as well as soon as they become available!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-24334832312226158362011-12-26T15:47:00.001-08:002011-12-26T16:05:55.680-08:00end of year considerationswell... its been a monster year - anyone who says cafes arent hard work hasnt worked in a busy one! between work and family its damn exhausting most of the time and its definitely a labour of love as profits are pretty negligible - but then again we're on a continuous growth curve - so if we can maintain the current momentum I'll be happy<br /><br />last week of trade was our busiest of the year - averaging 80 meals and 200 coffees a day during the week which is both a great joy and a great way to pay the bills before the holiday break!<br /><br />year highlights are numerous but being shortlisted by the Age to be in the running for top ten cafes (based on points listing in the Melbourne Magazine about a month ago) - gave us the spur and the impetus to really take our coffee to the next level - withy a focus on staff training and increased documentation - but also provided the drive to run with some really lovely coffees - so recently we've had no less than 3 cup of excellences coffees running concurrently, as well as the marvellous el salvador adia battle selection which really takes coffee to a whole new previously unimagined level<br /><br />not to mention the wonderful coffee crafted by our top roaster - Joshua Bailey (who roasted most of the above mentioned coffees - I di manage to roast some myself!) - I'm particularly proud of the work we've done together on the Sweet Maria's blend - which I'm sure I'm biased but i think its top gear mate!<br /><br />PNG Sigri, Nicaragua Diamond, Brazil Sao Paulo, and Honduras St Finca Marta - make up the Sweet Maria's blend in its current incarnation - and I would describe the resulting flavour profile as nothing short of 'Burgundian' - which is a wine term that I am very reluctant to apply to coffe for obvious reasons but in this case I think we've created something special that merits this kind of praise and consideration - still ... I'll let you be the judge - certainly coffee sales have been good and are on the up and up so it hopefully bodes well for a good start to the new year<br /><br />Well... my wife reminds me that we're about to embark on a road trip for a month and I'm supposed to be packing so I suppose I had better be doing that will update a little latter on down the road!<br /><br />Thanks for a great year peoples!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-3298946530901251002011-11-24T23:58:00.000-08:002011-11-24T23:58:28.753-08:00<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3akgaajpQFs/Ts9KpHDVSRI/AAAAAAAAENc/szDCG8fYx4Y/s1600/IMG_0502-1.JPG'><img src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3akgaajpQFs/Ts9KpHDVSRI/AAAAAAAAENc/szDCG8fYx4Y/s400/IMG_0502-1.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><br /> <br />Oh yeah, not a bad wrap in The Age Melbourne Magazine today - these figures maen that Foxy Brown is potentially in the running for Melbourne's top ten coffee destinations - according to The Age <br /><br />Vote with your feet peoples!<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-6415149879275141952011-11-19T17:41:00.000-08:002011-11-19T18:11:13.312-08:00Honduras Luis Alphonzo Hernandez - Farm Aguas Dulces, San Luis Planes, Santa Barbara Cup of Eccellece Lt 14well the response to our current Honduras Cup of Excellence Coffee - lt 14 has been excellent, and has seen us move a lot of this product in a relatively short space of time<br /><br />It's a lighter roast with a slow roast profile which is excellent for aging - and I found myself drinking this wonderful coffee both at home ans at work every day for seven days post roast, although,I found myself thinking, <br /><br />"Wow... the nose is really tight and the profile's not really giving much away - I sure hope it improves with age"<br /><br />So naturally I was reluctant to promote the product at work until it had a little age on it - so I resisted doing so - and then, WHAM! Eight days post roast this coffee really leapt out at me - both as a pour-over,and as an espresso based coffee - and I couldn't believe how much it had changed, if not overnight, then at least since I first began tasting it<br /><br />I know it sounds a bit like floury 'wine speak,' but I began thinking about this coffee pretty early on in terms of a fine red wine, which has been made to last - not in terms of palate structure - but in terms of the nose being quite closed, and not giving much away in its early stages of life<br /><br />I was quietly confident that it would open up and present better with age - although you can never be absolutely certain, but open up it did in its quiet magnificence, as the early herbaceous notes and malolactic acid structure gave way to ripe strawberries, and subtle tannins<br /><br />Anyway, it all sounds a bit flouncy, but the main point that I aim trying to get across is that coffee is often touted as 'the new wine,' but in reality very few coffees IMHO live up to this epithet <br /><br />In this instance however the Honduras Aguas Ducles lt 14 Cup of Excellence lived up to and exceeded all expectations, displaying characteristics and character traits similar to the wine making and aging process - but the main thing is that it tastes great - especially as a filter coffee that has been allowed to cool down to room temperature<br /><br />It's what we used to refer to when I was in the wine industry as GPM<br /><br />(Good Piss Mate)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-4804695143119780862011-09-03T07:31:00.000-07:002011-09-03T07:54:02.951-07:00where too from here?Just got back from a two and a half week sojourn up North - to Byron bay (where among other things I have been consulting and conducting barista training for a cafe I helped to set up 12 months ago) - and from the Sunshine Coast - we my little family and I were mainly visiting relatives and spending valuable beach time - but we still managed to fit a trip to Brisbane in, where we visited the delightful and astounding Dandelion and Driftwood cafe! Brisbane has come a long way with regard to quality coffee in recent times - and there is IMHO no finer example than D7D - with its (when we visited at least) two espresso blends, five single origins, four coffees available for pourover / syphon etc, and cold drip filter coffee available. Plus the store, located at Shop 1, 45 Gerler Rd, Hendra, 4011 - looks abd feels great, as you would expect from Peter and Penny Wolf (ex Veneziano Coffee)
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<br />Coffee in Byron has come a long way as well, but with few exceptions I still found that most (of the eight cafes that I visited while I as there) cafes still employ 'out dated' methods of making coffee, including not wiping group handles out properly before dosing, or purging the group head prior to extraction to eliminate built up solids, both of which result in 'dirty' flavours in the cup... oh well... could prove to be a good hunting ground for our eventual move into the area in several years time (watch this space)
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<br />Had some lovely coffee on the Sunshine Coast too, most notably from The Good Bean Espresso Bar in Mooloolaba, who interestingly feature the multiple boiler version of my own coffee machine - the much lauded BFC Synchro, and Clandestino Coffee Roasters in Noosaville - who roast on site and who offer a similar array of coffees to D&D above - in terms of what they have on offer - I had a lovely flat white made from one of their blends, and a fantastic espresso made from single origin Nicaragua - yum on both counts!
