The best coffee shops in Canberra

Holden Caulfield said :

But I can observe and comment on coffee culture, which, it has to be said, like wine culture, or cycling culture, is often full of people who take the subject much too seriously.

I think the focus and attention that “a good coffee” receives is mildly amusing at best and a complete embarrassment at worst.

The fact that the coffee shops using stale old Vittoria beans and the like still have lots of customers shows that there is plenty of breadth in the market for all levels of taste.

Each to their own of course but many people are interested in finding a better product at an acceptable price which is what this discussion is about. I walk past half a dozen coffee shops every day to find a better product because I’d rather drink water than a mediocre cup of coffee.

Ezy said :

Fair enough, I understand and respect your point of view. But to be embarrassed about having a passion and an interest no matter what the subject is? I totally disagree with that comment. If you can’t get excited about things in your life, then why bother getting up in the morning. You could be into building model planes for all I know, that could be your thing? I’m not going to look down on you for that. There are always different levels of ways people consume things. You can walk in with your blinders on and just see coffee as a ‘coffee’ and thats it.

Fair enough in return. And thanks for your honest reply.

It’s the depth to which coffee culture has entered the mainstream that is the interesting thing for me. People often look at me odd when I say I don’t really like coffee as if there is something wrong with me. Talk about having blinders on, haha.

You’re right, it’s good to have passions, especially if they are a bit left of centre. It helps the world go around.

However, in my experience, some coffee snobs (for want of a better term), not all, remind me of the gag:

Q: How do you know if someone is vegan?
A: Don’t worry, they’ll tell you.

It’s good to have passions, we agree, it’s also good to know when to curb your enthusiasm.

Ezy said :

I am a little different when it comes to this subject – I see it as much more in coffee than just the drink itself. It is an experience, an opportunity to learn and interact. The things I have learnt and the conversations I have had whilst waiting in line for a coffee – my eyes and ears are always open, it is fully immersive. The people I have met and relationships I have built with some of the owners of local and interstate cafés are valuable, all of this before getting the coffee itself. The cafe has really become a social hub and bit like the modern day roman forum – important meetings take place, deals are made, relationships start and end. The first thing I do when I get to an unfamiliar town is head to the best local cafe and have a chat to the guys behind the machine, they are a great source of information on your surroundings.

That’s not a bad way to look beyond the drink itself. And I’m all for the social aspect of “meeting for a coffee”, it’s just rare that I’ll actually have one.

Ezy said :

bryansworld said :

On a related issue, there are a lot of take away coffees drunk on this planet. I understand that the vast majority of takeaway paper cups have a plastic lining, which means they cannot be recycled at our current recycling facilities in Australia. Where in Canberra uses cups that are recyclable here?

Get yourself one of these: http://www.keepcup.com.au

Got one, and use it when I can. Spread the word! But, still amazed at the number of non-recyclable cups that we as a collective must churn through. Particularly saddened by the cafes that have decided that completely disposable is the way to go. I try to avoid these ones. Must be financially better for a business to not have to wash up?

bryansworld said :

On a related issue, there are a lot of take away coffees drunk on this planet. I understand that the vast majority of takeaway paper cups have a plastic lining, which means they cannot be recycled at our current recycling facilities in Australia. Where in Canberra uses cups that are recyclable here?

Get yourself one of these: http://www.keepcup.com.au

Holden Caulfield said :

madelini said :

Holden Caulfield said :

I’m not surprised that LSR is attracting haters. Surely, coffee culture dictates that if a cafe is popular then it cannot possibly make good coffee.

Would you like to comment on the quality, given that you said yourself that you are not much of a coffee drinker?

Of course I can’t comment on the quality of LSR. I’ve never bought a coffee from them.

But I can observe and comment on coffee culture, which, it has to be said, like wine culture, or cycling culture, is often full of people who take the subject much too seriously.

I think the focus and attention that “a good coffee” receives is mildly amusing at best and a complete embarrassment at worst.

You

Holden Caulfield said :

madelini said :

Holden Caulfield said :

I’m not surprised that LSR is attracting haters. Surely, coffee culture dictates that if a cafe is popular then it cannot possibly make good coffee.

Would you like to comment on the quality, given that you said yourself that you are not much of a coffee drinker?

Of course I can’t comment on the quality of LSR. I’ve never bought a coffee from them.

But I can observe and comment on coffee culture, which, it has to be said, like wine culture, or cycling culture, is often full of people who take the subject much too seriously.

I think the focus and attention that “a good coffee” receives is mildly amusing at best and a complete embarrassment at worst.

Fair enough, I understand and respect your point of view. But to be embarrassed about having a passion and an interest no matter what the subject is? I totally disagree with that comment. If you can’t get excited about things in your life, then why bother getting up in the morning. You could be into building model planes for all I know, that could be your thing? I’m not going to look down on you for that. There are always different levels of ways people consume things. You can walk in with your blinders on and just see coffee as a ‘coffee’ and thats it.

