Killer Coffee

Killer Coffee

I have been using killer coffee for the last few weeks and the website and Facebook seem to want you to use a Aeropress. I used the aeropress firstly with 2 different metal filters and the coffee was bitter but super strong. I then tried the paper filter which actually helped with the bitterness but I was still not happy with the flavors. I moved onto the pourover and that did the job, the coffee had no bitterness but was still strong but very smooth. I thought while I have this week off I will make a clever dripper. I use the chemex paper instead of the melitta paper filters and I am happy with its results.

First you put the paper in the clever dripper then fill it half way with hot water. Swirl it around the rinse the rest of the paper. I just leave the hot water in there to heat it up.

I used 13grams of coffee. I  empty out the water then grind the coffee.

I put the coffee in the clever dripper and slowly pour in about 60mls of hot water (90 degrees) and put on the timer, give it soft stir then pour in about 80mls give it one more stir.

I fill it up with 300mls of water.

At about 2min 50 I put it on the Hario glass pourer

It was a great coffee and I really enjoy the coffee more with paper filters. I need to start trying different coffees and that was what this blog was about right Coffee :)

Kind E-gards

Dale Stewart

De Clieu

De Clieu

We had planned on going to Proud Mary after we did our Cupping session yesterday but they had an hour wait and we only had an hour free so our friend suggested De Clieu. It is a small cafe'and was pretty busy so we sat outside until they had free space inside.

We ordered our water and then got moved straight inside, the cafe has a nice feel to it. They have all the bits and pieces for sale.

They are following the trend with the table displays being cold drips but it still looks pretty. I asked the waitress what sort of filters they served and she had no idea but she was polite and friendly. i spoke to someone else and found out it was a cleverdripper .

I was told they used to sell 7 seeds coffee but now it is 5 senses coffee. I was impressed by the coffee as it had no bitterness.
I normally order the pulled pork bun or something like that but i went completely left field.

I ordered the mango doughnuts and they had coconut milk, coriander, ginger, orange syrup and i could taste rosewater. The doughnut was crispy on the outside but caramalised on the inside. It was sweet but worked really well with the other ingredients. The mango slices where fresh and sweet.

I was really glad i tried them as i have not had doughnuts like that before. It was quiet a large portion so i was pretty full.

I was really impressed with this cafe'as it was very prompt service and not a long wait for a table. no complaints and we will be back again.

Kind e-gards

Dale Stewart

 

Monk Vegan Degustation

Monk Vegan Degustation

We have been going to Monk Bodhi Dharma for a few years and have also been to the Friday dinners but we have never done the Degustation at the Cafe' or a Vegan degustation. It you have never been here it is a bit hard to find as it is hidden in an alleyway. 

It is a very small rustic sort of cafe and has an amazing selection of coffees and teas.

We had no idea to expect so it was going to be an interesting night. We ordered the Strawberry and rock melon Smoothie with Maple Syrup. Is was sweet and creamy and very filling.

The first thing we had was a palate cleanser, it was a tomato , cucumber and spiced water. I don't like tomato juice so i did not really like it but it was interesting to say the least.

The next dish we had was a  Tarator and it had Coconut yoghurt with cucumber and pineapple.

  

I don't eat much yoghurt but it was a nice mix, it was sweet and a bit tart with some crunchiness.

The next dish was the Quinoa Cake, it had quinoa , dill butter and tomato.

It was very crunchy and buttery, the flavours were amazing and completely different.

We then had green olives with artichokes with a thyme mayonnaise.

  

The mayonnaise helped change the flavour of the olives so it was not as salty.

The next dish was my favourite Watermelon and Feta. It had watermelon, sharp feta and freeze dried raspberries.

I would have never thought it would have worked as well as it did. It was sweet and crunchy yet smooth and salty, it was AMAZING.

The next dish was chilli , macadamia and mango.

It was not a hot chilli but had a little bit of spice, the macadamia paste gave it structure and the mango gave it a fresh taste.

Most of the courses had bit smallish so the next course was quite big. We got a Persian Stew and it had  vegetables, persian lime, barberries, rice and salad.

I mixed the rice in the stew and it was cooked to perfection. The potatoes fell apart as you ate them. The rice was soft and fluffy with a little bit of crunchiness. It was heavy from the potatoes.

The next dish was also a favourite, the sweet potato stack. 

So it had sweet potato on the top and the bottom like a sandwich with a almond chevre. Almond chavre is cultured almond paste and used to replace goats cheese. The flavours worked so well together and i could go vegan if i had food like this. I was starting to get full and that does not happen very easy with degustations.

The next dish was melon caviar.

I just ate it in one bite and it was sweet from the melon and chewy. The flower gave it a slight bitter taste afterwards.

The first dessert was the Space Library 

The reason they called it space library was because they love the movie Interstellar and it refers to a scene? Anyway it was layered sponge with fruit , berries, vanilla. It was sweet and i would never had expected it to vegan.

The last dish we had was a deconstructed snickers bar.

It had chocolate, peanuts and caramel. It was sickly sweet, crunchy and if you were still hungry this would fill you up. The menu said there was a Mignardises but we did not get one, maybe they ran out?

It did not matter as we ate so much and was amazing value for money.

We loved it all and we will do it again.

They are doing another one on Valentines day and if there is space DO IT..seriously.
Thanks for reading.
Kind E-gards
Dale Stewart

Wide Open Road Cafe'

Wide Open Road Cafe'

I normally don't do my posts till Monday but it is hot right now. If you have never been to Melbourne it is known as the city with 4 seasons in a day and it is true as today is 36 degree or 96.8F.  Since we are renovating and updating the lights we went to a place called Schots Home Emporium and it is amazing. It has all home renovation things that i could need, thank goodness i didn't know about this place before or i would have no money. I heard about the Cafe' a long time ago and starred it on my maps as a place to go. It is about 15 Minute drive from Schots and the sales assistant told us to go there. It is a small place with lovely decor'. It has terrariums and is nice and clean. The staff are friendly,

We had been told to have the Cold Brew with condensed milk. We only have condensed milk in tea, strange but really good.

 

The coffee had no bitterness and the condensed milk added a lot of sweetness, normally i don't add any sugar to my coffee but it was very cooling and lovely. It was just what we needed for a hot day.

For Lunch Kim ordered the Asparagus & Freekah, it had Crispy Salami and 2 brioche eggs.

The eggs had been cooked perfectly, as she cut them open they oozed the yolk out. She really enjoyed the meal as nothing had been over cooked (which tends to happen).

I had the Pork & Truffle Sausage Sandwich

 It was a big burger not a sandwich, but it was really tasty. The sausage was cooked really well and the bun was crispy but not burnt. It was hard to hold but i managed. The mustard was not hot but more sweet which i enjoyed. I am not a huge english mustard sort of person more chili type.  After my lunch i had a latte because I needed more beans. I like to try a coffee first to make sure the beans meet my expectations and they did. The beans are also roasted on site, the beans i got had just been roasted 2 days ago and that is perfect because you need to leave the beans for a couple of days before using them.

It was a lovely place and the food and coffee matched. We had not been disappointed so we will be back

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Thank you

Kind E-Gards

Dale Stewart