Category Archives: Black coffee

Black coffee from around Brisbane and where ever I am.

Black coffee, Cafe Review, Reviews

Long Black at Greyhound Australia

Leave a comment
Xpresso Delight coffee machine
Xpresso Delight coffee machine

There is not a lot you can say about a $1 coffee. The price point serves to both set expectations and define user experience, at least if “Predictably Irrational” by Dan Ariely is spot on. I am sure that this was not the idea when Xpresso Delight were asked to bring the machine in. The price point was set to cover costs.

The coffee machine is very straight forward. It can produce a coffee without milk, and a coffee with milk. The milk will be hot when it comes out. I could not spot the difference between pushing the flat white button and the cappuccino button. To be fair I never actually tried them either.

The coffee is drawn long and drunk without sugar or milk. It does the job, and for a $1 coffee, it sure beats what I used to get out of a plunger.

What should you care?

If you work somewhere without a cafe in walking distance, there are options. If a coffee machine is too much of an expense, get one in like Xpresso Delight.

Black coffee, Cafe Review, Reviews

Strong long black from Retro Espresso

3 Comments
Retro Espresso takeaway coffee
Retro Espresso takeaway coffee

If you travel near Edinburgh Castle Road in Wavell Heights on the way to work, Retro Espresso is a great place to grab a long black. On Friday each week I drop in and grab a strong regular long black that can usually see me through until lunch time. Assuming I do not get bored and make another just to break up the morning. They use Segafredo beans and make a strong coffee.

On the weekends Retro espresso is a popular morning destination. The café attracts both people cluttering the side of the road with their cars, and a significant number of dog walkers. They do a decent breakfast even though they have no kitchen facilities, but they do well with their range of sandwiches and coffee.


View Long Black in a larger map

Why should you care?

If you live in Wavell Heights or you go through the area on the way to work, it is a great place to grab a takeaway coffee. Parking is easier than at the well known cafe spots, and you will be back on the way to your desk fast. If you are a local, for a weekend coffee in the morning, you will struggle to find somewhere as good locally too.

194 Edinburgh Castle Rd
Wavell Heights
http://retroespresso.com.au/

Black coffee, Cafe Review, Reviews

Sirianni’s for coffee & breakfast

Leave a comment
Sirianni's for breakfast
Sirianni's for breakfast

A few blocks away from Brunswick street there is a shopping and apartment complex called Emporium. According to their website, there are “…over 35 specialty retailers, restaurants and cafes and parking…”. They might be lying about the parking though.

I end up going to a cafe called Sirianni’s there most sundays to meet up with one of my sisters. It is actually a rather large deli with a wide range of stuff, but mostly, I am there for breakfast, specifically, the Emporium breakfast. For not too much, you get a pile of bacon, tomato, hash browns, eggs, sausages, mushrooms and some toast. For the area it is fairly well priced for the quality and the quantity. The coffee is good too, though for me, I am mainly there for the breakfast.

Black coffee, Cafe Review, Reviews

Breakfast at Spoon

Leave a comment
Spoon at James Street Market
Spoon at James Street Market

Spoon does make coffee and they do serve breakfast, but there are better places to get the latter. The food is not too bad in itself, however it is overpriced for what you get. With a range of other good cafes within a few minutes’ walk, there is no reason to eat at Spoon.

Cafe-Deli

The deli section looked interesting, though no better than a suburban specialist store, or a boutique market like Farmer Joe’s in Kedron. The product range was as large as the space allowed and focused on smaller items such as chocolates and snacks. The coffee was largely unremarkable aside from its lack of flavour.

What’s there

If you shop in the James Street Market and you have parked nearby, it is worth getting a coffee there simply for convenience, but for breakfast you can do a lot better elsewhere.

Black coffee, Cafe Review, Reviews

Campos Takeaway Coffee

1 Comment
Campos takeaway long black
Campos takeaway long black

Campos is located just next to the James Street Market, though you would not know it if you were there. There is no way to walk straight from the James Street Market to Campos. You have to walk back out onto the street to get there. I can only assume that this is to encourage the dozens of people spending their money there to go to Spoon instead. Shame that Spoon is not that great.

Back to Campos. With their alleyway location and nifty fake plastic grass and crates, it is a cool little cafe with a bucketload of character. My takeaway long black, made on their own dark roast blend, was good. It tasted fine and did not lose too much for being served in a paper cup. Coffee in hand, I continued to wander around for a bit longer. If it wasn’t for the crowd, I would have stuck around for breakfast too.


View Long Black in a larger map

Whats in it for you

A decent cafe, if you can get a seat. The coffee is good and it is out of the way sitting off Wandoo Street. Better than Spoon as far as the coffee is concerned, and cosindering the size of the servings that Spoon does, it can’t be too much worse for food.