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<br />Whilst at Foxy Brown we haven't exactly been resting on our laurels either - as we welcome our new head chef, Aysha (from New Zealand) on board - Aysha has only recently returned from a lengthy cheffing stint in the UK - and she brings a wealth of talent and experience with her
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<br />And of course our coffee is constantly changing based upon seasonal available ingredients - but that's the subject for another entry - so I'll leave that for another time - see ya! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-53242294895146884112010-11-30T03:04:00.001-08:002010-11-30T03:07:19.273-08:00latte art boot camp!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPTa3yaSXYI/AAAAAAAAECI/vzkkF4ZqVjc/s1600/IMG_1808.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPTa3yaSXYI/AAAAAAAAECI/vzkkF4ZqVjc/s400/IMG_1808.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545297693159611778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPTaiLCUdfI/AAAAAAAAECA/ZBsiPzfREpE/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPTaiLCUdfI/AAAAAAAAECA/ZBsiPzfREpE/s400/IMG_1806.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545297321812850162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPTah0j33II/AAAAAAAAEB4/ITSYz15In5I/s1600/IMG_1804.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPTah0j33II/AAAAAAAAEB4/ITSYz15In5I/s400/IMG_1804.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545297315779566722" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-23321497001372691832010-11-29T22:06:00.000-08:002010-11-29T22:11:48.668-08:00what's hot at the fox?What's Hot at Foxy? <br /> <br />Well... we are, apparently - having received a spate of positive publicity, which never goes astray<br />Also, we do not rest on our laurels, as we're constantly revising and refining what we do - so the food menu has had a few tweeks recently, in include a few more savoury items, to make it more 'lunch like' - and items such as the Foxy Fritters, which features gluten free zucchini fritters, served on a bed of avocado mash, served with a poached egg, and a side of feta optional = have been a smash hit<br />Also, we say a sad farewell to Head Chef Sophie, as she branches further abroad, and welcome back to Daniella - who is back in the kitchen and back from her tarvels<br />And of course we're constantly sourcing seasonally available fresh produce for our coffees, and to this extend our "Foxy Espresso Blend" has recently been modded to include some Sumatran Mandheling, Honduras Finca Santa Marta, Columbian Aesoeni, and PNG Okapa<br /> And the old favourite Honduras / PNG combination has been revamped of recent times, with new materials being sourced from new (to us) estates, and re-braned as our "Sweet Maria's Blend" - back, you could say, by popular demand<br />But the thing I'm most excited about at the moment is our Filter Coffee, made on the Clever Coffee Dripper - we've created a purpose built work station to house the apparatus and al the associated paraphernalia, and I've ordered a truck load of exotic coffees from around the world, which I'm roasting myself very selectively for this unique application<br />And whilst I admit that Filter Coffee is not for everyone - there are some jaded palates out there who profess that espresso is the Chardonnay of the coffee world, and they're after a more subtle and refined taste experience, which showcases the terroir of the individual estate grown and single origin coffees - and its all about the Indian Monsoon Malabar for me at the moment, which to me at least tastes like a blend between a young Pinot Meunier, and an aged Arneis...<br />But then again I'm apt to wax lyrical and not adverse to a little purple prose when it comes to describing coffees - a throwback to my days as a sommelier perhaps?<br />After a bit of a mid winter lull business is booming (on weekends at least) - and I'm looking forward to a substantial break at the end of the year with my family, and I've been consulting for a new cafe development in Byron Bay - and I'm heading up there for opening celebrations next week!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-42750975217706877512010-11-29T21:12:00.000-08:002010-11-29T21:50:01.766-08:00when social networking goes wrong<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPSI1xeyPiI/AAAAAAAAEBg/jbqDSw9H3gs/s1600/IMG_1755.PNG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPSI1xeyPiI/AAAAAAAAEBg/jbqDSw9H3gs/s400/IMG_1755.PNG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545207498596826658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPSI1Nti2dI/AAAAAAAAEBY/87szdCRVZJw/s1600/IMG_1756.PNG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPSI1Nti2dI/AAAAAAAAEBY/87szdCRVZJw/s400/IMG_1756.PNG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545207488995056082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPSIx84EL9I/AAAAAAAAEBQ/LKX_8pvG7ck/s1600/IMG_1757.PNG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPSIx84EL9I/AAAAAAAAEBQ/LKX_8pvG7ck/s400/IMG_1757.PNG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545207432936173522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPSIxKSVc-I/AAAAAAAAEBI/npa4rBJSNes/s1600/IMG_1759.PNG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TPSIxKSVc-I/AAAAAAAAEBI/npa4rBJSNes/s400/IMG_1759.PNG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545207419356148706" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Now it wasn't my original intention to offend but there's only so much a guy can take and I pride myself on knowing all my regulars and the coffees that they drink so I was genuinely concerned when this guy (who apparently is a regular he just doesn't (unlike me) wave a red flag every time he comes in, so he wasn't immediately obvious to me</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Also I've been logging myself in on each visit of recent to see if I could bump the guy off or at least get a feel for how he's tracking - also i'd bumped him off as mayor a few times previously only to find that he'd reemerged next day</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >So I thought to myself - wow this guys here more often than me and still I don't recognise him - which is not to say its impossible just unusual is all</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >hell... i cant be expected to know every customer who walks through the door - in fact it would be impossible to do so - but I am naturally curious by nature - so when an anomaly pops up I usually want to investigate it - its part of what makes me so good at what I do, I'm always questioning always looking for a better way of doing things</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >So I dont want to blow this out of all proportion except to use this example as a cautious warning as to the joys and perils of on-line navigations, and to show that it aint always going to be a happy ending...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >What happens next is anyone's guess - anyone up for coffee?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >ACg </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-27494428592437043282010-06-01T00:50:00.000-07:002010-06-01T01:21:03.270-07:00roast plus...<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw1P0mN_0_OY-08g2TT15DM2qMA6NNvx2Ra3nOksXRES-Lv0Jkbepoc04YHp74HFQpKrALltB8ZNkPrxJ6nmw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-33480337419135838402010-05-31T23:50:00.001-07:002010-06-01T06:15:39.876-07:00out and about in Melbourne coffee town!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEgB4c3WI/AAAAAAAAD7M/4MZ3-A9DfX8/s1600/IMG_3091.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEgB4c3WI/AAAAAAAAD7M/4MZ3-A9DfX8/s400/IMG_3091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477789470073609570" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br />The image says it all, really...</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">FTR _ all of these images were taken on my Iphone using Hipstomatic....lovely app that</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEf5bMI3I/AAAAAAAAD7E/m0QmvngZr0U/s1600/IMG_3088.JPG"></a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEf5bMI3I/AAAAAAAAD7E/m0QmvngZr0U/s1600/IMG_3088.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEf5bMI3I/AAAAAAAAD7E/m0QmvngZr0U/s400/IMG_3088.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477789467803394930" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Espresso, St ALi - lovely citrus zip on the finish...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEfl9yoXI/AAAAAAAAD68/-oKfvxFEh90/s1600/IMG_3164.JPG"></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEfl9yoXI/AAAAAAAAD68/-oKfvxFEh90/s1600/IMG_3164.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEfl9yoXI/AAAAAAAAD68/-oKfvxFEh90/s400/IMG_3164.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477789462579814770" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Cold Syphon @ Outpost - its the biz!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEfViXsTI/AAAAAAAAD60/xkhT7b1LUsw/s1600/IMG_3176.JPG"></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEfViXsTI/AAAAAAAAD60/xkhT7b1LUsw/s1600/IMG_3176.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEfViXsTI/AAAAAAAAD60/xkhT7b1LUsw/s400/IMG_3176.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477789458169835826" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Mistral @ Dukes Coffee Roasters (Dukes of Windsor?)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEe-Z-04I/AAAAAAAAD6s/jwadXehbv_s/s1600/IMG_3180.JPG"></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEe-Z-04I/AAAAAAAAD6s/jwadXehbv_s/s1600/IMG_3180.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUEe-Z-04I/AAAAAAAAD6s/jwadXehbv_s/s400/IMG_3180.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477789451960636290" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCuyZbW_I/AAAAAAAAD6k/hB-f_RaLFBg/s1600/IMG_3179.JPG"></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCuyZbW_I/AAAAAAAAD6k/hB-f_RaLFBg/s1600/IMG_3179.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCuyZbW_I/AAAAAAAAD6k/hB-f_RaLFBg/s400/IMG_3179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477787524591737842" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Pla @ Outpost - if there's a better front of house person in Melbourne they had better put their hand up right now!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCufEEtiI/AAAAAAAAD6c/NLgqkGZU-58/s1600/IMG_3181.JPG"></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCufEEtiI/AAAAAAAAD6c/NLgqkGZU-58/s1600/IMG_3181.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCufEEtiI/AAAAAAAAD6c/NLgqkGZU-58/s400/IMG_3181.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477787519401899554" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCuOaOs4I/AAAAAAAAD6U/fH47X48daFI/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG"></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCuOaOs4I/AAAAAAAAD6U/fH47X48daFI/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCuOaOs4I/AAAAAAAAD6U/fH47X48daFI/s400/IMG_3186.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477787514931426178" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Ahhh... The age old question... Seven Seeds Vs BBB... for my money its BBB phenomenal attention to detail and coffee to die for! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCtVenfDI/AAAAAAAAD6M/rRJTsFCQkAs/s1600/IMG_3188.JPG"></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCtVenfDI/AAAAAAAAD6M/rRJTsFCQkAs/s1600/IMG_3188.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCtVenfDI/AAAAAAAAD6M/rRJTsFCQkAs/s400/IMG_3188.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477787499649006642" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">More of the above @ BBB<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCtIfNDkI/AAAAAAAAD6E/Ul3sqWQdopY/s1600/IMG_3189.JPG"></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCtIfNDkI/AAAAAAAAD6E/Ul3sqWQdopY/s1600/IMG_3189.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TAUCtIfNDkI/AAAAAAAAD6E/Ul3sqWQdopY/s400/IMG_3189.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477787496161807938" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEb6O81JI/AAAAAAAAD58/sIGlqYdFgZk/s1600/IMG_3192.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEb6O81JI/AAAAAAAAD58/sIGlqYdFgZk/s400/IMG_3192.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477719030556841106" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The incomparable Auction Rooms in North Melbourne - where great coffee is made finer by excellent imbibing surrounds...</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEbbpOLmI/AAAAAAAAD50/vtv4VXVN65Q/s1600/IMG_3206.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEbbpOLmI/AAAAAAAAD50/vtv4VXVN65Q/s400/IMG_3206.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477719022345530978" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br />wheel of fortune at Market Lane Coffee Roasters...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEbJ75nkI/AAAAAAAAD5s/FsbKELXGthg/s1600/IMG_3209.JPG"></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEbJ75nkI/AAAAAAAAD5s/FsbKELXGthg/s1600/IMG_3209.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEbJ75nkI/AAAAAAAAD5s/FsbKELXGthg/s400/IMG_3209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477719017592036930" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">its all about the process at market lane...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEbJ75nkI/AAAAAAAAD5s/FsbKELXGthg/s1600/IMG_3209.JPG"></a><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEa8M5kBI/AAAAAAAAD5k/eACmadhijJo/s1600/IMG_3210.JPG"></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEa8M5kBI/AAAAAAAAD5k/eACmadhijJo/s1600/IMG_3210.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEa8M5kBI/AAAAAAAAD5k/eACmadhijJo/s400/IMG_3210.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477719013905240082" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br />nice, er, stack!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEapjrrSI/AAAAAAAAD5c/8R75SNqzXNw/s1600/IMG_3211.JPG"></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEapjrrSI/AAAAAAAAD5c/8R75SNqzXNw/s1600/IMG_3211.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TATEapjrrSI/AAAAAAAAD5c/8R75SNqzXNw/s400/IMG_3211.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477719008900525346" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuZv19mRI/AAAAAAAAD5U/dIGvsMI0E7U/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG"></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuZv19mRI/AAAAAAAAD5U/dIGvsMI0E7U/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuZv19mRI/AAAAAAAAD5U/dIGvsMI0E7U/s400/IMG_3212.