InSpiral Lounge

Camden Lock250 Camden High Street,
Camden, London NW1 8QS020 7428 5875
http://www.inspiralled.net/
















The very busy little café-bar is set up over two floors, right smack, bang in the middle of all the Camden craziness. With a the perfect view of the Camden Loch and even some outside tables canal side, this odd blend of health café and bar, kind of works, catering well to the broad taste of the locals.
InSpiral serves a range of wines, cocktails and other alcoholic beverages but has an organic edge to it. Salads and whole foods are the go here, (although a little on the pricey side) and strangely thrown into the mix is a devine little chocolate counter, cakes and muffins.
The odd shaped tables, comfy stools and chairs, add to the earthy feel of the place and tucked into the corner is a tiny internet café. Special events from DJs to open mike nights happen throughout the week so ring ahead for confirmation of the entertainment for the evening.
The coffee was rich and smooth, rather ordinary but no out of the ordinary complaints.

Close to Public Transport √ Liquor License √
Wi-Fi Available √ Celiac options ×
Vegetarian Options √ Kid friendly √

Federation Coffee

Brixton Village(Close to Atlantic Road Entrance), Brixton High Street

http://www.federationcoffee.com/

The love of coffee is obvious at Federation.
This tiny antipodean café is situated amongst the bustle of Brixton Village. With limited seating available (two tables inside and two out) this coffee shop does a roaring trade due to the donkey punch of a coffee and really tasty home baked cakes and bickies.
Having set up shop only a few months ago this café has become a quick favourite with the locals.
They have labelled themselves; “The Best Coffee in Brixton”, and they may well be right.
The coffee has me almost dangling from the rafters! It s really well made using “Nude” coffee beans from Spittlefields, rich, strong and nutty with a lovely crema and no detectable bitterness. Hmmm.

A word of warning, you need to get in quick. The guys are becoming so popular they have been known to run out of the yummy cakes that they make with their own two reasonably clean hands. ( I missed out this morning – and blimey what a sulk I put on) If you buy the fudge, I would recommend purchasing a few pieces because by the time your mates have a little sample, you’ll be left with just the crumbs, it is that seriously melt in your mouth delicious. (and makes me slobber thinking about it) So! Best coffee in Brixton? So far so good… there’s a few of us waiting for Federation to go global.

Close to Public Transport √ Liquor License x
Wi-Fi Available √ Celiac options √
Vegetarian Options √ Kid friendly √

Trinity Stores

5&6 Balham Station Road sw12 9sg
020 8673 3773
www.trinitystores.co.uk
















I’m really partial to this cozy little garden feel café. ( Don’t get excited there isn’t a garden – unless you count the pot plants on the window sill, that is.)
This is one of my local treasures where I like to chill and do some writing. Primarily a delicatesson, this café displays a wide variety of specialty foods in addition to fresh made quiches, pastries and salads. Just a few tables dotted about and they have recently managed to squish in a few more, but it just makes it more cosy and more sociable.

There is a little down side. The coffee is quite average. The black has very little crema and the latte is…well it is a latte, I can just about confirm that. But that’s not the point. You just have to keep telling yourself, that there are more things in life besides a perfect cup of coffee. I almost turned inside-out when I wrote that, in fact, it put so much strain on my body I think I feel my brain leaking out of my ears! Although it goes against the coffee grain, I do love Trinity, the staff are friendly and chatty and they are not opposed to loitering lingering customers.
(There is a place to plug in my computer so I can continue to spread the word of the Coffee Guru, although sadly, there is no wi-fi. I forgive this slight too…)
Gosh, see what you can get away with by offering a girl a pretty display of organic cheese and making an almost digestable coffee??

Close to Public Transport √ Liquor License ×
Wi-Fi Available × Celiac options ×
Vegetarian Options √ Kid friendly √

Cocco Lounge

206 Ryrie st
geelong Australia
0352299455

With a very young hip vibe Coco Lounge is more of a club or a bar than a coffee joint, but I was drawn in by their slogan that adorns the front of their establishment;
“Coffee is my life”!
What Coffee Guru could ignore that?

And hey! They make a great coffee! Completely worthy of a mention by the Guru.
So good I ordered another before I'd even finished the first! (well hey, it was summer and you have to keep up your fluid intake!)

No complaints at all.
Good friendly, fast service. A wide range of food available (but not great for celiacs - boo). The place would definately come into its own at night when it was pumping.
Right in the heart of Geelong but would be perfectly at home in Soho.

Close to Public Transport √ Liquor License √
Wi-Fi Available √ Celiac options ×
Vegetarian Options × Kid friendly (you could but why would you?)

Alphabet City Cafe

98/100 High StNorthcote VIC 3070, Australia

After being out of the country for such a long time, I dropped by Silliyaks, a nice little celiac café in High St Northcote, to scoff down a few dozen wheat free coffee scrolls. Unfortunately they had the audacity to be closed for the length of my entire visit, so I popped across the street for an espresso, or three and a blast from my past at Alphabet City Cafe.
This was a bit of a fav of mine when I lived in the area about a century ago, and it doesn’t have appeared to have changed very much in all that time… thank you god.