I am a little different when it comes to this subject – I see it as much more in coffee than just the drink itself. It is an experience, an opportunity to learn and interact. The things I have learnt and the conversations I have had whilst waiting in line for a coffee – my eyes and ears are always open, it is fully immersive. The people I have met and relationships I have built with some of the owners of local and interstate cafés are valuable, all of this before getting the coffee itself. The cafe has really become a social hub and bit like the modern day roman forum – important meetings take place, deals are made, relationships start and end. The first thing I do when I get to an unfamiliar town is head to the best local cafe and have a chat to the guys behind the machine, they are a great source of information on your surroundings.

Now onto the drink itself, as mentioned before – I see it as an opportunity to learn and to really understand all facets of the coffee. Talking to a knowledgable barista is an experience, to share the same passion and sponge up all of their knowledge is what gets me excited. I have received tips on how to roast at home, making cold brew, cocktails, cooking etc. For me, there is so much more to coffee than the coffee itself.

Ezy said :

astrojax said :

this is like asking ‘which car is best?’

…. some even have sugar…

Easy. The split window kombi is the best.

That’s not even a car.

On a related issue, there are a lot of take away coffees drunk on this planet. I understand that the vast majority of takeaway paper cups have a plastic lining, which means they cannot be recycled at our current recycling facilities in Australia. Where in Canberra uses cups that are recyclable here?

madelini said :

Holden Caulfield said :

I’m not surprised that LSR is attracting haters. Surely, coffee culture dictates that if a cafe is popular then it cannot possibly make good coffee.

Would you like to comment on the quality, given that you said yourself that you are not much of a coffee drinker?

Of course I can’t comment on the quality of LSR. I’ve never bought a coffee from them.

But I can observe and comment on coffee culture, which, it has to be said, like wine culture, or cycling culture, is often full of people who take the subject much too seriously.

I think the focus and attention that “a good coffee” receives is mildly amusing at best and a complete embarrassment at worst.

Argonaut said :

Canberra’s coffee scene improved out of sight in the two years between 2011 and 2013, though sadly ANU still serves second-rate coffee that means I have to go off-campus for my fix.

Long time that was the case, but Vanilla Bean serves up a good brew, and Coffee Grounds in the Sport and Rec who use Ona are fantastic.

LSR jumped the shark, expanded too much and the quality didn’t keep up (except Remedy at Belco). Staff turnover seems high now too.

Cuuping Room, 38, Espresso Room, A Baker, Coffee Grounds, Remedy by LSR at Belco (not the Kingston one which is terrible)

So many good coffee places in Canberra! And I love a good coffee!

The ones I go back to again and again:

Common Grounds in Gowrie. Nice coffee, nice folks and even nice food. It’s a nice quiet location too.
Lava in Weston. Very serious boys but nice coffee.
Mizzuna express at UC. Luke makes it just the way I like it!

If I’m not near any of these, Two Before Ten is good, 39 steps at O’Connor, and Espresso Room at Tuggers is probably the best of the bunch down there.

I agree about Lonsdale Street Roasters. They’ve gone downhill of late. I waited almost 20 minutes for. take away coffee one Sunday morning; what was I thinking?! Wasn’t even that good. ..

Nic and the guys at Tupelo do a consistently good cup of coffee. They’ve only been in the city for a few months, but they’d have to be one of the best.

Common Grounds at Gowrie, Stand By Me at Lyons, Group Seven and Kindle Café in the City are also excellent.

Holden Caulfield said :

I’m not surprised that LSR is attracting haters. Surely, coffee culture dictates that if a cafe is popular then it cannot possibly make good coffee.

LSR did do a mighty fine coffee in its day. I still buy their Johnny Cash beans as a milk blend that is up there with the best for home pouring. But these days it pours under or over resulting in yuck! I used to do brunch there regularly but I gave up a couple of months ago when it became stoge central. They still do a mean BBQ…

Canberra’s coffee scene improved out of sight in the two years between 2011 and 2013, though sadly ANU still serves second-rate coffee that means I have to go off-campus for my fix.

As a soy drinker (I’m allergic to dairy, not a pretentious twat!) there is a tendency among those unfamiliar with this medium to overheat the milk, leaving a bitter aftertaste, so my money for the best soy flat white is on The Cupping Room, or Moccan & Green Grout.

Holden Caulfield said :

I’m not surprised that LSR is attracting haters. Surely, coffee culture dictates that if a cafe is popular then it cannot possibly make good coffee.

Would you like to comment on the quality, given that you said yourself that you are not much of a coffee drinker?

