Week 2 of 52
Wifi – Yes.
So I found myself down the Parade at Norwood again and had brekky at Argo on the Parade, a busy new cafe. I’ve been past this place a few times and its always full with little prospect of getting a table, however this time i saw a few open chairs so off I went ready for my second coffee of the morning.
I ordered for both of us ….. ‘cup or mug’ they ask – cup please I say, and so I pay then off I troddle to my table. Whilst waiting I noticed the table across from me had patterns on their coffee (cup and mug size) and boy those mugs are big, to much coffee for me, I’d drown if I had one of those. I can drink quite a few cup/latte size coffee’s during the day yet the keg sizes are just to much in one sitting for me.
Coffee arrives and presentation was poor, no effort, just a snosh of dust with no effort into maintaining some form of straight line or something that shows ‘I care’ as opposed to - ‘get it out’, I have orders waiting. Whilst the barista may not have this attitude, presenting coffee as shown below suggests this, and coffee is all about attention to detail.
As is my usual way of drinking coffee I always spoon off the froth first and go for that, mind you I get stares because I always eat my spoon – those whom do the same will know how this is done, then I delve into the coffee itself. I’m not one to mix in the froth nor do I end up with a foamlip by drinking coffee through the foam.
In my cup was the standard amount of froth, yep it was creamy, micro and thick, and probably as expected.
So after I have eaten the foam i’m into the coffee itself and notice the colour was on the pale side. Dissapointment even before I taste it. Déjà vu to last weeks coffee at Gloria’s, where the coffee was also a little weak and really just the standard thoroughfare. Pretty much the same applies to this coffee at Argo’s.
Next weeks coffee….. dunno, maybe the city. I’ll be mixing the coffee’s up a bit as we go along so just feeling my way into this coffee venture.
Ciao for now.
Oh, and the Spelling Police have already been on my case from my first blog and yes I will make the i’s into capitals.
oh to find great quality coffee in Adelaide I like latte myself would be wonderful I used to like not love the 7th avenue St Peters bakery but left to the hands of students coming and going it is a miss and slight maybe hit at the best ….. i cant wait to hear if you do succeed in finding a great coffee including presentation all the finer details that make your coffee experience a happy enjoyable non stressful event
actually Im yet to find even someone who actually gives customer service the value of its patronage yet a great coffee in Adelaide I am actually totally shocked at the sloppy service and aggressive attitude that many businesses have here in SA. not to mention the cleanliness of the places some i Have just walked out not that they the owners Care ! Makes me wonder how they stay in business makes me wonder why many who don’t and boohoo in Adelaide don’t seem to get it .. to run a hospitality service means Being Both Hospitable to the Customer And offering Quality service and Goods especially Coffee ..Good Luck! Your doing Adelaide a Proud!:)))
Thanks for posting your thoughts Beeznez,
Try Michel’s Patisserie at Target Newton. Sunny the Barista is just so good and caring to make sure everyone gets a good cuppa.
I went here last weekend and they must’ve changed their coffee making skills because my wife and I ordered a cappuccino each and they came out looking beautiful. They both had different chocolate powdered art on them showing a lot of attentino to detail. I tasted the froth alone and it was yummy and creamy. the coffee itself was about a 7.5/10 – a little on the strong side but still yummy nonetheless. Could’ve been a bit smoother but still mmmmmmmmmmm
Attentino – I tried to make it Italian you see
One thing that probably needs to be understood is that Argo is busy. A lot busier than some of the more “boutique” espresso bars going around…their standard of coffee has risen in the last 6+ months. Expect big things from Argo in the future- they are a little too underrated by the majority of coffee nuts if you ask me.
Of recent, I seem to find myself going to Argos for a ristretto, and they sure can make one. (yay) Abigail i’d have to agree with you in general with what you have said.
You might want to give Argo another shot at some stage. Their skill and attention to detail has definitely improved since your visit. Had a mug late last Sunday afternoon there and it was great! Two neat dashes of chocolate dust to the left and some impressive flower milk art to the right.
Photo’s of coffee tell a lot and Jeff if i compare the one above to the way I see Argos now, there is a big improvement. As i mentioned in my previous post ristretto’s are fantastic, i visit every other saturday for one and yes the coffee art is in abundance now.
Argo in my opinion is moving forward, pity more cafes dont.