Tucked away on a corner from Riding Road, right around the part which is directly opposite Hawthorne Park sits what is now the latest and greatest local hidey-hole. Presenting a specialised boutique coffee house, which welcomes both causal fans and afficinados of coffee. All without any air of pretention to it.
There was a fundraiser at a nearby church in which I was invited to, and I checked with the housemate/dining buddy if he would be interested in coming along. That was going to involve quite a bit of food, so an empty stomach was being brought with before attending it. Additionally, there was this one place that was just opening that he had heard about, a new coffee shop and wanted to try it. Using this opportunity, before heading to the fundraiser the two of us stopped in here and had a coffee.
This was early days for them, and they were still in a developmental stage. It actually had a finished and polished look to it, and a couple of days afterwards their plan was to introduce a savoury breakfast menu. What was really working about Microlot was the staff. These guys were friendly, and I mean really friendly. They were enthusiastic about their product, and were discussing at length about what their plans are for the place.
Microlot is not very big on space. It essentially consists of a small room in which you enter, and a tiny outdoor courtyard out to the side. I have found that that gives places an advantage, since they can build themselves a character which often is allowed to feel more real and authentic. Around the courtyard were all kinds of bonsai, which gave it a cool and relaxing feeling. They also use a lot of beakers and flasks, whether to serve the coffee or use it as a table number. Quirky is a way to describe the aesthetic, and it does not feel forced in any way.
Now, this is what I would call a coffee house. It might vary between who is asked, but to me a coffee house is just as much about the setting as it is about the coffee. As it was said, this is a relaxing and cosy area. That is the first needed component. Next, while there is a time and place for espresso that is not the only coffee that exists. Other kinds of coffee are frequently available such as filter and brewed varieties. On any given day, they will have a single origin bean, and a house blend to sample. All of this is owner Calder Dryden's own blend.
In addition, they have a number of freshly made pastries and snacks to go on the side with the coffee. In the meantime since we visited, the crew has introduced a breakfast menu which is made from fresh ingredients and is a homely selection of items.
Going up to place the usual order, I looked to the side and saw something different. It was called a "Batch Brew", and felt like something a bit different. Also, to go with the coffee I always feel the need to have a sweet or something to do the place justice. Pointing in the cabinet, an apple danish looked like it would do the trick.
At the time that I went, the coffee brew was made with a combination of beans sourced from Ethiopia and Colombia. First off, each time I have tried a coffee from a Colombian place, or had coffee made with beans from Colombia there has been something about the taste that was so different. It is hard to put my finger on it, but I really like it. The flavour is distinct and not like any other I have tried. In addition, with an admitted infatuation about the country I always like to gravitate to the Ethiopian bean when it is on offer. More or less, I can say that my prayers have been answered.
But then, how was the coffee? It was really good. There was a sweet flavour underneath the strong beans, and the texture was really smooth. Additionally, it was just a bit hotter than espresso should be and tasted liked a mix between Aeropress and filter coffee. For something bucking the norm, I could barely ask for better.
I don't know about you, but often what comes to mind with "Danish" is a glob of vaguely fruit "jam" in a pastry shell. Sometimes there might be a bit of fruit in there, but normally it is token. That was totally unlike the danish I had here. The pastry was puffed up high, and it formed a big hole in which the filling was a lot of diced apples mixed in syrup. These apples were crunchy and delicious, the syrup was thick and smooth, and the pastry was obviously fresh. It had a slight buttery flavour in it.
This could well become one of Brisbane's key places to go and get a cup of coffee, and that is not being said lightly. I get a feeling from these guys that they really care about what they are doing, sharpen their knowledge about the product and find ways to indicate how good coffee can be, by having all different modes of enjoying those brewed beans. Don't be surprised if it is not a secret for long; more people need to know it exists.
The 4.0 is a moderate one, as it is certainlly well above average. It has enough of a unique character that it stands out from much of the competition. Calden fully knows what he is doing with enough knowledge from over a decade in the business. I try not to give much higher than 4.0 if it is something simple like this, just so I don't blow up expectations of what the place is. Otherwise, it would be much higher.
P.S. Regarding how well the fundraiser went, it was good. There was tasty food, the people were friendly and it had a pleasant atmosphere. It was food from Latin America, so with that you know you are in for a good time. Just in case you wanted to know.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes