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tim says...
Totally awesome, do not miss!
11 January 2010 (web)

Outstanding coffee

Wow. What do I say about Market Lane? I'd read a review elsewhere after my brother Dan (http://thered-eyes.com) told me his mate Jason was managing it. I checked out their website (http://www.marketlane.com.au/), which is absolutely excellent, especially for a coffee house. Fantastic web design speaks of attention to detail, and other reviews spoke very highly. I turned up at 7AM today, when it was a delightful 33 degrees in Melbourne already. It was a bit tricky to find, as Google Maps shows it at the front of Prahran Market, but it's out the back, on Elizabeth St. I was greeted with a beaming Jason behind the counter who introduced me to Fleur, who was lovely and welcoming. I felt as if they would talk to me for ages had I not turned up when all the morning opening stuff needed doing. The place itself is awesome; open, airy. Lots of timber, natural tones, and replicates the website, or is that vice versa? Like I said, attention to detail. The big black board has a flow chart of coffees, which I think is awesome as it helps educate people. One of the main aims of this site is to educate the mass market (of which I am part). I'm learning so much about coffee just by doing all this, so I hope all the readers do, too. I ask loads of questions, and this morning was no different. I ordered a double ristretto and a piccolo (essentially a small latte). The ristretto was awesome and sweet. It's a delight to come to a cafe that has fresh coffee and knows what it's doing - I just wish there were more in the suburbs! Sorry about the blurry photo. The piccolo was awesome, I watched Jason pour it; he certainly has chops! Rich, strong, fresh. I think it was normal milk, but I couldn't detect that burnt-fat milk taste which I can't stand (and why I love Bonsoy). As I was drinking the ristretto, Jase sat down to chat and pass me the tasting notes of their current seasonal blend (see below). He asked if I wanted a shot from their Clover. After some Googling (http://www.thefoodblog.com.au/2009/11/coffee-lovers-pilgrimage-to-mecca.html) upon my arrival at work, I divined that a Clover is a very, very expensive, very rare coffee brewer (around $15k to buy one, and it seems Starbucks bought the original manufacturer out, so you can't buy one - there are only a handful in Oz). Anyway, Jase bought a taste over. The coffee was a lot clearer than normal, no crema (obviously, being brewed). It almost looked like tea. Tasting it was a SHOCK. It was light, only faint coffee taste, but what stood out what really fruity tones! It was almost like drinking wine, I could actually detect (what seemed like) lemon . The tasting notes said it had bergamot too, but all I can tell you is that is was an amazing way to drink coffee. I highly, strongly, absolutely recommend checking Market Lane out. Ask for a Clover coffee of the day, whatever it may be, and line up the coffee of your choice. Market Lane gets a 9.5 from me. I am tempted to drop it to a 9.0 because of the lack of a Fin Review for me to read, but that would be pretty churlish of me, wouldn't it. If I eat there and it's outstanding, it'll be a 10.

Coffee OUTSTANDING!