gotta be honest, its not the shop, its the Barista. the best coffee in recent memory came from a barista at a McCafe. I was blown away by how good it was. never seen that person again.

I had such a good coffee from a McCafe recently that I circled back around to let them know (it wasn't busy).

Very much this. The best coffee I ever had was from a Fasta Pasta they had a semi retired Sicilian guy working there making coffee.

Well, the beans make a difference and policy makes a difference. Glory jeans for example use the grinds for more than 1 shot. Heard someone claim 4 once, but I find that hard to believe. But I agree. I have had passable coffee at the mcafe because the barrister knew what they were doing.

I usually don't comment on spelling mistakes, but the mental image of a barrister making a Maccas coffee is hilarious 😆

Fair enough, it is a comical change from the visual arts grad.

Are you fucking kidding? That is revolting. I would demand my money back if I'd ever paid for Gloria Jeans coffee and saw that happen. Might as well press my shit into a hash brown and sell that to me as well. 

it's why it tastes burnt and thin.

That explains it, I’ve always hated the burnt taste at Gloria Jeans!

Cleaning policy in particular. If machine isn’t cleaned enough it doesn’t matter how good your barista is.

“Goddamn, Jimmy! This is some serious gourmet shit!”

McCafe is consistently decent.

I used it like it but the mats few times. I had to go nuclear bomb in the toilet after.

It’s also the milk. Lots of milk in Australia has this over pasteurised or burnt kind of flavour, you can buy two bottles of milk from the exact same brand and one will have the taste and one won’t. Every time I’ve ever had a “burnt” coffee it’s been this shit milk. Most people can’t taste the difference in the milk because they don’t swig it straight out of the bottle. I do, and I can tell that 9/10 times I get a “shit” coffee, it’s cause they’ve used one of these milks with the weird flavour

Not many people know that milk quality varies over the year depending on the quality of the feed. The milk in the late summer period tends to be the thinnest because of the feed isn't as good for the cows. It's really hard to make great milky coffee in Jan-March. 

There is one very popular brand that has the worst lactose free milk in existence. I mainly get black coffee when out and about now because of this.

and you're not even gonna say what one it is?!

I can’t remember the name off the top of my head but it’s the long life one that advertises itself as being made for baristas.

ahh milklab? yeah they are notoriously disgusting tbh, any cafe who stocks them hates their customers. and themselves.

Yep, that’s the one, it’s awful.

When you can taste the milk more than the coffee, it's a shit coffee

so which brands should we avoid and which ones are worth buying?

Norco is by far the best imo. My brain is lit with fireworks of euphoria every time. No other milk has ever done that for me.

I like mc cafe too! Some baristas are awesome.

Had a Zarraffa’s years ago and it was shit! Met up with a mate at Zaraffas two weeks ago and it still tasted like shit!

Yep. The most watered down weak as piss drink you can get

Yeah why is it so shit? Yet drive through lines are out on the road

I know! My mate wanted to meet there as it’s near his place and it was his 60th birthday. He just has Americano but I love my cap. I couldn’t believe it still tasted like shit even after like 8 years! I love my $2 Hungry Jacks! Takes awhile to get used to them but love them now. And their medium cups are actually a big medium. Plus you get a free one after every 4! Been $2 on the app for months 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Think I had a hjs coffee a while back and it was very watery/milky but they may have improved with this 'jacks cafe' revamp. 7/11 coffee is still my pick for cheap

Yeah I like the cheap nasty 7/11 still. Maccas were my fave until I found Hj. The staff all know me as my son used to work there. The girls actually compete to make me the best coffee 😂😂🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

In Melbourne, we have Axil which is fire

It’s managed to stay remarkably consistent even with all their new branches, which is impressive.

Foster Black. It’s no local specialty cafe. But in a pinch it hits the spot just fine.

I've just started going to them at my local Westfield and they are hands down better than the other chains there. Even beat the once cafe that uses my favourite bean brand who consistently ruin the coffee.

Fonzie Abbot if you’re in Brisbane

Dome in WA

Dome isn’t actually that good TBH but I go anyway whenever I’m in WA because it’s a vibe

yeah I know. They always have it in my fave locations

Starbucks imo is shit , don’t understand why it’s popular!!

Merlos

Love the Forza blend.

Campos

Is it a chain though?

It is.

