Coffee Safari | Conde Duque
The HM Coffee Map
The Cat's Whiskers?
We've been on the hunt for quality caffeine, again, seeking the java jive west of San Bernardo.
Cafe Miau
On the web
A classic modern mini coffee spot, with a dozen or so seats, a very friendly chap behind the counter and carrot cake lurking on top.
Cafe con leche is pretty much classic Madrid style, albeit with fresh milk. Definitely not your contemporary high price latte. Americano is large enough to wake a sleeping mummy. Water is offered without request and doesn't come with random bits of salad vegetable floating in it, which is a mercy.
Furniture's reasonably comfortable too (seats with backs!), although on a chilly day things aren't as cosy as you might want in such a compact space.
HK was back on carrot cake duty today and declared it smart enough and moist enough, but the creamy topping didn't compute for her;
I liked the whole thing. It tasted and looked like a human had made it, not a machine. Not bad, that.
So, Miau. Not purrfect, but a decent place to stop if you're feline like a break. Fur enough, we reckon.
Coffee 👍👍👍
Cake 👍👍👍
Comfort 👍👍👍
Service 👍👍👍👍👍
Masters Specialty Coffee
Now closed, sadly.
http://masters.coffee/
So here's another good spot. There's some quality coffee at MSC - and they're selling it by the bag, too. Furniture (more comfy chairs - what's going on?) is human not hobbit, and tables feature a nifty shelf arrangement for bags and acoutrements.
We liked the coffee enough that, precedent being set here, we managed a second go around. And, after an americano and latte today, HK, along for the tasting trip, summed it up simply:
And, in the words of no less a light than Einstein*, never argue with a principal violinist.
Toast 'n' tomato was a generous two slices and a fair wodge of the red stuff. Blueberry tart was, well, tart. There's a choice of half a dozen options in a neat little display unit by the window.
We had great service from a very amiable and chatty chap, with milk - and breads, we concluded -delivered from Acre across the road. An impressively local clientele pop in for a quick one or a take away included at least one customer who quite possibly knew my mother in law. It's a pleasing and satisfying mix of the new and traditional.
Pickiness? There's a building site opposite at the moment which makes for a bit of noise when the trucks are loading. And the two centimetre gap under the door warrants a draught excluder on a chilly February day.
Not the cheapest in town, but definitely worth your time if you're passing by.
Coffee 👍👍👍👍👍
Cake 👍👍👍👍
Comfort 👍👍👍👍
Service 👍👍👍👍👍
*Oh, and that was Charlie K Einstein. Chief violin stringer at the Meopham & Longfield symphonietta. He told me he once got into a massive argument after accusing said No 1 player of taking bribes to finish concerts faster so the brass section could get to the pub quicker. Yep. Always on the fiddle, apparently.
The HM Coffee Map
The Cat's Whiskers?
We've been on the hunt for quality caffeine, again, seeking the java jive west of San Bernardo.
Cafe Miau
On the web
A classic modern mini coffee spot, with a dozen or so seats, a very friendly chap behind the counter and carrot cake lurking on top.
Cafe con leche is pretty much classic Madrid style, albeit with fresh milk. Definitely not your contemporary high price latte. Americano is large enough to wake a sleeping mummy. Water is offered without request and doesn't come with random bits of salad vegetable floating in it, which is a mercy.
Furniture's reasonably comfortable too (seats with backs!), although on a chilly day things aren't as cosy as you might want in such a compact space.
HK was back on carrot cake duty today and declared it smart enough and moist enough, but the creamy topping didn't compute for her;
As ever, how much and how sweet a topping remain a personal preference. I'd vote for more topping but a touch less sweet. Also, I wouldn't mind a bit more cake - that said, it was 3€ whereas others ask €4-4.5
I liked the whole thing. It tasted and looked like a human had made it, not a machine. Not bad, that.
So, Miau. Not purrfect, but a decent place to stop if you're feline like a break. Fur enough, we reckon.
Coffee 👍👍👍
Cake 👍👍👍
Comfort 👍👍👍
Service 👍👍👍👍👍
Masters Specialty Coffee
Now closed, sadly.
http://masters.coffee/
So here's another good spot. There's some quality coffee at MSC - and they're selling it by the bag, too. Furniture (more comfy chairs - what's going on?) is human not hobbit, and tables feature a nifty shelf arrangement for bags and acoutrements.
We liked the coffee enough that, precedent being set here, we managed a second go around. And, after an americano and latte today, HK, along for the tasting trip, summed it up simply:
It has to be two of the best coffees I've had here!
And, in the words of no less a light than Einstein*, never argue with a principal violinist.
Toast 'n' tomato was a generous two slices and a fair wodge of the red stuff. Blueberry tart was, well, tart. There's a choice of half a dozen options in a neat little display unit by the window.
We had great service from a very amiable and chatty chap, with milk - and breads, we concluded -delivered from Acre across the road. An impressively local clientele pop in for a quick one or a take away included at least one customer who quite possibly knew my mother in law. It's a pleasing and satisfying mix of the new and traditional.
Pickiness? There's a building site opposite at the moment which makes for a bit of noise when the trucks are loading. And the two centimetre gap under the door warrants a draught excluder on a chilly February day.
Not the cheapest in town, but definitely worth your time if you're passing by.
Coffee 👍👍👍👍👍
Cake 👍👍👍👍
Comfort 👍👍👍👍
Service 👍👍👍👍👍
*Oh, and that was Charlie K Einstein. Chief violin stringer at the Meopham & Longfield symphonietta. He told me he once got into a massive argument after accusing said No 1 player of taking bribes to finish concerts faster so the brass section could get to the pub quicker. Yep. Always on the fiddle, apparently.