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477694804152129810" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">well, as you can no doubt tell, I've been busy recently frequenting Melbourne's finest cafes in search of the illusive perfect coffee. Does it exist? Who can tell? Its certainly subjective anyway, but here are some images of a few of my favourites. Above is a Flat white from Proud Mary, in all its fineness...<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuZaHGi4I/AAAAAAAAD5M/KXCM2s71cV8/s1600/IMG_3213.JPG"></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuZaHGi4I/AAAAAAAAD5M/KXCM2s71cV8/s1600/IMG_3213.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuZaHGi4I/AAAAAAAAD5M/KXCM2s71cV8/s400/IMG_3213.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477694798318439298" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Here's an image of a naked light bulb at Monk Bhodi Dharma in East St Kilda - and yes, they have damn fine coffee!<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuY93T-2I/AAAAAAAAD5E/bCnTS9fQYN0/s1600/IMG_3241.JPG"></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuY93T-2I/AAAAAAAAD5E/bCnTS9fQYN0/s1600/IMG_3241.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuY93T-2I/AAAAAAAAD5E/bCnTS9fQYN0/s400/IMG_3241.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477694790736018274" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Atomica in Brunswick Street - no coffee journey would be complete without it...<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuYQEQG_I/AAAAAAAAD48/gSxU3NI2Sz8/s1600/IMG_3239.JPG"></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuYQEQG_I/AAAAAAAAD48/gSxU3NI2Sz8/s1600/IMG_3239.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuYQEQG_I/AAAAAAAAD48/gSxU3NI2Sz8/s400/IMG_3239.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477694778442259442" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Some green beans at the Mailing Room</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuX7r3YvI/AAAAAAAAD40/a7WxjjlqufU/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG"></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuX7r3YvI/AAAAAAAAD40/a7WxjjlqufU/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/TASuX7r3YvI/AAAAAAAAD40/a7WxjjlqufU/s400/IMG_3242.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477694772971266802" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Brief respite at Atomica from drinking 15 coffees in one day!<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-73321756016663102022010-05-02T04:44:00.001-07:002010-05-02T05:27:04.562-07:00coffee n stuff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/S91mJnXfyoI/AAAAAAAAD4s/czqZCQ3wO_o/s1600/DSC01608.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/S91mJnXfyoI/AAAAAAAAD4s/czqZCQ3wO_o/s400/DSC01608.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466637838070041218" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Wow! Can it have been so long since I blogged last? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So much has happened in so (seemingly) little time! So its about time I set the record straight (or at least updated it!)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Firstly and perhaps most importantly we've tweaked our espresso blend for the umpteenth time - and I'm really happy with the coffee we're producing at the moment</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And that's saying something as I'm a bit of a perfectionist - so I'm not generally happy unless I feel that we've accomplished our goals in certain areas</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">But here in one avenue that I'm definitely proud of! I've been working closely with our master roaster, Joshua Bailey of Bailey Coffee, in Errol Street, North Melbourne, and his soon to be opened warehouse project: Provost Works, in the street of the same name (you heard it here first folks)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">ANd we've been experimenting with and running with around a dz single origin coffees at the cafe, in addition to our espresso blend - and I must say it makes my work life interesting and keeps me motivated always having fresh, new, and exciting coffees to play with!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And having spent many years of my working life as a sommelier, I feel that I have a pretty good palate when it comes to accessing coffees, and to me it takes a good palate and a clear vision of the flavour profile that you want to create, when it comes to creating an espresso blend</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">For me I was pretty happy with the blend that we had been using, but I felt that it needed some cinnamon / spice flavours combined with raisin toast flavours on the mid palate - and adding some El Salvador El San Molino washed arabica orange bourbon to the mix - really helped to bring out the flavours that I was looking for</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And as an added bonus the blend drinks exceptionally well incredibly young - say four days post roast - which is far from ideal when it comes to ageing coffee (I personally prefer our coffees 11 days plus post roast as this best suits the roast profile), but is realistic from time to time when we get an unprecedented rush on coffee</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Besides I would rather drink fresh coffee that's a bit too young (as long as its drinking well and not just all bubbles) than stale crap that's been sitting on the shelf or warehoused for too long - any day of the week!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So we arrived at the blend by a variety of methods - but not least of all by mixing ingredients together 'on the fly' - when we're busy, and by tasting and evaluating as we go</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Also, I like to watch how the coffee - or a combination of coffees - pours through the espresso machine, as this too provides an indication as to how its going to taste</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">When you know that the grind settings are right, and the coffee comes out all gooey and syrupy, with a nice dark brown / brick red colour - you can be pretty certain that you are onto a good thing, and the palate backs this up...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">What else is new?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">New staff of course! We've been getting busier and busier (as anyone who's been there on the weekend will soon attest - today we had folks cueing at the door, waiting to get in!) - which means more staff to cater for more customers</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">ANd I'm loving the vibe of the place when its packed to the rafters and the food and coffees are coming out smoothly</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">It becomes kind of elemental when you find yourself hitting your stride, and everything just seems to fall into place</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Which is not to say that mistakes don't happen and that folks don't complain from time to time - they most definitely do! But its the mark of any establishment - how you cope under pressure and how well you can service customers when things don't go according to plan</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Besides which we've been trading for an incredible seven months now - and I think its taken us easily that long to get our procedures in order, and our systems in place. And this is always an ongoing process as staff change from time to time, and the roster changes constantly - so you're always in theory at least working out new dynamics</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Looking forward to a few changes around the place - still waiting on a second POS terminal to relieve congestion behind the counter (how long can it take!) - and we've got some great artworks on the way as soon as we get the picture rails up!