Ricky's Cafe Under the Bridge

Scores:
Coffee: 11/20
Whole experience (cafe + coffee): 26/40
Bean: Allpress Coffee

Coming from the inner west, it always amazes me the hive of activity which can be found in other suburbs of Sydney in the morning, more so at just on 7am. This morning finds me back in Kirribilli, trying out what must be one of the more popular cafes in this ever popular suburb.

Ricky's cafe under the bridge is a very popular cafe, you can tell this as it's 7am on a Wednesday and people are lining up for a table. Perhaps it has something to do with its station proximity, or maybe the cafe's cool look, but I would give it more credit than that, people will walk a long way for a good coffee.

I stealthily grab a table as a couple leaves and sit down. Service here is incredibly fast and just as I've settled, a girl has come over with a menu. "Just a coffee" I say, a look of irritation passes her face instantly and disappears just as quickly, I get it, I'm causing problems, just a coffee on a busy morning. A smile is on her face again, "latte thanks" I reply, "sure thing" she replies.

To give you a typical idea of the type of customer here at Rickys - the couple beside me sat down, the waitress came over, they looked at her and said, "we know what we want" and then without the use of a menu gave a huge and quite bespoke breakfast order.

The coffee arrived soon after I'd ordered.

While I could see it made in front of me, on the counter I was a little disappointed in the presentation. No effort had been made to the coffee's art. Pour consistency was ok, although it layered a little light. Heat right up there, close to, to as hot as you can drink it levels. I reckon my 'for here' got treated as a 'take away' as these are all elements you'd not mind or even look for in a take away espresso.

The coffee on tasting I found to have a reasonably nutty flavour, and it did blend with milk creating a balanced and mixed flavour. Although, it should be said the heat of the milk disrupted the more complex nature which can be often found in the Allpress bean. There was a lingering flavour, what i would describe as a weight to the roast, which, once you been drinking it for a while, really makes you feel like you've had a coffee, it's a lingering after taste.

While waiting for my coffee to cool down, I had a look around the place - it's a nice space, interesting industrial feel, with some bright and vibrant colours. It works really well with the industrial 'under the bridge' feeling.

Having let the coffee cool, allowing the flavours to have steeped into the milk, the drink improved significantly. The steeping process brought forward an interesting cafe con leche / caramel type flavour (which does, I must admit come from the highly heated milk) with some slight nutty undertones to it which does give a slight punch to the drink.

Overall, like Ripples down the road, I'm walking away not totally sold on this place. The space, music and staff make for a wonderful morning atmosphere. It is a place full of energy and life. The coffee however is the killer, with little attention put into 'have in' during a rush, it is a let down. One can only hope when things quiet down the presentation and attention to detail would come to the surface far more.

Scores:
1. Coffee score
Style (look and feel): 5/10
Experience (taste and smell): 6/10
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Coffee total: 11/20
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2. Cafe score
Style (what’s it feel like):
Cool?: 7/10
Service: 8/10
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Cafe: 15/20
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Whole experience (coffee + cafe): 26/40


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Random - Black star

Bit of a social coffee break, Sunday @ 2:15pm

Ripples at Milsons Point

Scores:
Coffee: 14/20
Whole experience (cafe + coffee): 29/40
Bean: Vittoria

Often the finer places in Sydney don’t think about coffee that closely. You can be dining with amazing food and a stunning wine list, with even local craft beers on the menu, but low and behold, when it comes to coffee you’re left with something you would pass on the street or could do yourself. This morning finds me at Ripples Café, with my dad, for a late breakfast or an early lunch, not sure which really, now I think about it, so take your choice.

Ripples, is more traditionally known as a destination for a fancier lunch then a casual breakfast (due to its stunning position, prices, and staff) however, I think is an example of the direction which Sydney dining has moved in recent times, slowly away from that fine dining experience and more towards the great culinary experience without the ponciness (although prices are still high!). This is great, as it's opening up so many new places.

Ripples is not really a café you can just drop by due to its local popularity, however, with a bit of luck and making a move early or late, this is totally possible scenario. My dad and I to score a table called up an hour earlier. It was the weather which was on our side however.

Ripples is all about that casual-formal dining experience like I was saying above. It’s the kind of place you sit down, have a menu placed in front of you, have people address you nicely, you pick your entrées and mains and drink beer and wine whilst admiring the harbour. It’s Sydney at its best, certainly my initial thought was how could I not rate this place?

The meal progressed much as you would expect, matching the amazing view it was a really tasty mix of seafood and contempory dishes to graze over.

During the meal, I took some time to take in my fellow dinners. It was really celebrations all round today, a large but very civil birthday was being celebrated and mixing it with these festive diners were Kirribilli locals in thongs and tee shirts, having their lattes while admiring the view.

So this is where it gets interesting (at least for the inner coffee nerds reading along). After a fantastic meal, we ordered coffee and a dessert (hey why not!). I went long black, dad a flat white. Service was pleasant, and prompt and asked whether we wanted the coffees after or during dessert. We went with, during.