I’m not surprised that LSR is attracting haters. Surely, coffee culture dictates that if a cafe is popular then it cannot possibly make good coffee.

astrojax said :

sfoglia [dickson] generally make my coffee how i like it, as does il covo [civic] when i’m nearby for work.

My Boss used to make me get their coffee from Il Covo every single day. Next to no customers and I’d still wait 15 minutes for a latte. Fail in my book.

I could honestly walk up the street to Mingle order and wait for my coffee (while they were serving 50 other customers) get back to Il Covo and the bosses coffee still wouldn’t be ready.

My number one pick would be Mingle (near Anytime Fitness) in the city or it’s sister cafe in Belconnen, (near the Labor Club) – Chatterbox.

mmillercfp said :

Ezy said :

bryansworld said :

What’s that place on the ground floor under Defence Force Recruituing in Civic? Not on the corner, but next door. They make nice coffee, and you get sparkling water with your short black!

Sounds like Tonic. I have only had one coffee from here – and yup, it was good!

Actually I’m pretty sure bryansworld is referring to Superfine Cafe which is next to Tonic. Well worth the extra 10 metres’ walk around the corner 🙂

Well there you go, thats a new one for me to try if I am in the area – looks like they use Toby Estate coffee, who I have a love/hate relationship with.

I was in Brooklyn searching for some noodles to warm me up, in the distance I saw a Toby Estate sign which, after 3 months in the country, was a welcome sign that reminded me of back home. I went in there and was welcomed with an Australian accent. I quickly looked over their menu – VEGEMITE ON TOAST!! Yes please! Two serves thanks! “Sorry, our kitchen closes in 5 minutes – we can’t make you the toast”.

Oh I hated you so much that day, Toby Estate – but I quietly enjoyed sipping on my flat white whilst giving the staff the evil eye in the hope they would surprise me with some lovely vegemite on toast.

Ezy said :

bryansworld said :

What’s that place on the ground floor under Defence Force Recruituing in Civic? Not on the corner, but next door. They make nice coffee, and you get sparkling water with your short black!

Sounds like Tonic. I have only had one coffee from here – and yup, it was good!

Actually I’m pretty sure bryansworld is referring to Superfine Cafe which is next to Tonic. Well worth the extra 10 metres’ walk around the corner 🙂

astrojax said :

sfoglia [dickson] generally make my coffee how i like it, as does il covo [civic] when i’m nearby for work.

but as has been noted, this is like asking ‘which car is best?’ – impossible – as it comes down to preference across several barely-related styles. i mean, apparently some folk like milk in their coffee. really. some even have sugar…

What? A coffee with lots of milk and sugar is a just a hot coffee-flavoured milkshake! 🙂

astrojax said :

this is like asking ‘which car is best?’

…. some even have sugar…

Easy. The split window kombi is the best.

Sugar? Syrups? oh hell no.

sfoglia [dickson] generally make my coffee how i like it, as does il covo [civic] when i’m nearby for work.

but as has been noted, this is like asking ‘which car is best?’ – impossible – as it comes down to preference across several barely-related styles. i mean, apparently some folk like milk in their coffee. really. some even have sugar…

“Best coffee” is a bit random. For most people, it’s based on the best milk-based coffee – capp, latte or flat white, and that’s quite a different metric to that of the coffee nerd’s – the short black. The short black has nothing to hide the quality of the bean and skill of the operator (except for sugar if you’re actually Italian). Also, the bean/blend/roast that makes for a good milk-based coffee is quite different to that which will make a good straight espresso.

I can remember the best espressos I’ve had in Canberra, as there’s been so few – one standout was at Silo using Cosmorex, and Robert at Silver Hills Nursery in Pialligo using Wagonga beans was consistently excellent, but unfortunately he’s moved on.

One quick guide to whether the barista has a clue when pulling an espresso: check if cup is hot – a preheated cup for a short black is an absolute fundamental.

And here I was thinking I was the only one to loath LSR!

In Fyshwick go for box diner, peligrinos, or Ona
In braddon it’s hard to go past autolyse
Red brick in Curtin is not bad
Espresso rooms are usually good for shopping centre coffee
Act coffee supplies in Mitchell
Eq cafe at Equinox in Deakin is consistently good, as is double shot

Common Grounds Gowrie! Best coffee ever! Smooth and silky, never burned… love those guys, I’m driving there from Kambah!! Simply amazing – every single day! ????

Common Grounds Gowrie! Best coffee ever! Smooth and silky, never burned… love those guys, I’m driving there from Kambah!! Simply amazing – every single day! ????

Highgate Lane Coffee Roasters (& Bittersweet) in Kingston

Red Brick in Curtin

Stand By Me in Lyons

bryansworld said :

What’s that place on the ground floor under Defence Force Recruituing in Civic? Not on the corner, but next door. They make nice coffee, and you get sparkling water with your short black!

