Week 27 of 52
Milk – Pauls
Beans and Brand – Rio, crema blend.
Ristretto Cost – $3.50
Cappuccino Cost – $4.00
Wifi - no
I ordered a ristretto and a cappuccino. I sat outside this beachfront cafe and my drinks arrive, the cappuccino had ’old style’ presentation – the froth was done properly in that it was silky and creamy in texture as you can see around the edges of the cup. It seems they used a spoon to give a extra dollop of the foam in the middle so overall I had a good amount ideally suited to a cappuccino. Onto the coffee and I found it a little lacklustre, a little plain. Is the milk to blame? Drinking different coffee’s every week you get a sense of the milk they use when tasting the drink and this weeks’ was no different in that it turned out to be the brand that you would expect, given the taste of my coffee. It lacked that creamy lifting body and background that a few of the local good quality milks give you. The coffee taste in my drink however had a well rounded, balanced taste, but just needed that lift from a different milk brand.
The ristretto as below was more like a espresso, not the thick ballsy, gutsy intense taste it should have. The charasmatic owner Joe, asked me about it, I said it wasn’t right so another one was made for me. This one was better, but still to thin, a third one came out and it was a little better again, but it still didn’t hit the mark of a good ristretto. We are looking for syrupy, thick intense and almost a volcanic presentation in a ristretto. Often the crema will tell you what to expect and in all three tries it was a little to pale and to perfect looking.
Over and above the coffee I had, I applaud Joe for trying to make my coffee experience to my expectation without knowing at the time that I was here to do a writeup. A top notch example of customer service, it couldn’t be any better. Joe also said he was looking into changing the milk, I hope he does as it really makes a significant improvement, difference to the coffee. Pricing of the coffee’s are at the top end, but you are paying for location-location-location.
Joe’s Kiosk The Esplanade at Henley Beach (situated near Cibo) No telelphone Open: Wed to Mon 7.30am till late afternoon (dog and bike friendly)
