Red Door Corner Store – Melbourne

Address: 70 Mitchell Street, Northcote VIC 3070

Tel: +61 3 9489 8040

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

Beans used: The Maling Room

Food served: Yes, serving good range of breakfast and lunch items as well as sweets.

It’s places like Red Door Corner Store which reflect the true quintessential Melbourne – traditional, homely, artistic and cultural. On the corner of a roundabout intersection and a short walk away from the high street, Red Door Corner Store quietly awaits an appreciating customer. From the outside it appears to an old convenience store; a conversion which successfully retains the charm but modernises the experience. On the inside it’s a cozy and inviting café that seems more like someone’s personal living space from which they serve food and drinks. Outside on the terrace you’ll feel like you’re simply in one’s back garden, and the smiles and service that you will receive from the staff will further emphasise the whole domestic experience. The coffee is superb – smooth, strong, perfectly textured with a subtle sweet taste. A wonderfully unique place that is brilliantly presented and sure to please.

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Shoreditch Grind – London

Address: 213 Old Street, London EC1V 9NR
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7490 7490
Web: http://www.shoreditchgrind.com/
Beans used: Roasted exclusively for Shoreditch Grind and blended in-house.
Food served: Yes, selection of breakfast and lunch items as well as baked goods.

Occupying the old Roundhouse on Old Street is this unusual but fun espresso bar that also features a writing, recording and mixing room upstairs. On the outside the signage is reminiscent of old movie theatres, with the film names replaced by quirky statements. The theatrics are continued inside; there’s the wonderfully high ceiling and winding staircase that hugs the walls of the round building and some cool tunes playing in the background. But enough about the show’s superficial charm. The coffee is sound (see what we did there?) and you could happily lose yourself for a while sitting at one of the outward facing benches, watching the world pass by, wondering if you could still make it as a world famous rockstar. The service was a bit of a let down, but maybe we caught them on an off performance. Without giving too much away maybe you should just go see the show.

Thanks to Hayden for assisting with the content for this one.

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Allpress Espresso – London

Address: 58 Redchurch Street, London E2 7DP

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7749 1780

Web: http://www.allpressespresso.com

Beans used: Roasted on premises (available for purchase)

Food served: Yes, selection of sandwiches and baked goods.

Find yourself in the vicinity of Brick Lane and you’d be correct in assuming a good coffee wouldn’t be hard to find. But one in a medium sized, quiet, modern (yet cozy) setting is a little harder to stumble upon. Try the short walk over to Allpress and be greeted by great, attentive staff and an impressively neat interior that accommodates an equally impressive roaster. This is a great café – well staffed and positioned away from the craziness so you can actually enjoy a coffee in peace. The coffee is what you’d expect – good strength, well presented, slightly sweet. The best coffee houses in London may serve up a notch or two above the standard offered here but hey, we’re pretty critical after all…

Thanks to Hayden for assisting with the content for this one.

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