Sounds like Tonic. I have only had one coffee from here – and yup, it was good!

What’s that place on the ground floor under Defence Force Recruituing in Civic? Not on the corner, but next door. They make nice coffee, and you get sparkling water with your short black!

Two Before Ten on Fridays. With Espresso Room at Woden doing a fine job most week days.

Glad to see I am not the only one who loathes LSR’s coffee.

Looking forward to Bario opening soon as Sam got me into real coffee 🙂

Well i guess anywhere as long as its not that franchise joint with the 2 names. Their coffee is just plain crook.
If I’m told to be there to meet someone, I always hit the car glovebox for a stash of coffee I’ve liberated from the last motel I was at, and shake it in to hopefully make it a bit better.

Two before Ten have also opened up very close to their original stomping grounds. A couple of doors down from the Spar supermarket on Marcus Clarke Street. TBT also get a vote,

I couldn’t mention the third TBT venue as I haven’t had a coffee from there yet and the baristas make all the difference. On an another note, TBT at the Aranda shops were giving Canberra’s best egg and bacon roll a great nudge until they changed to using bioche buns…just not right! 😉

Redbrick Espresso Curtin. Hands down.

CrazyWhippetSheila said :

Two Before Ten (both the shop at Aranda and coffee cart in Lonsdale St) and Ona at Fyshwick pour consistently good flat whites. All three have friendly service and welcome dogs at their outside tables.

Two before Ten have also opened up very close to their original stomping grounds. A couple of doors down from the Spar supermarket on Marcus Clarke Street. TBT also get a vote, one of the first to offer a nice glass of sparkling water along with a short black, it’s the little things 😉

Two Before Ten (both the shop at Aranda and coffee cart in Lonsdale St) and Ona at Fyshwick pour consistently good flat whites. All three have friendly service and welcome dogs at their outside tables.

With all due respect – it’s impossible! It cannae be done! It would be hard enough (and unfair) limiting it to just two cafes in Braddon, nevermind the whole of Canberra!

I don’t mind saying I’m a massive, raging coffee snob – and the service is very nearly as important as the coffee itself. I’ll opt for the 3rd or 4th best tasting coffee as long as they’re fast, friendly and take some pride in what they’re doing. Then there’s price, whether or not they have a loyalty card system, what kind of food is available to eat with your coffee. So! Many! Factors!

And that’s the other thing – it is such a saturated market that everything thinks they’re an expert on “good” and “bad” coffee. Highly subjective… My favourite is the interstate visitor who claims “Can’t get a good coffee in this town!”. So you’ve tried all 60 or 70 places just in Civic then!??

Having said all that – my list of places to avoid would be a lot longer than my list of recommendations – and I admit there are dozens of places in Civic that I’ve never tried and probably never will. Here goes just for what I know of Civic only:

Especially avoid: Raw Sugar, Xpresso Bar and Lonsdale St Roasters (aka The Soup Nazis of coffee).

Avoid: Coffee Guru and pretty much anywhere else inside the Canberra Centre, except Farmer’s Daughter.

Try: Tonic, Bean in the City, Kindle and the new nameless place at Manhattan Apartments (terrible service but they are only new)

The Hideout in Barton – consistently great coffee and great service. Come during the morning public service rush to see how brilliantly they deal with the crowds and still deliver the goods.

Other favourites are BitterSweet in Kingston, Ona in Manuka and Red Brick Espresso in Curtin. The first and third also feature in our Best Dog Friendly Café blog at http://www.canberradogwalks.com.au/canberra-dog-friendly-cafes/

We agree with the previous comment about Lonsdale Roasters. Produced some good coffee when it first opened in Braddon a while back. Since then the quality and consistency is unreliable.

Ezy said :

I love the fact that we are spoilt for choice in this field. Coffee is rad.

+1

This is my kind of taste test!

Okay – you will probably need to split this up into coffee with milk, and filter coffee.

For filter, you can’t go past Tupelo at this stage – The attention to detail that goes into the goodness that ends up in your cup is something that Canberra hasn’t seen before. If you have some time (and Tupelo isn’t too busy) ask Nic to show you the machine and give you a brief run down as to how it works and all of the variables. It will blow your mind.

I am really looking forward to when Sam (ex Two Before Ten roaster) opens up Bario in Braddon, his space will hold a unique space in the Canberra coffee scene.

White coffee is a little bit harder to judge as a bad shot can be disguised through the addition of the milk – especially if you are getting a large coffee. I can say that I have had brilliant flat whites at Red Brick Espresso, Lava in Weston Creek and Stand By Me in Lyons. At this stage I would have to go with Red Brick Espresso – I enjoy the fact that they roast their own coffee and offer seasonal blends.

