Posted Mon Jul 21, 2008, 7:43pm Subject: Any good cafes in Cairns?
I'll be traveling to Cairns in a couple of months and would like to have some cappas when I'm there. Does anybody know the names and address of the best cafes there? I'll be staying by the promenade area. Thanks!
Posted Sun Jul 27, 2008, 12:31am Subject: Re: Any good cafes in Cairns?
I didn't check out the coffee in Cairns, so I can't comment... but, around the corner from the Woolshed (night club), there is a fantastic steak house! I had Waygu (sp?) beef which was the bomb!
ang_k Senior Member Joined: 9 Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Western Australia Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Jul 27, 2008, 2:43am Subject: Re: Any good cafes in Cairns?
If you head to Port Douglas (which you should) check out re:hab.... they are the leaders of the pack up that way. Best coffee you'll get in FNQ.
A lot of people don't realise but there is a whole heap of coffee grown in FNQ. If you head up to the Atherton Tablelands (which you should also do, very pretty waterfalls) you'll hit Mareeba.... where the bulk of the coffee is grown. Now is a pretty good time to be there too as they harvest between June - August.
I'd recommend the Australian Coffee Center (Skybury), about 15kms out of Mareeba, for a great tour detailing the main growning harvesting practices in the area (all mechanically harvested). Just before Skybury is Maloberti Coffee. He's an old Italian guy (huge Italian population in Mareeba) who mechanically harvests but dry processes his coffee. Very old school and a really interesting guy. I'd then head back into Mareeba and check out The Coffee Works. Their tour is about $25 which main seem a bit pricey but they have the most amazing coffee/antique collection. Over 2000 pieces which were all originally collected by a guy called Ian Berstein, most with audio giudes of him talking about different pieces. A must for any coffee geek. The tour also includes a bean to cup commentry and samples of lots of coffees, liqueurs and chocolates from another part of their enterprise. If you go Mon-Fri you can also head down the roastery and catch the roaster in action. Just East of Mareeba on the way back to Kuranda is jaques coffee. Worth popping in if you have time but I'd give it a miss if you don't. All of those places use the local coffee as a single origin in their espressos.
In Cairns itself the kids like Beethovens Cafe, which also has yummy cakes and such. In Cairns Central check out Coffee Corner (think that's the name, top floor near Myer) where they also use local coffee.
Feel free to PM me if you want any other good non-coffee recommendations - I lived up there on and off for 8 years working in hospitality (massage in spas and also coffee in Mareeba) so I know a few good places!
Everman Senior Member Joined: 25 Nov 2004 Posts: 966 Location: Coffee Land Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Valentina Levetta Grinder: Mazzer Mini Roaster: Hottop
Posted Mon Jul 28, 2008, 2:00pm Subject: Re: Any good cafes in Cairns?
I appreciate the replies, unfortunately I didn't have internet while over there. I did find some good coffee just on Esplanade, I'd have to look at my picture to recall the name, but they have a sign that says "we speak fluent espresso," they were good for a cappuccino. Coffee Club was pretty good too. I also went to Jacques coffee plantation which was great. Cairns was awesome, we had a great time.
Posted Wed Jul 30, 2008, 5:41pm Subject: Re: Any good cafes in Cairns?
Thank you guys for the recommendations! I had no idea there are coffee plantations up by Port Douglas. I'll have to make a separate trip over there some other time. This time around I'll be in Cairns for a very short time b/c my main destination is PNG so no time to go all the way up there. I guess I'll get to try out some PNG coffees too.
I'll definitely try out the few places you guys recommended right in Cairns. Really looking forward to trying some local espressos that speaks to me :-)
beevere Senior Member Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Cairns Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sat Aug 30, 2008, 11:05pm Subject: Re: Any good cafes in Cairns?
I heard a rumour about Bang Espresso opening and wandered up and down Spence Street trying to find out. Thanks for the clue that it's located in the Boland's Centre (note correct spelling if anybody is looking for it).
I'm an espresso drinker (senza zucchero) so the coffee has to be made really well for it to taste any good. The majority of cafes in Cairns get away with inferior coffee as it's masked by all that frothy milk and chocolate sprinkles. Having said that my favourite spots are...
Billy's Coffee - Billy pumps out coffees like there's no tomorrow at Rusty's markets (open Friday-Sunday) in Cairns CBD. I love this coffee mainly because Billy puts so much love and personal attention. This guy will never forget what type of coffee you drink. If you're there on a Friday or a Saturday, just around the corner from Billy's you can also buy fresh coffee beans from the local farms.
Perottas - owned by an Italian, great breakfasts and good crema. These guys use Genovese which seems to be the most consistent commercial coffee bean up here.
The Edge - also Genovese users, the best breakfast in town and located in the burbs near the Botanical Gardens. Good locals spot to get away from the tourist rush.
12 Bar Cafe - in City Place, really friendly young couple who own the place.
I'm not sure how Re:hab in Port Douglas got it's reputation as being the 'best coffee in the Far North'. They made perhaps the worst coffee I have had in the Far North (even worse than that little cafe in Ravenshoe)... I could not finish my espresso. Which is saying something as there's only 2 sips in an espresso. I was thoroughly disappointed as that's ALL they do.. coffee, they don't even make there own bikkies!
Posted Fri Sep 5, 2008, 8:03pm Subject: Re: Any good cafes in Cairns?
Thanks for the info. on all the places for a good cup of espresso in Cairns. I'll be heading out there in a couple of days so I'll sure hit some of them on your list.
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