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Changes to the menu have been implemented - well... it was more like building some of the popular daily specials into the menu structure, really, and more changes are currently afoot... but you'll have to keep coming in to find out what they are... </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">ANd our new and impressive range of organic and gluten free cakes and our muffins (all of which are baked in-house) have been selling like, well... hot cakes!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">This autumn weather is great for business (as long as we're not rained out) - as coffee and cake sales have been going off in the afternoon</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We've also recently cracked a few milestones: 300 coffee per day days on the weekend and around 150 coffee sales per day (on a good day) during the week - these were the targets that I set for the store upon opening - so now its time to raise the bar higher!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">ANd while we're at it - how come Friday's are so busy? Its's like people are saving up all their coffee credits until the end of the working week!</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-27903702065193439492009-12-23T04:21:00.000-08:002009-12-23T05:04:34.619-08:00just in: koffee kosmo coretto coffee roaster (beta version)!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SzIMK6WtH9I/AAAAAAAADrc/KsqDEEzVAAA/s1600-h/IMG_1773.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SzIMK6WtH9I/AAAAAAAADrc/KsqDEEzVAAA/s400/IMG_1773.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418406683282841554" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Ok...so it might not look like much at first glance but I have it on very good authority that this 'home built' coretto coffee roaster is capable of producing very good coffee indeed</span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">First impressions out of the box are that it is well built using first rate and sturdy materials - and it came well packed too - which is just as well as I managed to catch a glance inside the back of the courier truck and everything was all akimbo!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Still... the driver went out of his way to deliver to me at home as opposed to my cafe (which is now closed for a couple of weeks over the break) - which I amvery grateful for...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So... out of the box..</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Bearing in mind that this unit is a 'pre release' prototype - a work in progress if you will - I'm going to rate it as if it were the real thing - ready to be released to the Australian public, and presumably the world at large!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Now this may seem a tad unfair as I am one of only twenty select few to be putting this machine through its paces prior to commercial release - so I'm going to be a bit harsher than is perhaps necessary considering the machine is in the 'pre-production' and final stages of development</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The product itself is the end result of a lot of hard work on the part of Paul aka "Koffee Kosmo" from the Crema and CoffeeSnobs websites, in collaboration with Bazzari Bezzera as the Australian agent and distributors...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">First off the machine itself as mentioned was well packed albeit with the 'o ring' for the heating element packed upside down for safe storage - but annoyingly no mention of this in the instructions anywhere?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Anyway... it didn't take rocket science to figure out how to pop same off and to position it the right way! Although while we're at it an appropriately sized Allen key in the packaging to do the job wouldn't have gone astray, and one of the screws for fastening same had fallen off and was located in the bottom of the box</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The actual instructions themselves that accompanied the machine are very limited - and I take it that the end user is assumed to already has a firm handle on the home-roasting process - which, thankfully, I do</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So a bit of playing around and a few minutes later the machine is assembled and ready to go - and its a very straight forward assembly! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Except of course to a technophobe like me - who couldn't figure out how to keep the machine running without keeping my finger down on the manual on / off switch on the back of the heating element!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Still, one quick post on the CS website and I'm up and running in minutes - how's that for service!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Turns out you need to lock the handle in place to keep the element and the timer running - sort of a fail-safe safety mechanism!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Can't say I've done much roasting at home recently what with having two kids under five years of age and having recently opened a new cafe - but I do have at least 20kg of green beans on hand just waiting for me to say the word!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And considering that I'm going camping with around 100 mates over the new year's period - and that I traditionally provide both the coffee machine and the home roast coffee that goes with that - I suppose I had better get roasting!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Just waiting for the temperature to drop from the dreaded 38C that it was today (its still 31C at midnight as I write!) - which is NOT ideal conditions for roasting!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Still... time is short and life is sweet and there is no time like the present for giving it a whirl - so maybe I'll whack on the aircon and get cracking!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Watch this space... </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-83312141807139978692009-12-15T17:21:00.000-08:002009-12-15T17:41:21.475-08:00'new' azkoyen bravo compact two group!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/Syg2Xb6DQBI/AAAAAAAADos/sa3Y6K1PKnE/s1600-h/IMG_1649.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/Syg2Xb6DQBI/AAAAAAAADos/sa3Y6K1PKnE/s400/IMG_1649.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415638328169152530" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Well... it was inevitable really - it had to happen - Foxy is just too darned busy especially on the weekends to run with a single machine!