Most over rated coffee in Canberra – Lonsdale Street Roasters. Sorry, but I have never had a decent cup there and the attitude you get from the staff is as bitter as what is found in the cup.

But as you have mentioned, you can’t ignore that Canberra is the home of Sasa of Ona Coffee, who took out the World Barista Championship. In order to judge this though, you would have to see if the beans he used to win the title is still available… I highly doubt it.

I love the fact that we are spoilt for choice in this field. Coffee is rad.

I’m not much of a coffee drinker, which thankfully removes me from the pain of complaining that nobody can make a decent coffee. Ever. Except some little shoebox man in a back alley that nobody has ever heard of.

That said, for this test surely you have to try the work of the Ona Coffee guy that just won barista of the universe a few weeks back?

It’s difficult to narrow my list of favourites to a single coffee shop, but I think Bittersweet at Kingston shops has my vote for this week’s Best of Canberra call out.

Other coffee shops I think are worth visiting are 38 Espresso on the Foreshore, Tupelo in the city and Box Diner in Fyshwick. I also second Zan’s comment about great service at Celestino’s. They always remember my order even when it’s been months since my last visit.

Celestino Fyshwick. Great Italian style coffee full bodied. Great service.

Oops I missed McCafe. I so disagree. I think it is dirty tasting coffee that tastes like it’s come out of a percolator. Not acceptable to me for an espresso style.

I have heard about Tonic too. It has a very good rep for good coffee but haven’t tried it myself. Perhaps next week…

And Cafe Injoy in Gold Creek International (at the Hall end of O’Hanlon Place) has won best cafe somewhere along the lines and I honestly don’t know how. The service is poor, you have to line up for ages to order and the coffee was one of the worst coffee’s I have ever had in my life. I took once sip and pushed it to the furthest corner of my table that I could and didn’t touch it again. I honestly couldn’t be bothered asking for a replacement. I didn’t think it would be much better. The service is so bad that they didn’t even notice it sat there undrunk as far away from me as it could possibly be.

And on a non coffee note, if you’re sick of poor coffee and want to try tea Adore Tea are awesome. Over 300 teas, live jazz every sunday. Also in Gold Creek International.

Having worked in many cafes I think I am now officially a coffee snob. It can’t stand it even remotely burnt or bitter. Being a decaf drinker for medical reasons this predicament becomes worse as you need to handle decaf slightly different and it’s often not as fresh as the beans don’t get as good a turnover.

I’ve only been in Canberra for 12 months having come from the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney and really miss the coffee culture. But we have a great machine at home now so don’t have coffee out very much at all.

However, I have tried and boycotted some places such as GJs-the coffee there, I’m really sorry if you think it’s drinkable, but it’s just so average. Consistently burnt and bitter no matter which store you get it from.

If you want a mild roast and like it weak, as much I hate to admit it, Coffee Club do a good latte.

Michels do seem to be reasonable, which I must admit I am quite surprised by since their cakes are consistently dry.

In Belconnen Markets Knead Patisserie is pretty good, and have beautiful food.

Cook & Grocer in Gungahlin do a good coffee too. It’s on the strong side, and being an organic store, they use a particular brand of organic milk that does have a different flavour than the standard flavour. If you can get used to the change in the milk the coffee is quite good.

Coffee Guru in Gungahlin seem to be ok. There’s one guy there that appears to own/manage it and lords over the machine, not letting anyone else touch it. The coffee is very strong, and they are constantly busy. Don’t be fooled thinking it’s table service though. The plastic bench seats aren’t good though.

I can’t remember where else I’ve had coffee except for the French? place in the Canberra Centre outside David Jones and that was ok.

But there’s a little tiny hole in the wall cafe in Civic. It’s attached to the Canberra Centre building outside David Jones, accessible from City Walk. The decaf there is GOOD. Every time I go to Civic now I want to go there for a coffee just because it’s good, well it is from the one guy I’ve only ever been served by anyway.

As for differences between stores, coffee beans are very affected by their environment, so different handling between different stores can have a surprisingly large affect. As can different grind, different calibration of the machine, different packing of the basket. A big no no is leaving the basket in the machine after pouring a coffee-the beans in the basket can burn, sending the bitterness back into the lines. Another issue is not cleaning the machine properly.

Incidentally, I also agree that Koko Black’s hot chocolates are average. And don’t even bother with their iced chocolates. I had one yesterday and it reminded me of something I can buy off the Supermarket shelf. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s not what I was expecting and certainly not worth the exorbitant price.

try a bit of salt in your coffee. cancels out the alkaline levels

You’d like this video.

Skidbladnir, sorry you had that experience at the Chocolate Olive. A friend of mine had paintings hung there so no they are not all the owners!

