Preview: Matt Forbes of Cobb Lane

Matt Forbes of Cobb Lane in Yarraville

This is the man behind those devilishly good doughnuts everyone is queuing for on weekends at places like Clements Coffee and Dead Man Espresso. Matt has had a busy few years first establishing Matt Forbes his wholesale baking business, and more recently Cobb Lane bakery-cafe in Yarraville. He also supplies us at Espresso Tales Magazine with our recipe in each new edition of the magazine.
Get the full story in VOL 3 out soon!

Cobb Lane
13 Anderson St
Yarraville 3013

Preview: Omar and the Marvellous Coffee Bird

Dean and Andy of Omar and the Marvellous Coffee Bird, Gardenvale.

Despite the name of our magazine, we are not really all that coffee focussed. Sure, it's a good thing. Sure it's a beverage many of us drink daily and some of us would consider life considerably less rich without it. But all the same it is after all just a drink. (Mmmm, coffee...) In edition Three we will meet Dean and Andy for whom coffee is not just a beverage. It is their livelihood and their passion. Volume Three is  out in May, when you will be able to read all about it!

In the meantime catch up on VOL 1 and VOL 2 here

Omar and the Marvellous Coffee Bird
124 Gardenvale Road
Gardenvale Victoria 3185

First Shoot for VOLUME THREE!! Sbriga EspressoBar, Melbourne CBD

Mario from Sbriga Espresso Bar, Melbourne CBD

It is the coffee, food and interiors often that attract us to a certain cafe - but it's the staff that keep us coming back, right? The passion behind Melbourne cafe owners inspires me every time I sit down to conduct an interview. True again when I sat down with Mario Simeone in his European inspired Sbriga Bar in the north-west corner of the CBD.  Mario's approach is to provide Melbourne style coffee with a Roman inspired ambiance.

Volume Three of Espresso Tales will include a 6 page photographic feature of the stunning Sbriga Espresso Bar and Mario's personal story of how it came about.

Volume Three will be launched at MICE 2014

Buy volume's 1 & 2 here

VOL TWO - nearly here!

I do love getting the hard copy proof through. It makes the thing real, finally! A few last minute typo's were spotted and a few other tweaks reqired, then the go-ahead was given to the printer. I am told that printing is nearly complete to it is now a matter of waiting on transit.

Here are a few shots of the printed proof. Just a few mind - I don't want to see it all before it is officially released!

Just waiting now. Waiting, waiting...

We are Featured in Frankie!!

I love Frankie. Imagine my delight when writer Penny Modra contacted me about a frankie feature on the topic of boutique magazine publication! I am interviewed along with 2 other ladies doing their thing in print. If indeed we are all entitled to 15 minutes of fame then I guess this is my 15 minutes!

It was a little strange to be on the other side of the table when Penny interviewed me and I'm certainly not used to being on the other side of a camera! But it was valuable to see how the pro's do it, for sure.

Right now I am awaiting the arrival of the proof for Vol Two from the printer. That will be the next move...

That's me and my kitchen table and my, a-hem, knees!

RH

Preview: The St Kilda Dispensary

Kristy Andruszko, owner.

It was a pleasure meeting Kristy and photographing her super-cute St Kilda cafe this week.

I love this shot, but it wasn't working with the other chosen photos for the feature so here it is on the blog! Kristy has an eye for styling thanks to her background in a designer pet supplies store where she designed and manufactured most of the products herself. This sweet cafe is a move towards a simpler life - a life which Kristy is loving! Read all about in in VOL 2 of Espresso Tales out in November.

The St Kilda Dispensary

13 Brighton Rd

St Kilda

VIC 3182

Meet the makers: Prana Chai

Mario, Koray and Vincent, of Prana Chai

The guys behind Prana Chai are good mates. Mario and Vincent have been 'besties' for over 30 years and based the chai recipe on the chai they drank on their 4 year stint travelling throughout Asia and beyond. Koray came on board more recently, as both a friend and a business partner but is the catalyst to the branding behind this recognised product we spot Melbourne wide. 