Open from 10:00am until late, the décor is shabby, old vinyl chairs and walls covered with paintings by local artists, the only thing missing is a formica table, and believe me I looked, but was sadly, to be disappointed.
There is a leafy garden to chill in with a beer (they are fully licensed) and a huge menu that caters to most weird diets, including dairy free, gluten free, vegetarian and other eating disabilities!

There is a nice range of teas, but the coffee gets four of my very best ticks after tasting. Could not fault it! What can I say… just tops.

Grungy but clean and comfortable, Alphabet City Café is a lovely relaxed little spot for a chat or a read of your fav book.

Close to Public Transport √ Liquor License √
Wi-Fi Available × Celiac options √
Vegetarian Options √ Kid friendly √

Barwin Edge Boathouse

Windsor Road Newton Victoria Australia
52 212 200
http://www.barwonedge.com.au/index.html

















Sadly, there’s no boat, or none that we could find...but don’t let that put you off.
Nestled amongst some urban bushland and surrounded by its own lake (and waterfall when the water restrictions aren’t kicking in), this a lovely place to stop off if you are walking or biking on the hiking paths nearby.
A slick and stylish restaurant attached to a spacious café and outdoor decking area, beautiful in the summer months. There really is something to suit most tastes.
And as usual your Guru is ecstatic to find gluten free cake or an unusually high standard, but that’s obviously not what we are here for.

The boathouse serve a good standard of coffee, although my father’s was so foamy he could well have shaved with it. Never-the-less, it had a good strong almost woody taste to it, a lovely crema on the espresso and didn’t hit the palatte like a donkey’s kick. Very nice.
Families are encouraged, and as such a kiddie’s play area is visible from the varandah. Kiddiless peoples who wish to remain so, have no fear… this is hardly Ronal Mc Donald’s playhouse and the play are is situated far enough from the café as to be in keeping with the old “seen not heard”!
The Boat House takes bookings for large groups and functions, and I’m sure there would have been the odd marriage or two, as it is a lovely setting and quite the find in a suburban area.

A peaceful place for a quiet caffeine fix on a sunny afternoon. Apparently there’s a jetty too… but we couldn’t find it. Maybe it’s hiding behind the invisible boat!

Close to Public Transport × Liquor License √
Wi-Fi Available × Celiac options √
Vegetarian Options √ Kid friendly √

the Bean Pod Cafe'

37 Hitchcock Ave, BARWON HEADS, VIC, 3227
Phone: (03) 5254 2... (03) 5254 22

Sitting pretty on the corner, Bean Pod Café is just ramshackle beach-hut cool!
A converted weatherboard, it is boho in all the right ways and the staff are cheerful and helpful despite being seriously busy and besieged by children.
With homemade cookies and slices, the joint is licensed so help yourself to a beer or mojito! (and apparently the odd fish taco too….what ever that is! Please, don’t tell me, I beg you!) Fortunately, the guru is only here to “do Coffee”!
High in the coolness category for this particular chic, the only issue seems to be the busy main road, which runs alongside two sides of the café – it’s a lot of dirt noise and bustle when you are lingering over your two shot espresso. (two shot standard) However, if you prefer the quiet life, there is a garden in the rear and several rooms in the house in which to hide away amongst the scatty furniture and write that illusive novel.
The cappuccino is served in a massive cup or traditional latte glass if preferred. It was a little cardboardy in taste but, well made and quite enjoyable. I had no major complaints, and hey, with my cup sitting in a bright red saucer, an umberella over my head and a surfboard propped up against my table...who wouldn't be having a good time?

Close to Public Transport × Liquor License √
Wi-Fi Available × Celiac options ×
Vegetarian Options × Kid friendly √

Atomica

268 Brunswick st Melbourne Australia



This little café in the heart of alternative Melbourne, was just pumping! Furnished with the usual grunge décor, the walls primed with photographs by local artists, there was such a lengthy queue we thought Nana Mouskouri tickets must have been on sale, but were pleasantly surprised to find that Atomica is busy for one reason. Their coffee is fab.
We needed all our devious and womanly charms to nab a table, but no cahrms of any kind could seduce a waiter into serving us. I had to hunt one down! (just in the nick of time to pinch the very last raspberry muffin – Whew!)

Atomica does a roaring trade in take out coffees, and unfortunately that day, there didn’t seem to be enough staff to handle the load. Still, that aside…The Coffee was lovely! A very smooth blend, expertly made with not even a whimper of any after taste. No suger required. It was just good all on its lonesome.

Atomica is a cool little spot if you can stand the constant noise and bustle, but its probably nicer to take your coffee window shopping with you than to attempt to linger for quiet conversation.

