THE GOOD CAFE GUIDE???

I recently bought the Good Cafe Guide, It was after a bout of terminal indecision about where to have coffee in Black Rock. At the time of Purchase I looked through the guide and read all the places in Black Rock I had been trying to decide between. The Cafe Bar I thought might have toast that was rather full and looked popular, Le Cafe de pain I identified as having promise from its brother cafes in sth yarra and carlton and the one we did end up visiting which had yummy carrot cake and lovely people and particularily good coffee which enough time peering perhaps not discreetly enough at other peoples coffee cups had convinced me to go there.

Thus I thought the Good Cafe Guide could be good. My Mum travels around for work and I often go with her, I thought it might help me make a faster decision next time I was stuck some unfamiliar place (Though few are nowadays, but that was when I discovered the fatal flaw of the good cafe guide was it was a inner suburb melbourne insular cafe guide, I had thought ina past version they at least had Ripe in Sassafrass, This had nowhere far outside Balwyn and as I don't have the best impression of any cafe in Balwyn I was not impressed.

So I am thinking the Outer Eastern Suburbs need someone to stand up for them.

As My mind can roam and go off on tangents far too fast I am going to try and confine this post to my most recent visits to cafes in and out of my area I feel deserve the stamp of good cafe.

I'll start out of my area in shopping town. It is a place I often have to wait for long periods and generally I have coffee at Jones the Grocer there. They have nice seedy bread and good lookig almod croissants, it is easy to find a private space to sit though the area inside shopping town is rather dingy and cool. Once or twice I have tried 'Black Rye' there with mum too when Jones the Grocer was closing up earlier and I craved toast. The amount of fruit toast for the price was rather frustrating, I always prefer not too much of a good thing and it was yummy and fruity and good and not too much in amount but the ripped off feeling did bite into the experience and we haven't gone back, the coffee was at memory not so memorable but that is perhaps because the other day I decided to leap out of my habit and try the cafe next door Coffee Hit that was always roasting the beans and looking inviting but I hadn't tried before as usually I was hungry and nothing in the display tablet grabbed at me. I ordered a long black and as an afterthought an almond croissant that they offered to heat up. As I had just tried a green juice from boost of celery, cucumber and spinach which was more ice than juice

(Boost are so annoyingly precious of how much green juice they'll give you, I wished I went to the normal Juice shop near Jones the Grocer where the lady is lovely and there is always enough celery to make a brilliant and perfect drink not icypole the Boost Juice just felt like dyed ice, the price they charge for fancy versions of water nowadays you'd think the resource was diamonds)

I was desperate to be warmed up and this Coffee Hit Coffee did that to the tips of my toes, one of those wonderful sink into the cup experiences when you get up able to face the day again, The almond croissant I ended up taking away had a satisfying amount of almonds and was an afterthought my mum enjoyed well but for me the coffee which was the ultimate blend was all that I needed. The cup was the perfect rounded short size, the crema deep and it took you out of the depressing shopping centre articial lighting and droning environment to another place, you could definitely travel into that cup.

Moving back to somewhere more permanantly my area though I will briefly mention where to try and describe them better another post

Places that deserve note and a good review

Croydon, Beckandales, Crumpet toast, Creamy Coffee Yum,
And Places to try in the hills
The Deli, Coffee, Lunch, a bit hard to find private space, tables particularily communal
Montage, Retro, Caffeine, Cakes, Community a relaxed atmosphere you can make yourself at home in and find a space to yourself in
The Tea Rooms - Scones, Service, Coffee, Biscotti, architecture. Rather formal a bit cold but warm people
Ripe european, Friendly, atmosphere, taste interest, Baguettes, Communal and private tables you can find your own space in or outside, lovely places outside to sit and watch the world go by
Ranges, A fire, Coffee, Cake, lots of space, Open Lunch and Dinner,
Baumarchais, Interesting cakes, french atmosphere, yummy baguettes. Dark and Cosy inside
Churinga, Coffee, Wine, Pancakes, Roast Dinner, Whatever suits your taste and wildlife to give you a real experience of the dandenongs, varied seating and views to suit privacy, contemplation and exploration

My Awards
The Tearooms - Best Coffee and Scones, Service
Ripe - Best Atmosphere, Interesting cakes Phillipas breads
Ranges - Best Fire, Cakes
Baumarchais best slices, french atmosphere and fresh baked baguettes
Miss Marples - through the window it looks like they make yummy salad
Churinga, Warm People, Best variety of food to suit lots of tastes and moods, best experience of being amongst nature
The Deli, Good Baguettes, Yummy Cold Drinks,
Montage, Coffee, Cake, Acceptance,
Beckandales - Best Toast,  cosy seating and atmosphere

What I look for in a Cafe

Somewhere I can find my own space, that I don't forced to be communal but that has that option somewhere
Somewhere with character
Somewhere with thick crema on an intense long black
Somewhere that is warm
Somewhere with an innovative menu
Somewhere that the people are inviting and caring and genuine
Somewhere with Books, interest, something to look at
Somewhere I can feel comfortable in
Somewhere with yummy toast, a homemade, fresh baked, local produce feel
Somewhere that feels european or french
Somewhere with natural environment like trees incorperated
Somewhere peaceful, Alive, Humming, Smelling like coffee
Somewhere that serves breakfast a long time
Somewhere that has vegemite, strawberry's, toast, nuts and honey somewhere on the menu