As always - I'm not giving away much more than this for now, but the full story and a photographic documentation of the beautiful, hands-on process that produces Prana Chai will be seen in full in Vol 2 of Espresso Tales - Due out in November.

Prana Chai

www.pranachai.com

info@pranachai.com

Patricia Coffee - meet Bowen Holden

Bowen Holden, owner of Patricia Coffee

I think the best part of my work for Espresso Tales is chatting with my subjects and learning about what makes them tick. Bowen is young, but single minded in all he does. Patricia coffee is a business, of course it is, but it is not typical 'good business sence' that drives Bowen's decision making. The coffee cups are hand made and cost 'a fortune', for example, but Bowen knew he had one chance to realise his dream of owning his own cafe... and he wasn't about to waste it. He could do nothing but put in 110%.
Step into Patrica Coffee and this commitment shows....

Buy Espresso Tales Vol 2 in November and get the full story!

Can't wait? Then check out Vol 1 now! Buy Vol One now

FEATURED STOCKIST: St Ali (South)

Today St Ali is my feature stockist. St Ali is perhaps the most famous of Melbourne's cafes. This place is not just busy weekday lunch times or busy for brunch over the weekend. It is busy full stop. This cafe first put coffee on the South Melbourne map. Back when the area was associated with brothels not coffee. Now the area is blossoming with great coffee houses including Dead Man Espresso, Clements and Padre.

I love the interiors of St Ali The light is amazing. I go often just for the look of the place! But there needs to be more than just looks, right? I would describe the buzz as pub-ish. Tables of people chatting and eating in all corners. Plenty of local workers pop in for coffee or food, but it doesn't at all feel corporate for that - perhaps because south Melbourne attracts so many creative business with every second building seemingly housing an architect, production company or talent agency.

Most would associate St Ali with great coffee. There is always a choice of house blend and single origins to choose from and the coffee is always excellent.

At Ali is the first of my featured stockists, look out for more from time to time!

 

St Ali

12-18 Yarra Pl, 

South Melbourne 

VIC 3205

Preview: KeepCup

Abigail Forsyth, KeepCup

KeepCup

156 Westgarth Street
Fitzroy, Australia 3065

KeepCup. We all know it. All the more hard to believe that this company is only a few years old.

These days it is all carbon neutral this and recyclable that (which is an awesome thing, obviously) but with KeepCup this is not just box ticking. KeepCup came about through a genuine desire to make a difference.

After hanging out with Abigail and the team at KeepCup for the afternoon I believe that their re-use mantra is indeed the motivation behind all they do.

The first few years was the fun part, Abigail says. Meeting people, selling the idea and growing the business. Now as KeepCup has catapulted into it's own self propelling orbit it is becoming more about 'real' business; about operations.

KeepCup's Fitzroy premises is HQ, showroom and warehouse. The warehouse is where the cups are made-to-order and sent off to their new homes. The actual manufacturing is done off site, all in Victoria, except the rubbery bands which are made in China. Assembly is done by a team of real people and brightly coloured cup-towers adorn most work surfaces. Despite being a global business, with premises also in the UK and the US there was a very hands on 'cottage industry' feel in the warehouse.

Read more about KeepCup in out next edition of Espresso Tales Magazine (Volume 2) due out in November 2013

RH

Recipe: ANZAC SLICE

This recipe features in Volume One of Espresso Tales. We love simplicity and this recipe is simplicity itself. Enjoy!

Next Steps

School holidays are just over and it is time to think about the next steps for Espresso Tales.
This is my 'heart' project. I am doing this for love - but then any business is damn hard work and to continue I must also be a business person. I need this little mag to make me a some money. Not a lot, but enough to justify the time and of course the cost of the print run.