If you want beans – get teh caffe Grande Gusto beans from Wagonga Coffee, local producers from the Wamboin area. Can be found at EPIC farmers markets producers shed every saturday between 0800 and 1100. No I do no twork for them, I like you, just like quality coffee.

el said :

Where’s the Chocolate Olive, Peterh? I need some beans.

The Chocolate Olive is in Colbee Court West (not the side with Pepe’s Art Store, the Medical Centre and House of Heroes, the other one).

Reasonable coffee, south-facing frontage, cranky owner, only hangs her own art on the walls, and refuses to let other people hang theirs. Rarely sells anything.

Next to the New Works Gallery owned by a Ms Victoria Phillips, she lets other people hang work on the walls, so long as it passes quality inspection. Sells enough art to keep the place running.

So drop in, buy a coffee, badmouth her art, and then tell her you’re going next door.

el said :

Where’s the Chocolate Olive, Peterh? I need some beans.

The chocolate olive is in colbee court, on the other side near the fitness shop.
they have bags of beans, but I haven’t bought from there.

Where’s the Chocolate Olive, Peterh? I need some beans.

To those of you who are going to H+G’s in phillip – try the Chocolate Olive instead – great coffee, friendly staff and a very comfortable venue. They use the sacred grounds coffee – far superior to H+G’s offering. Jindebah Hills (not the name but cannot remember the real name) in mitchell is the best around for coffee – I go there at least once a month to entertain clients, and use Remi’s in town as well.

Oh, and as I work in phillip, the chocolate olive don’t roast at their premises, so I don’t get the big white cloud of foul smoke descending on me.

If you must have your coffee at H+G’s, try a bit of salt in your coffee. cancels out the alkaline levels and it tastes pretty good after that.

I’ve started a website http://www.canberracafe.com/forum for this discussion – feel free to add reviews and provide feedback and suggestions

There are three reasons why I would never buy coffee or anything else at Gloria Jeans.

1. It is, without exception, the vilest tasting swill it has ever been my misfortune to sample. When they first opened at Belconnen I ordered a macchiato and found it burnt and bitter and frankly not fit for sale. I was so sure it was a mistake that I tried another a few weeks later and found it identical. Woden is slightly better, but still really unacceptable.

2. I had already sworn off this franchise when I found out about their partnership with, and promotion and funding of the so-called “Mercy Ministries”, a truly evil fundamentalist “Christian” organisation (the inverted commas are to indicate that I would not judge most people who identify as Christians with these values). Now I won’t even shop in stores that have a Gloria Jeans in them (sorry Borders – though not that sorry – I’d rather shop in bookstores with staff that read, anyway).

See, for example, the following:
http://richarddawkins.net/articleComments,2369,They-prayed-to-cast-Satan-from-my-body,SMH,page2#146216
and
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/16/2218825.htm

… there are a bunch of links on Google, including to a MM “Survivors” site. There was also an investigative piece in Crikey a few months ago but it’s subscribers only.

3. Their store upstairs in Woden has written on the wall “I measure my life in coffee spoons”. The gross ignorance of (a) the misquote and (b) the complete lack of understanding of the reference just makes me want to spit every time I walk past that place. They’ve referenced one of the saddest, most pathetic lines in literature, about the sheer waste and drudgery of a life defined by such a measure, and seem to be trying to suggest it somehow indicates how fabulous it is to be drinking coffee, when in fact it should drive every damn customer out of the joint in tears.

Wish it would.

For good coffee, I recommend Bookplates (if you can get in ), Remi on Moore Street, or Caffe Essen. There’s also a really great new place on the corner of Alinga and Mort St (just past the interchange) but I’ve forgotten its name – Tonic?

Well i don’t know about the best coffee in canberra but i sure as hell know about the worst! I ordered a caffe’ latte from Lisboa in woden (near the cinemas) i cannot even begin to describe the revoltingness of it….simply pukesville! I took one sip and left….simply gross. And the problem is that this was not just a one off, bad coffee type thing, i went back a few weeks later and it was the same! They seriously need to sort out their baristas, cos they use Lavazza (i believe) which is a decent coffee….so please Lisboa get some staff that can actually MAKE coffee without poisoning your customers!

Starbucks in the US is great, because at least you can taste the coffee. Unlike everywhere else. But it’s still awful. however, they have this gorgeous crumb cake, just a dense slice cake, with crumble on top (coconut, butter, brown sugar). Bloody delicious. And I like the “local meeting place” thing they do there. Fake, but effective, people DO go there to computerise, and chat with their mates.
This winter, the canyon road was closed early one morning for avalanches. I was in the staff van, so we rang work, reported that we were sitting in the queue at the canyon mouth (we get paid from that moment on). Then I suggested to the driver that we could wait in the queue… down in Sandy at starbucks! So off we went. Spent the 2 hours at Starbucks, where they looked after us, driver had a late brekkie at Maccas, then sat in the van watching DVDs. Got the call that the canyon was opening, and we scuttled back, and got back in the queue as it began to move. VERY civilised. Other vans of staff who’d sat there for hours were very disgusted with us.
I must say, that Starbucks was really nice. We all bought coffees and things and sat around chatting, and they came out with little bikkies and petit fours on plates and handed them round to us. Damn decent.

poor treatment of staff….

