Coffee Brothers: Fair-trade coffee, Mona Vale (28 Sept 2013)

1/54-56 Darley Street, Mona Vale NSW 2103

http://www.coffeebrothers.com.au

Coffee making a difference

“Ordering Coffee Brothers allows you to contribute towards the livelihood of the hardworking farmers from Tanna Island. We directly reinvest back into the community via a co-op called Tanna Coffee Plantations. Each and every farmer benefits from this co-op as the money is spent on new coffee hullers, minimisation of transport costs, grower bonuses, new seedlings, loans and quality training programs. When you order from Coffee Brothers, you're not just drinking fair-trade coffee, you're drinking beyond fair-trade coffee.”

A good rosetta is usually a good sign for a decent coffee in my books — so far the theory has come true. I hear of great coffees spots in Alexandria, Marrickville, Surry Hills and Annandale but would never have thought to find a place in Mona Vale until I spotted Coffee Brothers listed #1 Top Cafes in Sydney on Beanhunter. My well made Cappuccino ($3.50) was enjoyable with pleasant roasty flavour and smoothness. Babyccino ($3 double) had its downfalls though. Pricey for half a cup but it did come with lots of marshmallows. The generous amount of chocolate on top might be seen as a positive but actually makes it more messy for baby, and parent to clean up the face. Was about half froth and half milk although just all froth is preferable so there's less chance a spillage while baby tries to eat on their own. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable about making coffees for the fanatics. Casual open space with a fair amount of seating. Wish it was closer to home to revisit more often. Limited menu but spotted some tempting scrolls on display — hello! Barista Matt Lakajev recently won a latte art smackdown competition held at Coffee Brothers amongst 25 baristas which is impressive to know.

I mentioned Coffee Brothers to a friend who lives in Mona Vale in the hope they could check them out first to see if a trip all the way out there would be worth it. Here's a long but interesting read of what he discovered: http://aneternityofnow.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/coffee.html

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Make a nice fair-trade coffee, Friendly and passionate barista service, Looks like reasonably priced breakfast menu

CONS: No menu or opening hours found on website for their cafe, Pricy babyccino, Mona Vale is a long way to travel for a coffee if you're not a local

MUST TRY: Coffee as you like

VERDICT: A passionate bunch of friendly locals making good coffee for the locals

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Cappuccino ($3.50) — good flavour, smooth, nice roast, none bitter, made well

SIMON FAVOURITE :-) 

Babyccino ($3 double) — too much chocolate on top gets a bit too messy for baby, would have preferred to be mostly froth and a bit more generous for the price

Mocha ($3.50) — good although seemed more chocolatey than coffee in balance perhaps, nice rich chocolate flavour

Table number

Team of local smiles

Matt Lakajev recently won a barista latte art smackdown competition

Breakfast menu — sounds good but haven't tried

Coffee love — great idea

Tempting display of scrolls

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