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So given the space limitations I've installed a second, compact two group, to manage the flow and to help with takeaway coffees etc, on the weekends, but also for busy service times during the week - it means that floor staff can prep their own teas / chai etc - which is one less thing for the barista to have to concentrate on, leaving the guy (or girl!) behind the machine to focus on what they do best!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Also, given the way that we craft our coffees (i.e. one at a time or 3 max pouring at once from a double ristretto base) - having the additional two groups should enable us to get the coffees out quicker when the pressure is on! In theory as well a second barista could be working this machine which will be a god send on Saturday and Sunday mornings around 10.30am - when the place fills to capacity in around half an hour!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The machine itself is probably around four years old, as it has the new volumetric touchpads and wiring and seams in reasonable condition - save for the fact that it has been garaged for awhile so the water in the tank was in need of a good purge - we've drained the tank around a dz times until the steam from the steam wand smells 'sweet'</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">If necessary we will descale the boiler but I'm hoping it doesn't have to come to that as that means taking the machine off site...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I've certainly used higher-speck'd machines before but the thing I love about the Azkoyen is that they are solidly built and made to last! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I really enjoyed pulling shots on my old Expobar G10 multiple boiler machine - and I loved the automated pre-infusion on the G10 but the machine itself did not seem well equipped to sustain the punishment of the 800 or more coffees that we were pulling per day at my old joint! (Although admittedly the workload was split between several machines)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Still, Joshua Bailey, my roaster and machine tech extraordinare, is a whizz at getting the most out of coffee equipment, and I'm hoping that by the time we whack some oversized Synesso baskets on the Azkoyen, combined with tweaking the boiler capacity - we should end up with pretty decent coffee from this machine!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Watch this space for further updates!</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-61075725925894211832009-12-12T07:20:00.000-08:002009-12-12T07:39:26.328-08:00tables and chairs n other stuff!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">well... after our first decent sized group booking went well during the week - where we maximized the use of the rear courtyard by putting an additional long table out there - we decided to leave the table (which had been previously left inside servicing the communal room at the back of the restaurant) out there permanently! </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">thus creating a vacancy where it had been! So once again it was off to the Salvation Army superstore in Abbotsford for me - where I picked up a collapsable ten seater table which (I was told) retailed in the latest Ikea catalogue for around a grand!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">combine this with ten 'new' (think 1970's original dining room furniture) padded ad wooden chairs - all loaded into the back and on top of my faithful station wagon - and what you have is some seriously increased seating capacity!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">the Murray River red gum picnic table which adorns the back yard is also a recent purchase - and this table comfortable seats around ten people - so that means that we have effectively increased our seating capacity by around 20pax - or around 30 per cent - in the last week!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">this led to a bumper trade today (Saturday) with just about every seat in the house full all morning and over lunch (thank goodness the weather held) - and Alicia and I crafting some wicked coffees on the coffee machine!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">was well pleased today not only with how well but how swiftly the coffees came out today - which in itself is no mean feet as we use a double ristretto as the basis for all our shots and given the setup we can run such shots for 50sec or more - meaning that at present we can only craft three coffees at a time, and that these coffees can take up to three minutes combined just to pour from the machine!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Try telling that to the customer - the don't want to know!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">anyway - we were all over it today like white on rice - which hasn't stopped me from investing in a new two group compact espresso machine - which I hope to have installed by the end of the week</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">this will seriously bring our capacity up and give us added fire power and flexibility especially on the weekends - when we need it most</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">it also frees up the second barista to pull shots and craft their own milk if they need to do so - rather than just waiting on their buddy to do so - exciting times indeed!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Peace Out - Pat x </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-49815216230592235782009-12-04T07:29:00.000-08:002009-12-12T07:41:09.944-08:00evaporative cooling the order of the day!<span style="font-family:verdana;">What can I say? I'm in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">aircon</span> heaven! Actually to be technically correct its <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">evaporative</span> cooling heaven - which is very different from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">aircon</span>. On Tuesday we had a new system installed which is basically a massive vented (brown, of course) box which goes on the roof, and four vents inserted in the ceiling - one for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">barista</span>, two for the chefs (one each!) and one for the customers!<br /><br />Well... that's only partially true as you want to have your vents close together as this aids circulation, and having them near to the heat source means that they soak up the heat and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">expel</span> it out the door!<br /><br />I kid you not! Water is passed over some giant sponges in the box on the roof, then an industrial fan pushes that water cooled air through the building - the way to go is to have a door open at either end of our long space to create a current of air that runs through the building - which effectively gathers the heat generated from the oven, coffee machine, body heat etc, and rushes it out the door - this only work well in the Southern States if Australia - as we mostly have an intense dry heat - and is less effective in areas of high humidity<br /><br />Even so on humid days we just cut the water to create a current of air which is way better <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">than no</span> circulation at all and heat <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">building</span> up<br /><br />But the really good news is that its great for coffee as it produces a moisture rich environment which the beans love - they soak up the moisture in the air instead of drying out - and this is then captured in the cup as dark and rich (but hopefully not over extracted) flavours that retain more of the good oils from the bean!