Thanks Hecaterin. I go one further – the few other times I’ve had coffee in Watson, Carlo’s was crap. Bad service, much attitude, high prices, poor breakfast.

The Watson shops coffee place is “Satis”. It’s tiny, and you’ll find it on the other side on the supermarket from Carlo’s. (Carlo’s is merely average, despite its marketing efforts.)

Yeah McCafe is pretty good. The drive-thru coffee is just the generic crap made by a machine.

I agree about the McCafe too. Except I found out the other day the drive-through is not the same machine as in the cafe. The guy in the window said to use the cafe if you want ‘real’ coffee.

The place on the corner of the Civic interchange and Bunda Street – maybe called KARI or something like that? Consistently the best coffee I’ve ever had in Canberra, I would’ve had 50 or so from there over the past month or so, always excellent.

Can only comment on the inner north … Little place at Watson Shops – Safi? – great coffee.
Tilleys – queue at counter for up to 25 minutes but coffee is good and booths are a haven if have laptop
Loui – great coffee

Guru (Canberra Centre) is pretty good — if you like stuff like White Mocha, get a large one of those, and you’re right for a while, they’re HUGE, and very nice.

Not really ‘coffee’ tho.

I had a hot chocolate from koko, and it was ok, but very expensive ($6.50?).

Babar’s ‘gourmet’ in Woden (near the thai restaurant on Corinna street) makes an ok cappucino, sometimes. Othertimes, well, yeesh. But if you don’t like it, they will make you another one if you complain.

Michels, Woden, used to be ok, but Babar’s is much better.

“you missed McCafe which I think is one of the better chain coffee vendors.”

Shocking as it may be, I have to agree about McCafe. Not bad at all. Very nice lattes and quite big for a small price. Good value. The food is okay and was a life saver in some of the backwaters of rural Victoria where it was the only place in town for a feed other than steak and beer ( which is fine for one night, but a week?)

Love your work asp! I’m guessing you must work long hours? possibly shift work?

BTW – you missed McCafe which I think is one of the better chain coffee vendors.

Fo the record, I tested coffee guru. They are not gurus, but phoneys.

I found the staff on the counter and coffee machine to be slow and unpersonable. I ordered a latte, which was strong, bitter and unpleasant. Not letting on how bad it was, I acted dumb and quizzed the staff when i was quite about some of the other beverages on offer. They could not say what a vienna or machiatto was, despite the two being on their basic drink menu.
I did this at both their Erindale and Civic stores, so maybe the other stores are better.

Guru coffee anyone?

On their web page they said they set-up their chain becasue they were disappointed with the quality of coffee around elsewhere.

Surely the quality of the coffee depends upon:
Barista quality
Bean quality and freshness
Machine quality

So what makes Guru Coffee any different?

Straight to the pool room with that comment Woody.

No article about statistics will change that.

Yeah, who needs facts when you have faith, and some crap coffee to wash it down with?

hingo_VRCalaisV6,

True. Though such things don’t ensure good coffee. Starbucks and Muffin Break both make claims about barristas going through intensive training. Starbucks makes the biggest show of sending people to special coffee making academies and how they have Ls for months before doing the real work. Well, the girl on the coffee machine at a certain Starbucks in a certain plaza made an espresso for the manager who was rushed of his feet. He gagged on it and said it was pretty bad. The person who made it had been there for five or so months and has stuff up two of my drinks. She must have surely earned a diploma at Starbucks Coffee Academy?

One of the reason why Michels is usually pretty good is because they run Barrista competitions among their staff. I’m not to sure if these competitions involve other coffee shops or if it is just an internal competition, but it results in a great coffee for the everyday customer. Good to know its not all about making a quick buck with bland coffee and zombie-like service.

Agree with the comment about Michel’s at Lanyon – the coffee there is quite nice. Muffin Break not too bad, but you can keep the rest of your chain coffee shops.

But of course you’re right – there’s nothing at all unethical about pushing a narrow, covert moral agenda under the guise of a balanced and objective term like ‘counselling’. The vague and contradictory wishes of your imaginary sky fairy are much more important than a real person’s physical and emotional well-being.

