Camping - but still great coffee

I have learnt the hard way that roughing it ain't so rough with good coffee. This technique is simple and you don't need anything fancy to ensure yourself great coffee 'in the bush!'.

All you need is:

An airtight jar of your favourite coffee, filter grind

paper coffee filters

Gas cooker

A tea pot with built in removable tea strainer (of course you might have 'real' coffee pour-over equipment but my tea pot did me fine!)

Also you need the obvious things like water and cups!!

Assemble the above items and boil two cups of water on the gas burner.

Here you can see the tea strainer, perfect for placing your coffee paper filter into.

Here the paper filter is in the strainer, and add 4 tablespoons of ground coffee (more or less according to taste of course)

Carefully pour water (I allow it to boil then remove from heat and pour from about 20 cm away which allows water to cool a little before hitting the coffee) over the coffee beans. Stop half way to gently stir ensuring there are no air pockets.

Pour remaining water and allow to run through.

Pour and enjoy!

Launch Party!

LAUNCH PARTY!


After the buzz of printing and MICE (Melbourne International Coffee Expo) it was time to have a knees up and celebrate the birth of Espresso Tales magazine.

I just wanted it to be a simple, fun affair with coffee, cakes and something to drink.

I attended one of Coffee Supremes brew classes at The Abbotsford Club so as not to totally screw up the coffee (which would be kind of ironic, I guess!) and I knew the cakes would be perfect as they were from Servery and Spoon owned by my friend (who also happens to be awesomely inspiring) Elaine.

I had got myself an outfit for under $100 (shoes and dress!) from Quick Brown Fox in the CBD, earlier in the week and braved a ridiculous hair up (60's inspired...) on the day. A little prep at my friends Prahran studio (where, usually, all things spiritual take place - from Reiki to hypnotherapy) and all that was left to do was show up.

It was the perfect Melbourne winters evening (i.e could wet and miserable!) but inside was warm, coffee infused and inviting.

Magazines galore on display...

The cakes were amazing - from Servery and Spoon...

Me and the mag!

Coffee Supreme kindly loaned an array of coffee making equipment for the evening...

My VIP's for the evening! Chris and Charlotte from Cheerio who days later earn't the title 'Best Small Cafe'
in the Age Good Cafe Guide! (deservedly!)

Chris and Charlotte checking out the mag!

Cheerio folk again with Elaine from Servery, and friend.

My beautiful mummy friends Sonja, Nicki and Alison...

Aaron and Kylie of Life in My Hands and Nicky

Me! and friends Jo and Jeannette...

Some blokes. Including Martin, Kieran (hubby) and Charlie doing his serious face.

Me doing my weirdo face...

The end of the night when things got a little blurry.... Rachel and Sam.

Others were there but were not photographed on account of the fact that I forgot that I become the worst photographer on the world after a few wines (ie it didn't occur to me to take any more photos.....)

So that was it. The Magazine has had it's christening and business starts now!

Brew Class: Chemex, with David from The Abbotsford Club

Brew Class: Chemex

The Abbotsford Club

(Coffee Supreme)

28-36 Grosvenor St  

Abbotsford VIC 3067

It was great attending a brew class this morning at The Abbotsford Club at Coffee Supreme. David ran though the equipment and techniques required and demonstrated the process from beginning to end. I'm so pleased I came along - like anything the first time is a bit daunting but David insists that practice makes perfect and that the Chemex is user friendly even for beginners. As always I will let the pictures do the talking:

The lab-inspired chemex is a thing of beauty to behold...

David talks about the grind and the 'recipe'

Folding the filter paper...

Fold and fold again and open the cone to place in mouth of the Chemex...

The paper must be soaked through with boiled water to warm the equipment and to remove the papery taste from the filter.

Keep the hot water in the Chemex until ready to start brewing to keep it all hot...

Discard the water and add 30gm ground coffee (medium 'sand-like' grind) to center of the filter cone.

Soak all the coffee with water (ideally 92'C). Pour just enough to give a good soaking.

Agitate to ensure all coffee is soaked. Allow to soak in at least 30 seconds until coffee loses the wet look.

Now pour remainder of water (about 500gm/500ml)

Another brief agitation to ensure even coverage. Once water has filtered through discard filter paper and grinds.

And there you have it....

Time for the taste test.

The coffee is light and clean yet full flavoured. 

Time for attendee's to have a go.

SALFORD LADS CLUB + TUCK SHOP

SALFORD LADS CLUB and baby brother TUCK SHOP


This place is an institution. No, seriously. It has not been here for that long (a couple of years) but it has changed this area. Rejuvenated it. And what a change from the kind of eatery you would expect to find in an industrial park environment. The business men (and women too of course, but this really is a bit of a lads club, given the location and all) have been treated to a top class cafe with industrial designer interiors, fantastic coffee and amazing food. Owner Greg, a bricky and a man's man (this guy is great - he is a bricky and he looks like a bricky and he runs this awesome place - kudos!) is also as it turns out a self taught designer. He has worked on the interiors bit by bit with significant changes over the Christmas period. The latest edition is Tuck Shop, a tiny attached space with a separate entrance selling take-away sandwiches (etc) and coffee. 


Recently a Pilates studio has opened behind the cafe and a traditional men's barbers shop is under construction next door. Like I say This cafe has rejuvenated the area.


I think it is time to let the pictures do the talking.

The tyre swing and kitchen garden add a little homeliness to this industrial park.

Love those steel framed windows.

Meet Tuck Shop. This wee fellow is only days old. Aw, cute.

The moulded metal counter reminds me of a groovy retro 50's caravan.

Greg put in the brick pizza oven.

Steps to the office double up as shelving. Love the porthole windows cut from the brickwork The brick 'plugs' now make ideal garden seating, outside.

SALFORDS LADS CLUB + TUCK SHOP
1 fennell st (cnr bridge st)
port melbourne
melbourne 3207