The coffee on arrival looked rather pleasant. There was a great looking golden crema to the drink - you could see tendrils of steam gently floating off it into the room, and it was presented in a spotless white china cup. Heat, as far as you’d want to judge with a long black, seemed right on the mark, and dragging a spoon through the crema did not distress it to significantly.

It was here, however, where things went somewhat pear shaped. The aroma of the coffee came across as rather limited – there was a now quite a distinctive, fruity come chocolate come roasted aroma, that actually sounds better written than it smells – it was, I believe, a Vittoria roast.

Taking a few slurps confirmed this fear. Why oh why would a great café do this? To be fair, they did wonders with the roast, it maintained it’s well known flavour base to a T and followed through with a heavily roasted fruity, chocolate flavours. However, after starting on the dessert, my pallet was messed up and even a below average coffee, which has chocolate notes would have come out ok.

Overall, I find it funny that I’m able to have such a positive and negative experience at once. I love the café for its food, polite and fast service and great location. It’s got a nice wine list, comfortable seating and if I had more money in the bank would love to have it as a local. However, the coffee roast choice, no matter how good the barista will always be limited by a mass produced bean. In a time where Sydney eating culture has becomes more casual, yet far more boutique, why not make the effort with your bean? You've done it with everything else!

Scores:
1. Coffee score
Style (look and feel): 8/10
Experience (taste and smell): 6/10
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Coffee total: 14/20
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2. Cafe score
Style (what’s it feel like): one of the world's best located cafes
Cool?: 7/10
Service: 8/10
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Cafe: 15/20
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Whole experience (coffee + cafe): 29/40


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Silverbean

Scores:
Coffee: 13/20
Whole experience (cafe + coffee): 22/40
Bean: Sacred Grounds

Enmore is a little outside the box compared to your usual suburb, even if you pit it against its neighbour, Newtown, it stands as something a little different. It should be then of no surprise that you can, within this funky suburb, find some great characters and some interesting and different cafes.

Silverbean found on Enmore Road really does capture this, latching onto the rockabilly, Americana look and feel like there is no tomorrow. And to be honest would it work so well anywhere else? A somewhat windy morning brings me to check out this cafe I've long walked past.

Silverbean, before you walk in, has got instant street side cred found in the cafe's circa 1950's (I really have no idea) pick-up which is parked outside. Kinda cool.

Walking in, there was a real energy to the place. Staff chatted and joked among themselves, customers went all over the place like they owned it, and there was a great coffee smell. It all seemed to have a bit of a chaotic harmony working for it.

Having finally scored a seat inside, service was quick and  kinda friendly with a girl within about a minute or two coming over to me with a huge grin and asking me what I was after.

My typical 'just a ...' was interrupted with her explanation that all coffee for today was just $1 as it was the cafe's first birthday. Tempting me with this offer she also brought the food menu over. The food whilst looking great was balanced against my lack of wallet, so I had to say 'sorry, no'.

While waiting for my coffee I scoped out its customers. While I was expecting randoms, due to the cheap coffee, I was surprised to find it was more a celebration for regulars, who if you're interested where young-ish Newtown, Enmore types, less the chino type of person, more the old band tee kinda person.

My coffee came out soon after and it had a reasonable look to it. Heat was about as hot as milk should go, layering reasonable, and art nice, although the foam looked a little dry. All round a nice looking latte.

The aroma of the drink was reasonably simple, as you would expect from a PNG organic single origin. There was a dark coco or chocolate smell to the drink and the aroma led itself to having rather earthy associations.

Tasting wise, it was a drink with a noticeable (and surprising) depth to it (single origins are wonderful, but often find their limitations when milk is added to them), there were some disappointments to the drink though. While the initial flavour was quite pleasant with a nutty dark chocolate taste, the aftertaste had a slight metallic lingering feel to it, which was a bummer.

Letting it cool however, allowed more of the coffee to steep into the milk, bringing through that earthiness I found in the aroma, leaving me with a quite pleasant, somewhat acidic drink overall.

Unexpectedly, during this experience, after about 2 minutes of receiving my coffee I was asked to vacate my table within the next 10 to 15 minutes.  I explained to the guy (manager?) I had some friends coming, hinting at that perhaps he could help me find a new table. He walked off doing nothing to help.

Yes it's your birthday and yes at that point of time I was only having a coffee, but give me a helping hand if you want me to move, I did not really want to leave the cafe, but I felt, after this experience that I was just in the way and a liability.

Overall, there is much to like about Silverbean. I like that they are doing something different in the area, and have committed to it across all levels. Likewise I appreciate their unusual choice of the single origin. However, creating issues for any customer is never ideal, and not helping them solve an issue you’ve made, is a bit of a fail. For the record, I'll go back to Silverbean, but  more for the blog to ensure it’s fair rating, than for my regular Saturday morning coffee.

Scores:
1. Coffee score
Style (look and feel): 7/10
Experience (taste and smell): 6/10
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Coffee total: 13/20
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2. Cafe score
Style (what’s it feel like): Americana saloon
Cool?: 6/10
Service: 3/10 (waitress was a 6 in service, guy to told me to move 2)
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Cafe: 9/20
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Whole experience (coffee + cafe): 22/40



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