<br /><br />It also means that we can run our shots for longer which <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">leads to longer (say 20sec) pre-infusion before the shot runs, and 50sec to a minute extractions - without blonding or scolding the coffee - are not unusual<br /><br />Its great for producing espresso and espresso based coffee!<br /><br />And just as rewarding is the fact that its no longer 45C plus in the kitchen and behind the coffee machine on those sweltering Melbourne summer (and late spring - thank climate change for that one oh ye of little faith) days!<br /><br /><br />Cool climate conditions is cool staff and cool coffee - gotta be lovin that!<br /><br /><br />ACg</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-84918698071855696572009-11-29T02:24:00.000-08:002009-11-29T02:35:22.857-08:00the week that was...<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">started</span> with a favourable mention in The Age on Tuesday - then things got crazy from there on in! People coming from all over - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Eltham</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Geelong</span>, and ever Wheeler's Hill - I kid you not!<br /><br />Man the place was jumping this weekend - with Saturday being especially busy - what we really needed was an extra pair of hands to polish cutlery etc... The additional cutlery and plates that I bought for the weekend piggy-backing on the positive publicity in the press were accidentally delivered to my old cafe and I'd promised to pick my daughter up early from <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">kindergarten</span> - so there was no way I could go back to work to sort it out - and sure enough we were short of cutlery and plates, cups and saucers etc for much of the day on Saturday, and customer service suffered somewhat as a result<br /><br />Thankfully though the mad rush only lasted for an hour on Sat and we were just really busy for the rest of the weekend!<br /><br />Sunday was almost as good as Sat takings wise but the patronage was spread out over the entire day - so we were always busy and never rushed - which I far prefer to being slammed!<br /><br />Oh well... preparing now for a coffee class that I'm conducting on Tuesday for all front of house staff, as I want to make sure that we are all speaking the same language when it comes to our understanding of how the coffee is crafted, what its individual characteristics are, and how we share this with our customers!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ACg</span><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-75915798963680049612009-11-28T07:46:00.001-08:002009-11-28T08:02:10.828-08:00foxy photos<div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SxFGnP0apQI/AAAAAAAADlQ/umUN1CAn5i4/s1600/Best_brown_with_hand.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SxFGnP0apQI/AAAAAAAADlQ/umUN1CAn5i4/s400/Best_brown_with_hand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409182267523900674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Foxy logos!</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SxFGmz_QQeI/AAAAAAAADlI/rfDJT3ONcCU/s1600/foxy_brown_logofro.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SxFGmz_QQeI/AAAAAAAADlI/rfDJT3ONcCU/s400/foxy_brown_logofro.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409182260053164514" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SxFGmjg0xFI/AAAAAAAADlA/KLmQw8ZEhjU/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SxFGmjg0xFI/AAAAAAAADlA/KLmQw8ZEhjU/s400/IMG_1294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409182255630566482" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SxFGmEf_CBI/AAAAAAAADk4/BwNq2UtY10w/s1600/IMG_1293.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SxFGmEf_CBI/AAAAAAAADk4/BwNq2UtY10w/s400/IMG_1293.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409182247305545746" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SxFGlqF1VcI/AAAAAAAADkw/0_vGTn4WgG4/s1600/IMG_1297.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SxFGlqF1VcI/AAAAAAAADkw/0_vGTn4WgG4/s400/IMG_1297.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409182240216536514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Foxy staff feasting!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Foxy madness! Lis going crazy on the iced coffees and Collette - well... what can I say... she's just crazy!<br /><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-54953330653073800162009-11-28T07:24:00.000-08:002009-11-28T07:46:28.429-08:00foxy brown espresso - the new kid in town!<span style="font-family: verdana;">Well folks sorry I haven't had much to say recently - too busy opening and running my new cafe!<br /><br />We're located at 31 South Crescent, Westgarth (all right... most folks cant find Westgarth on the map so try Northcote instead!), Victoria, 3070<br /><br />We're right on the corner of Mason Street and South Crescent and located in a residential area opposite the train tracks on the Hurstbridge Train line - exactly half way in between Westgarth and Dennis Train Stations - or less than five minutes from the city by train so there's no excuses for not coming!<br /><br />To cut a long story short we've been going gang busters - a few technical hitches and some staff training issues not withstanding!<br /><br />Had a write up in The Age newspaper on Tuesday and business (which was busy to start off with) is up 30 per cent since then - with today (well... its yesterday already) being absolutely packed to the rafters!<br /><br />Between 10.30 and 11.30am this (yesterday already!) morning 60pax (plus takeaways) walked through the door and we were slammed - so apologies to anyone who came and waited 20 minutes for their coffee - but it was the only time that folks waited so long all day!<br /><br />I'll endeavour to get some pics up of the joint, and to draw your attention to the great publicity that we've had already - but I'm not making any promises just yet as to when - as most of the time I'm working my a*** off!<br /><br />My wife says that she is officially a 'cafe widow' meaning that she hardly sees me any more... and the other day I heard one of my kids saying: "Mummy... who is that strange man sleeping in your bed?"<br /><br />I hope for all our sakes that she was talking about me!<br /><br />We went through 7kg of coffee yesterday - which is definitely a record, and we would have done more had we greater seating capacity<br /><br />Speaking of which new banquette seating is on the way, which should dramatically increase the seating capacity, and we have front and rear courtyards to accommodate the 'rug rats' (children in Aussie parlance)<br /><br />Free wireless internet is also up and running, and boy, oh boy - am I looking foprward to the evaporative cooling ducted aircon going in on Tuesday!<br /><br />I've got a fab team of staff - in the kitchen and front of house - I feel truely blessed! ANd for some reason that includes a bunch of kiwis!