Proud Mary – Melbourne

Address: 172 Oxford Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
Tel: +61 3 9417 5930
Web: N/A
Beans used: Roasted on premises (available for purchase)
Food available: Yes, selection of baked goods, gourmet brunch and light meals.

This little cafe came runner up in The Coffee Army 'LIST' for 2012 (The official blog page for Melbourne Magazine's team of fanatical coffee reviewers) so we weren't surprised when the coffee was… well pretty damn smooth and tasty. (The Six-Group Synesso machine probably has a lot to do with this!) Set in an industrial back street of Collingwood, when I sit down at one of the large wooden communal tables I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be lapping up the retro groove (the far perimeter housing a feature wall of swirls, old records and a set of decks), or relax in the cottage type visions of delicious cakes and open brickwork; but I like the contrast, the mixed vibe! The service is attentive; fast and furious – which slightly disturbs the relaxed moment of having a coffee, but they are busy! And at least you're not waiting too long for a second caffeine hit!

The coffee itself is strong, smooth and extremely flavoursome. Just seeps through the palate. And as for the service; they're onto you like a seagull grabs a chip at the beach!

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Fernandez & Wells – London

Address: 16A St. Annes Court, Soho, London, W1F 0BG

Other locations:

Somerset House – Strand, London, WC2R 1LA

Soho – 43 Lexington Street, London, W1F 9AL

Soho – 73 Beak Street, London, W1F 9SR

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7494 4242

Web: http://fernandezandwells.com/

Beans used: Own blend of Has Bean coffee beans

Food served: Yes, meat, cheese and olive platters as well as selection of sandwiches and baked goods.

With several locations around London, this review will focus on the one at St. Anne’s Court in Soho.

Sitting quietly on one of the connecting passageways that is St. Anne’s Court, exists the cute little no frills café Fernandez & Wells. Inside, the mix of timber bench seating alongside metal tables and stools reflects the no-nonsense, raw character of the place. On the weekend this establishment offers a nice breather from the craziness of Oxford Street. The coffee is not the best we’ve tried but it is good, if a bit dry. Presentation is neat, the staff are casual and all this sums up the very basic, neutral experience that you’ll find yourself in. A pleasant experience all the same.

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Three Bags Full – Melbourne

Address: Corner of Nicholson St and Mollison St, Abbotsford VIC 3067

Tel: +61 (3) 9421 2732

Web: http://www.threebagsfullcafe.com.au/

Beans used: Five Senses

Food available: Yes, serving gourmet brunch and lunch options.

From the outside, Three Bags Full appears like a free-standing warehouse, or perhaps a master brick stable for some Melbourne sheep to keep warm on a cool winter's day? Either way, as you walk into Three Bags Full, its segregated setting will intrigue you. A relaxed dining room off to the right, a bustling cafe to the left and a middle room with a window seated dining table to separate them both. Now you’ll have to choose which stall to have your coffee in. The two main rooms are open, yet warm and cosy with the bustle of trendy Melbournians sipping their coffee at communal wooden tables lined with roses or. What a vibrant farm house! The coffee is rich and smooth – a real treat! The soy latte evokes a nutty flavour and the espresso is smooth and strong. The coffee brews on offer can be a single origin blend, or a signature mixed blend. As an example The Signature Blend is composed of 75% Santa Rosa beans (from Guatemala) and 25% La Fragua beans (from Columbia). The service is typical of a busy café such as this, however you won’t be kept waiting too long for your fix.

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