Tipped

Flat Out Perfection

September 15, 2008

Intrigued by recent rave reviews of Taylor Street Barristas, I had to go check it out. They're just a few blocks away from Market Coffee House, my current favorite coffee shop, the look of the place is a bit slick and they openly use the cringe-inducing word 'barrista', plus they are mysteriously not on Taylor Street, so I was dubious that they could live up to the hype. Wow was I wrong.

I got a flat white at Taylor Street Bar that was the best coffee of any sort that I have had in ages, if not the best I've ever had. I can't praise it enough, and yet I can't possibly begin to explain why it was so good. Several coffee shops in the area even use the same roasters, but this was just plain perfection.

As if I needed any more reason to love them, their loyalty card is awesome: buy 4 get one free within a week, so if you go by every day it well worth picking up a loyalty card. If the shop was as comfy and cool as Market Coffee House I would never leave.

Tags: coffee, preposterously perfect coffee, flat white

Downunder cool

September 12, 2008

It's been a while since ordering a flat white and it felt pretty damn good. This place has a great vibe and what with a September flat white happy hour between 3 and 5 you'd have to be a Venti latte short of a picnic to miss out. When I went it was empty and there was a queue snaking out of KFC round the corner. Perhaps a place selling finger lickin' flat whites and chicken could be the future.

Finely crafted coffee...

September 10, 2008

for serious coffee drinkers. That’s what is says on their shop and it’s true, this places makes awesome coffee. I’ve been going on my way to work and mostly drinking Flat Whites. If you’ve never had a Flat White suggest you try one next chance you get. I think the Antipodeans coined the term so should really ask them what it is, but I’d describe it as a short strong coffee with milk steamed smooth and creamy, how I imagine a latte should be, but never actually is. I’ve also tried my usual 4 shot, 12 ounce Americano and it was perfect, though annoyingly called a Long Black here (again because the guys are Australian) so you’ll just have to get over it or switch to a Flat White like I did. They use independent roaster Union Coffee Roasters - http://www.unionroasted.com/ for their espresso which I like, they have good coffee and good ethos.

There are a couple things that bother me though (besides the Long Black). The girls on the website aren’t the actual baristas, have to say I think lame marketing to use cute, indie, girl models, better if it was the actual people making my drink. Finally there is pretty much nowhere to sit (3 stools to be exact). To be fair seating is a lot to ask in this part of town, and they’r doing us a great service by making great coffee, it just leaves a void in coffee culture in London. But these are nits, the coffee is what matters, and the guys seem cool so go there today!

Tags: coffee, flat white