<br /><br />Not surprising really considering that I am an expat myself - and giving the average New Zealander's (well... I speak for Wellington really, not that other unspeakable city!) coffee credentials!<br /><br />We're running with a custome build BFC Synchro - designed in Melbourne and built in Italy! The machine features masive oversised 600ml heat exchangers in the boiler dedicated to each group head, and 2ml flow restrictors at each heat exchanger - which slows the flow rate to the group head down to a trickle - producing amazing extended extractions: thin 30mls from 50secs with a 20sec pre-infusion and you are in the ballpark!<br /><br />ANyway - the place is jumping, and I'm eating into my nap time (no NOT while I'm working! I tend to doo all my admin b/w one and three in the morning!) - so it's laters from me!<br /><br />Will keep you postered!<br /><br />CHeers, Askthecoffeeguy <br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-71536272467216206022009-09-16T06:41:00.000-07:002009-09-16T06:44:10.926-07:00foxy brown opening date sunday 27th september!its true its true still lots to do but never fear the opening day is near and soon upon us when the cry for quality espresso wont be the last gasp it will abound and resound around <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">westgarth</span>!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-4685487034249917862009-07-31T08:15:00.001-07:002009-07-31T08:23:05.874-07:00Ridiculously long shots...Being pulling ridiculously long shots on my BFC - I mean 50sec double pours into a single cup - its ridiculous!<br /><br />But whether its the oversized heat exchangers, or the flow restrictors, or a combination of both - I dunno!<br /><br />But the coffee seems to hold ist consistency without blonding - and without burning - and that can only be a good thing!<br /><br />We're wielding 20gm baskets for the single handle, and some of the espressos I've been pulling are out of this world!<br /><br />Looking forward top being open proper and blowing people away with the coffee quality. I don't want to blow my own trumpet but I think its fair to say that there aren't too many operators in my neck of the woods at least not within walking distance anyway of the cafe - who have the same coffee obsessive focus - whether this translates to additional sales or repeat patronage is yet to be determined<br /><br />But I'm quietly confident that an espresso based revolution is underway and happening South-side!<br /><br />Stay tuned for further progress!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-25265693768310424092009-07-31T08:00:00.000-07:002009-07-31T08:12:57.590-07:00coffee consequencesWell... we get there eventually! cafe's still not open but we're making some werious progree now - floor is done and heavy duty equipment is on the way including three door under-bar fridge, purpose built coolroom, and new six burner gas oven!<br /><br />I'm also replacing my display fridge for one which is more functional: same specs but better shape and design to let more light into the space<br /><br />We pulled apart the coffee machine today to have a good look at the steam production - as I have not been that impressed with how its been functioning<br /><br />Noticed a longer than usual copper pipe feeding from the back and lower than expected of the boiler so we dropped water volume and boiler pressure to compensate<br /><br />Also installed a nifty lever switch for steam production both for ease of use and to restrict flow - which seemed to do the trick nicely<br /><br />Combine this with some dead sexy bell-bottomed milk jugs from Bombara Water Supplies and we're cooking with gas!<br /><br />Now I believe that we have all the coffee elements working in harmony: great coffee blend and some amazing single origin coffees combined with a lot more versatility in the milk production = one happy camper!<br /><br />Had about a dozen folks wander in off the street today asking for coffee which had me chuffed! I obliged of course to a chorus of ohhs and ahhs - you gotta be happy about that!<br /><br />Gunna get the cash register installed pronto so we can start charging these folks for coffee I mean I don't mind giving it away but you gotta draw the line somewhere<br /><br />Really happy with the coffee production overall - we've pulled well iin exccess of 500 shots through the machine prior to opening, which makes me feel a lot more confident about the product that we serve<br /><br />Now t nail the milk and to shore up supply of the biodynamic product that we will be using, and I'll be a happy camper<br /><br />Opening date T-minus three weeks and counting...<br /><br />Laters, PAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-57576308780020665492009-06-02T04:53:00.001-07:002009-06-02T05:23:57.448-07:00some photos of my new coffee set up in my new cafe!<a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SiUTxrS0oFI/AAAAAAAABSA/bINHvaJgB7g/s1600-h/P02-06-09_18.10%5B01%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SiUTxrS0oFI/AAAAAAAABSA/bINHvaJgB7g/s400/P02-06-09_18.10%5B01%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342698277101150290" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SiUTxbGHn8I/AAAAAAAABR4/LGGfPRs9BGw/s1600-h/P02-06-09_18.08%5B01%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SiUTxbGHn8I/AAAAAAAABR4/LGGfPRs9BGw/s400/P02-06-09_18.08%5B01%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342698272752902082" border="0" /></a>some cell phone shots of my new cafe: Foxy Brown Espresso taken today with my new cabinets in place and my whizz bang bfc synchro coffee machine which was installed yesterday!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439141089130901413.post-86042564517718550242009-05-30T06:58:00.001-07:002009-05-30T07:29:54.276-07:00some cool images of the cafe!<a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SiE_cg_sdyI/AAAAAAAABOU/BbUyNcAUbRM/s1600-h/P23-05-09_14.25.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SiE_cg_sdyI/AAAAAAAABOU/BbUyNcAUbRM/s400/P23-05-09_14.25.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341620392164095778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Following photos are of:</span> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">new coffee counters in Foxy, followed by the original and still working neon ice cream sign above the store, recent shot of my old cafe - Shanti Bhagwan, and me... looking like a dork!</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SiE-_QPs2cI/AAAAAAAABOE/QA3CCrovoVk/s1600-h/P19-05-09_18.16%5B01%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SiE-_QPs2cI/AAAAAAAABOE/QA3CCrovoVk/s400/P19-05-09_18.16%5B01%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341619889451620802" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SiE-x2olGoI/AAAAAAAABN8/HqEcJOuvLS0/s1600-h/P05-05-09_13.52.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SiE-x2olGoI/AAAAAAAABN8/HqEcJOuvLS0/s400/P05-05-09_13.52.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341619659238349442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SiE9vdwHDDI/AAAAAAAABN0/o7gMN58l2Ks/s1600-h/P21-05-09_17.11%5B02%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yhOZBRshJs/SiE9vdwHDDI/AAAAAAAABN0/o7gMN58l2Ks/s400/P21-05-09_17.11%5B02%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341618518687681586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839681077692414960noreply@blogger.com0