Good for you, you found an article.
I’ll admit I didn’t have the latest up-to-date scientific knowledge on the matter and I stand corrected on the numbers. But I know people who have gone through with abortions, and I know a guy who’s girlfriend aborted their kid without even asking him (for the record, he was willing to take responsibility and raise the kid himself), and I have seen the devastation it can cause in someone’s life, and those around them. No article about statistics will change that.

Now we’ve already gone off topic and, well, your best tactic is apparently to throw around childish insults so I’m really not willing to continue this discussion here.

“Call me a purist, but I don’t see how you can really rate a coffee once you’ve adulterated it with those sugary flavoured syrups.”

Indeed. That’s why at stores where I tried the flavour coffees, I also tried a plain latte or flat white.

Call me a purist, but I don’t see how you can really rate a coffee once you’ve adulterated it with those sugary flavoured syrups.

or milk…

nice article, though coffee chain stores are always likely to be of lesser quality than a good ‘real’ barista, like loui…

Re hot chocolate: KokoBlack (at like $5.50 a cup) is pretty average in comparison to Chocolat in Cusacks at Kingston.

Starbucks, I agree, is woeful.

I don’t want to name names, but said Muffin store is not in Tuggeranong 😉

And what exactly is wrong with encouraging people to avoid a choice that is statistically proven to lead to major depression in a majority of cases?

Proven?

But of course you’re right – there’s nothing at all unethical about pushing a narrow, covert moral agenda under the guise of a balanced and objective term like ‘counselling’. The vague and contradictory wishes of your imaginary sky fairy are much more important than a real person’s physical and emotional well-being.

“Michels Patisserie has the best coffee in my opinion”.
Agreed. I’ll review them along sid some of the smaller stores, because even though they’re a chain of franchises, I find that one store’s coffee tastes very different to the others. My local store (Lanyon) has an award winning Barrista.

Skidbladnir, eating at GJs is a risk. I recently purchased a ham+chees criossant and it was served to be almost all black on the outside. She asked if I wanted it replaced to which I replied… probably a good idea.
For the record. GJs (except for in the USA) is owned by two senior members of the Hillsong Church. I am not sure if the company i actually directly linked to Hillsong. Sanitarium on the other hand is 100% owned by Seventh Day Adventists. Eitherway, so long as the relgious affiliations don’t imact on staff and customers, there isn’t really a problem.

Hingo, given that south Canberra includes Woden and Tuggeranong. Could you say “hypotehticaly” which store of said muffin shop isn’t the one stuffing around their staff. I just want to make sure I boycott the right place.

Regarding Hot Chocolates. Planning try KoKo soon.
I would rank the hot chocolates in the following order so far (1 being higest):
1:Gloria Jeans
2: Michelles
3:Starbucks

Call me a purist, but I don’t see how you can really rate a coffee once you’ve adulterated it with those sugary flavoured syrups.

Having once been a GJ’s employee, I would hesitate to eat there.
But since management has changed at least once since I worked there, things should have almost certainly improved from the ‘significanly below par, bordering on the terrible’.
But unless they start to compete with the $2 happy hour place in food court for price & quality, I won’t be going back.

Josh: go to koko black in the north quarter (canberra centre)- I think you may change your m ind and discover what a good hot chocolate really is.

i maintain that starbucks make the best hot chocolates around, in their signature range. i mean, i don’t drink coffee, so i couldn’t give a toss about ‘omg they burn their beans!!’ or whatever. but just about every cafe i’ve been to in melbourne (bar only two) makes a pitiful hot chocolate. starbucks, while not being *amazing*, make a consistently good (and comparatively decent value for money, despite not being cheap) hot chocolate.

for extra win, add a ‘mint’ shot into it, and you have yourself a warm treat for the wintery months.

in other non-coffee/chocolate related drinks: gloria jeans consistently disappoints, milkshakes from anywhere are often horrible (hello cottee’s topping+milk), and starbucks makes average cold drinks, in general.

my opinion only. take it or leave it.

Yes, Gloria Jean’s is owned by Christians, but there’s nothing “fanatic” about them. And what exactly is wrong with encouraging people to avoid a choice that is statistically proven to lead to major depression in a majority of cases?

Great article.
Maybe a coffee aficionado from the north side could do some reviews of stores in Belconnen, Gungahlin etc to complement this?

Is it true that Gloria Jean’s is owned by right-wing Christian fanatics who divert a proportion of their profits to “counselling” services that encourage pregnant teens to “just keep it, Jeebus will provide”?

Rumor is that a certain Muffin store in a major shopping centre in South Canberra is not paying their staff superannuation. Needless to say, everyone I know who used to go there have boycotted the joint, myself included. Thier coffee was good though. Several complaints have been made and they are being investigated.

I have never really had a problem with any of the coffee chains above although, you can usually get a better coffee at most cafes. As far as chain stores go, Michels Patisserie has the best coffee in my opinion.