So yes I am thinking about content for Vol 2 but more importantly I must now create a media kit and get some advertising space sold. Yikes. I'm just a photographer. But needs must and here I am compiling a list of possible advertisers. This is make or break. Wish me luck :)

Our Stockists

O U R   S T O C K I S T S

Here is an ever-growing list of of our lovely stockists. Pop in on them next time you are passing and get your copy of Espresso Tales Magazine!

CAFES

65degrees cafe (Gridlock Coffee), Exhibition St, Melbourne CBD VIC 3000

The Abbotsford Club, (Coffee Supreme) Grosvenor St Abbotsford, VIC 3067

The Merchants Guild, (Prana Chai) 680 Centre Rd Bentleigh East, VIC 3165

Servery and Spoon, 137 Waverley Rd, Malvern East, Melbourne VIC 3145

Cheerio Cafe, 323 Lennox St, Richmond, VIC 3121

Clement Coffee, Cecil St, South Melbourne Markets, South Melbourne, Melbourne VIC 3205

St Ali, Yarra Place, South Melbourne, Melbourne VIC 3205

Pearl Oyster, 114 Miller St, Thornbury, VIC 3071

Code Black Coffee, Weston Rd, Brunswick, VIC 3056

Twenty & Six Espresso, 594 Queensbuty St, North Melbourne, Vic 3051

Wee Jeanie, 50 Anderson St, Yarraville, VIC 3013

Vegas and Rose, 96 Humffray St North, Ballarat VIC 3350

BOOKSTORES / GIFT STORES

Clementine's, 7 Degraves St, Melbourne VIC 3000.

TheSuperCool.com, SO:ME space, South Melbourne Markets, Melbourne VIC 3205

The Avenue Bookstore, 127 Dundas Place, Albert Park, VIC 3206.

The Avenue Bookstore, 434 Glenhuntly Rd, Elternwick, VIC 3185.

Brunswick St Bookstore, 305 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, VIC 3056.

Books for Cooks, 233 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, Melbourne VIC 3065.

URSAstudiohouse, 136 Lygon St East Brunswick, VIC 3057.

Vegas and Rose, 96 Humffray St North, Ballarat VIC 3350.

Cosi Fan Tutte, 2 Calliope Rd, Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand.

All of our stockists are given exposure on the web, will be listed in future editions of Espresso Tales Magazine and will be given ongoing facebook and Twitter love :) Enquire today!

Launch at Melbourne International Coffee Expo 2013!

It is a great feeling to have the magazines back from the printers and in my hands. In fact in the hands of plenty of people! I had a ball introducing myself and the magazine to a host of lovely people at MICE'13 this May. I was so flattered by peoples enthusiasm for the photography and the boutique nature of the publication. Many times people enforced that they thought the magazine reflected Melbourne's world-famous but unique cafe scene perfectly. I meet some really interesting characters and some great people!

Mario from Prana Chai (can't wait to get to know more about these guys - they have the perfect vibe for their product - quirky, well travelled, enthusiastic and humble!)

I live in South Melbourne so it was 'A for Awesome' to meet Maurinis from Padre Coffee  (Relevance obvious to anyone who frequents South Melbourne Markets!!)

Go St Ali! Oh boy, the books sold like hotcakes on the St Ali stand. Go Team!

I interviewed Jason here (and business partner Fluer Studd, not pictured here) for the Magazine.  I love the Market Lane brand... and the coffee may actually be worth dying for.

Con (from Gridlock Coffee) is also featured in the magazine. I adore the whole Gridlock crew. Nice guys and girls - has been a pleasure to get to know them all!

Here is Simone the VERY clever lady behind 365cups. I love a success story, especially when a girl is behind it! Go the girls!

You can tell she is lovely from the smile right? She was so lovely.  Nice to meet Suzy from newish coffee cup brand JOCO.

Hey Justin. How you doin'? Justin (Coffee Supreme) has been really kind to me  from the get-go. I ran the idea past him back when it was all digital and on my computer screen.  He had no doubt in the content of the publication but pushed me to think hard about the logistics  of making the crazy thing work.  Well - that part is still a work in progress! Advice appreciated Justin!!