Close to Public Transport √ Liquor License √
Wi-Fi Available × Celiac options √
Vegetarian Options √ Kid friendly √

At the Heads

At The HeadsJetty Road Barwon Heads Vic 3227
Phone: 5254 1277


http://www.attheheads.com.au/index.html

At the Heads Situated literally on "the Heads" this picturesque cafe-restaurant is the perfect stop off on a hot day, or in fact... any day. Views of the coastline are beautiful from the veranda which juts out over the ocean itself, the large double doors leading into the cafe making the most of the sea breeze in the heat of the day. A relaxed environment where loitering is almost a way of life, this family friendly, easy to find, easy to park cafe even manages to produce a decent strength latte, served, much to my joy, in the traditional latte glass. Unfortunately there was a little too much foam for my liking, as I wasn't in the mood to build a snow man, and never really enjoy digging for my coffee, i always find it a bit of a bummer. When I did manage to locate the coffee, however, it was very nice. Rich and full of flavour, the perfect temperature...which must have been rather difficult given the heat of the day, and a lovely nutty flavour that seemed to linger that I really enjoyed. Although your Guru is obviously not there to give out Michelin Stars, the food At the Heads, is rather good. There is also an extensive wine list, all of it Victorian and all of it reasonably priced. There is a large staff team, who seem polite, efficient and keep the place spotless, but are not big on conversation. At the Heads is a great place for a family brunch, or for Grandma and Grandpa to watch the kids on the beach without having to actually get sand in their shoes. I'm going again and I'm taking my mum!

Kafe Kaos

54-56 Mountjoy Parade Lorne
03 52892639
http://www.kafekaos.com.au/

After begging my sister and my niece until I was almost blue in the face and they were plotting to strangle me with my own flapping tongue, I finally got my second trip to Kafe Kaos! The food is terrific and they serve a coffee so strong it could kill a camel!
The place is kid friendly and had a kids menu. It serves all day breakfast, and brags a great range of cakes, not to mention gluten free and vegetarian options, which is great for yours truly. It's in a fab location directly facing the beach at Lorne, the downside being that service can be a little slow in peak times. However, that just proves the popularity of this little grunge funk café.

The coffee could strip paint...which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it helps to get a well timed slap on the back when it comes time to swallow, just to help it find its way down. Be prepared for all the hairs to stand up on your arms and to do the full body quiver! Its like being fed caffeine intravenously.
After a twenty hour flight I managed twenty minutes on a sea side trampoline with my twelve year old niece which I think is pretty much to the credit of one heck of a cup of Joe!

But there was a little downside to the Kaos.
The glasses were... well, pretty putrid. My sister and I were served cups that still had the last customer's wet paper napkin stuffed into the bottom one of them. Not surprisingly we didn't argue over who would get the cup with the extra napkin over cup with the multicoloured lipstick stains, we chose to reject them both. Unfortunately we couldn't reject the rainbow glasses.
I hate drinking out of plastic glasses! They should be against the Geneva convention. Never was anything so vile and detrimental to the enjoyment of food than the plastic cup. It doesn't matter how bright, Brady Bunch, or Retro rainbow the plastic, (like these particular culprits) They are still yucky and make everything taste like…well, plastic! So, why do it??
Restaurateurs everywhere... please ask yourselves that question before choosing china for your new cafe!

Anyway... I digress.
Having said all this, it must be remembered that I asked to be returned to the above address on more than one occasion, even after the the incident with the napkin, why you may ask?

Go there... scoff, gulp, see for yourself.

Close to Public Transport × Liquor License √
Wi-Fi Available × Celiac options √
Vegetarian Options √ Kid friendly √

Macoron French Patisserie and Boulangerie Bakery

One of my fav places to read the paper or chat on an otherwise mundane afternoon. Overlooking all the action of Clapham Common, Macaron boasts a huge selection of French goodies of an extremely pretty but naughty nature. Hand made chocolates, that are very, very good and some ice cream that even gets your Guru dribbling in winter.(I’m not particial to things of an icy nature) Your humble croissant gets a look, in but the star of this café is the multicoloured macaroon yumminess!
Coffee is served in quaint china cup and there is a list as long as your arm of beautiful teas that taste as good as they smell.
The downside to Macoron is the coffee. If you like it black then you won’t be too disappointed, its strong with a punchy nuttiness and nice layer of creama, but the latte and cappuccino….as my mother used to tell me when I was just a little Guru; “If you can’t say anything nice…don’t say anything at all!”
(Suffice to say that it leaves a lingering and rather unpleasant taste in the mouth.)
I’m not put off by this…it’s just another excuse to drink espresso! It’s still one of my favourite places to meet up with friends and yap to strangers over the paper. The sun pours in through that double window and it really is a delight.
Hey, no one can be perfect in every way!

Close to Public Transport √ Liquor License ×
Wi-Fi Available √ Celiac options ×
Vegetarian Options √ Kid friendly √