No not the Mecca you are thinking - the coffee shop 'Mecca' that Guthers, Andy and SamR recommended, they told me they do the best coffee in the city.Two weeks ago I made my first pilgrimage to the coffee shop 'Mecca' and had my first 'best coffee in Sydney' coffee. Now here I sit with what is still my favourite Hazelnut Latte from Starbucks!! Is it because I have no appreciation for good coffee? Do I need someone to sit and explain to me what I am looking in for in a good coffee? Maybe I got a dud? Maybe I need to keep trying?
Who knows - what can I do coffee lovers? Do I just give in to the fact that Starbucks is my fav and always will be - sorry Sam, Guthers and Andy! Do I have coffee appreciation lessons?
Am I just a lost 'coffee' soul who will never truly understand the truth behind good coffee?????
25 comments:
I wouldn't worry. I still love the Library Lawn Coffee Cart at UNSW, even though "real" coffee drinkers say it's too milky and weak. If you like your Starbucks, then that's great. Stick with what you like and don't let anyone look down on you for it! Unless what you really like is instant coffee, and then I can't be friends with you anymore...
:-)
It's been a while since I was at UNSW Lara - but the Library lawn was always the best cart.
Nixter - it may actually require some lessons. I only started to appreciate good coffee when someone worked through with me what to look for.
Perhaps you and SP should come round one saturday?
I'm not a big fan of starbucks - but at least you actually drink coffee - that's a big step up from from where I started. My starting point was not even drinking coffee at all...
LOL Lara - don't worry I have the decency to stay away from Instant, I haven't stooped that low in coffee land - we can still be friends ;)
hey nixter...
i reckon keep your expectations low... that means you'll never be disappointed!
i catch up with different people at different coffee places all the time. it's often at erina fair - there isn't much in the way of great coffee (at least as our 3 amigos would define 'great') at ef. so... it means i can drink whatever - and it doesn't bother me!!
i enjoy good coffee... but as long as it's not nescafe blend 41 (or whatever it is) - i'm pretty easy to please!
so keep those expectations low and starucks will be okay.
Sam - SP and I would love to take you up on that offer. SP does pretty well with our little expresso machine but we would love to come and sample your coffee and learn from the master ;)
and what about StarBucks David?
Good advice - keep my expectations LOW!!!
Hey Nixter,
You don’t necessarily need to be ‘educated’… If you are happy drinking GJ’s or Starbucks or whatever, by all means. I used to drink GJ’s when I was tutoring cos it was nearby. I was content with it.
However, I think that given long enough, you will come to realise that these places just don’t cut the mustard in comparison to places like Mecca, Campos, Toby’s Estate, Single Origin, etc… In much the same way McDonald’s isn’t fine dining!
I’m sure you’re not a lost cause! I’d take Sambo up on his offer though (just as I did some years ago). He is wise in the ways of espresso…
I really can relate to this post, Nixter. I really like coffee...but I'm so old fashioned that I usually drink plain ol' regular coffee. A little cream in it and I'm good to go. I get so confused and overwhelmed by all the choices at the coffee places. Hazelnut, amaretto, french blend, latte,...yada yada yada! Once I went to a place and ordered something I thought sounded good. Some sort of vanilla coffee. I was quite surprised when they handed me a large clear plastic cup filled with an iced coffee of some sort...complete with a pile of whipped cream on top. Of course I took it and paid for it and pretended that that was what I had wanted all along (I was with a bunch of people I barely knew throught a work related thing who all knew exactly what they were doing).
Whatever!
LOL Priscilla that is a very cute story!! I will let you know any of the top tips I learn from SamR ;) I went to this really lovely coffee place with my cousin in Colorado and they had heaps of great flavoured beans to buy - not sure what it was called but I used to love going and buying the coffee - so scrummy!
Keep up the coffee-loving/ appreciation fight :)
GP
Thanks Haydn ;)
Thanks for giving me the credit too Nixter, but I've never even heard of "Mecca". I think I had recommended another one to you.
So where's Mecca - if Guthers likes it, sounds like I'll have to try it out!!
As for UNSW Library Lawn, it's over 10 years ago since I was there and I can't say my coffee pallatte was as developed as it is now. In fact, I'm ashamed to say I used to drink even instant coffee (so called) at uni. I've come a long way since then!
And I stand by my previous comments re Starbucks!
Dave, as one of the three amigos, I have to say I find it very surprising there wouldn't be some decent coffee at a shopping centre as big as Erina Fair. Seek and ye shall find ...
LOL To the 3 amigos - that made me giggle Dave ;)
OK found Mecca via google and happened to be near the Bible Society bookshop where I was headed over lunch.
Coffee not bad. Coincidentally, one of the guys serving (though not behind the coffee machine) was, until two weeks ago, a barrista at my usual haunt on Martin Place. I knew him quite well. He had told me the new place where he was going, but I'd forgotten. The coffee world is a small world indeed ...
hey andym - I was at mecca today too! we may have crossed paths without even realising! I didn't see anyone holding up 5 fingers in front of their face....
Will you go back? or were you not suitably impressed?
and what was the other place you recommended Andy in Martin Place?
Okay Nixter, as Sam's wife and a Glorian Jeans to Campos convert to Campos due to my then-boyfriend's persistence, I have a few things to share:
1. If you improve your taste in coffee, you may never be able to enjoy starbucks again, because there is no going back. So if you really like the lattes at SB, be warned that this may change!!
2. Sometimes the place is great, but they make a really bad coffee when you're there, so it's good to go a few times before you decide whether you can taste the difference.
3. I would take Sam up on the offer because not only does he makes great coffee, but he also makes it the way you like it. Like I hate the creamy stuff on capaccinos, so he always makes my coffees super super flat white! Plus we have chocolate sprinkles, and if you come, we'll even spring for some hazelnut syrup. Promise:)
4. Even the finest diners enjoy a Krispy Kreme now and then - there's this totally dodgy coffee place near my work, but sometimes I like to order a skim milk mocca from them - I like the really sweet taste!
Hi Guthers.
Yeah, it was OK. I'd have to try a few I think to get a feel, including trying different types.
I won't be going there regularly though - it's over 10 minutes away from my office.
Nixter - to answer your question, my usual haunt is Chrysler on Martin Place. They also have a cafe in Pitt St Mall in the Sydney Arcade (the one that curves between Pitt St and King St) and a few other spots round town. Actually, two of the guys at Mecca today were ex-Chrysler barristas!
P.S. The Martin Place one is at the bottom of the Westpac Building, right up the top of Martin Place, opposite Reserve Bank and between Macquarie and Phillip Streets.
I will have to check it out and let you know how I go Andy. I know I was meant to ages ago - let's see if I can get there in the next few weeks.
Can you walk around with your hand up to your face just in case I bump into you - just so I know who you are. I will do the same ;)
Wow! They have Krispy Kremes in Australia? Who knew?
Yeah I love em BUT I heard they have nearly as many calories as 3 big macs - not sure if this is true but it won't stop me eating KK.
I'll get you a list from my brother he was just in Sydney for a week touring around and drinking coffee... that's the only reason he was there. I'll let you know.
Thanks Mike - that would be cool!
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