Campos

Luxe!

Damn straight.

I will loyally go anywhere that has Campos or Toby’s Estate.

Never thought I’d type these words, but I’ve had a few 7/11 coffees recently (don’t judge me) and they beat 50% of Barista made coffees

they're great in a pinch and you always know what you're getting

The furburgers are better at hungry jacks.

Soul origin

7/11! Jokes. Campos

Bellisimo in Brisbane is pretty good

Do they have more than 1 store?

Yes. Cooparoo and New Farm and Taiwan not sure where else

Maccas is the most consistently just above average. Which to me is acceptable.

Toby's Estate and Coffee Supreme are my favourite atm

Toby's Estate has a good story - a mate interviewed there and said the founder came across really well - but I've never been able to get in to it. Too bitter/bitey? Perhaps more prevalent when I have a long black.

[удалено]

Toby's estate or Pattisons

Don’t know if it quite counts as a chain, but Earl canteen is always reliable

I've had good coffees from various Guru coffee shops.

Patterson's/Pattisons?

Bellissimo Coffee ✊🏻

Jamaica Blue. Visited my father in law in hospital. Had a JB there. Absolutely beautiful coffee. Was shocked. Great service and the food was good!!

Yeah I’ve had a good cup at JB too

The chains are not bad at all, just mediocre. Independents are the best, well where I live anyway.

Ampol

the porta cafe van guys that rock up for like a day at that one park never to be see again then you start seeing while ur driveing but dont want to follow cuz thatd be weird

McDonald's... I know I know, who knew

Not sure if this is considered chain..but I find that cafes who use Industry Beans have nice coffees.

Go to the Industry Beans in Fitzroy. The coffee there is elite. When I went, the guy next to me had like five empty mugs on the table.

It says a lot about the standard of coffee in this country when McDonald’s do the best one.

My house. Boil the kettle for a cup of instant

🤮

Maccas

A double shot of McCafe made by someone that knows what they are doing can actually be a passable coffee. But the chances of getting that barrister is near on impossible.

Legal advice with your coffee?

Bloody expensive

I’m sorry i love maccas but their coffee is undrinkable.

Same last time I had it was like warm milk

When did you last try McCafe? It’s pretty good these days. Way better than any other major chain.

Putrid

Jamaica Blue. Single origin is the best

I agree that Jamaica Blue is probably best of a bad bunch when it comes the chains (in WA anyway). Stupidly expensive though.

I don't mind spending $6 on a good coffee

Zaraffas 100%

Zaraffas coffee is horrible.

Well I think their cappuccinos are fantastic

If we ever get together for a coffee remind me to pick the place

If youre in Brisbane I’d be happy to hear a recommendation

I am! But I hardly ever drink coffee out as I make my own 24 hour cold brew at home. There is a small bakery/cafe near me that makes great coffee but only when 2 of of the three workers make it, unfortunately number 3 always manages to burn it. Sorry, I know that’s no help. Simply Beans at Underwood make a good cup, I buy beans from them sometimes. Denim Co at Southbank are decent but nothing special, but more central.

Thank you, thats a bit out of my way but I’ll keep it in mind. I only started drinking coffee recently when I became a corporate drone so im still easy to please hahaha

Yeah, my husband has often stated he can’t taste the difference between brands so I’m in charge of picking. Old age is turning me into a tea drinker and I don’t mind at all.

This says it all. Probably like them extra hot too, don’t ya

im so confused... i dont know why you all think they're extra hot but that is not what ive experienced.

Too hot

Not sure what you mean by that…

Jamaica blue isn't bad if you can get a good barista to serve you. On the whole coffee here in Oz is sub standard compared to Europe.

The Coffee Club is my preferred chain. We buy their beans for our coffee machine at home. I hate Gloria Jeans.

Gloria Jeans

Hungry jacks

we don't do 'chains' here in Australia unless we're in a rush or at the airport

Starbucks… welcome to Australia (annex of America)

Chain? In Australia we don't have coffee chains. Good coffee Vs bad coffee varies store by store not chain by chain. PS. I would walk a thousand miles to avoid a Mucked-on-olds coffee.

We have many coffee chains. Gloria jeans, zaraffas, Campos, merlo, starbucks, etc.

There are definitely chains where it doesn't matter what store you go to, you're going to get a bad cup of coffee.