Milk and Honey, Aungier Street

This relatively new (apparently) cafe on Aungier Street is not overwhelming, but it's nice. The highlight of the visit was probably the wise-cracking Asian barista guy, who displayed endearing levels of bonhomie. The caffeine offering isn't bad; in fact, my latte was quite creamy and delicious, although the coffee was a little insipid. My mater had an americano, which she insisted wasn't hot enough, so I asked endearing Asian guy for another, less temperate version. He very obligingly scalded the hell out of the cup, before carefully bearing the beverage aloft to our table with a saucer clamped firmly on top to prevent any wayward thermal energy from escaping. However, I wouldn't really hold the purported coolness of my mother's coffee against the establishment -she does like a coffee that's 'good and hot'. I suspect this is because, when drinking coffee, she's really looking for the sort of gratification she ordinarily gets from a cup of tea. It's the Irishness in her - she really wants a good, soothing, boiling hot cup of tea, which is what she'd have at home. But she orders a coffee, because that's what coffee shops are for. We had breakfast also, which was a pretty standard scrambled eggs and bacon on bagel affair. I don't think I'd go back for the food. But if I'm ever marooned on Aungier street and in desperate need of a latte fix.....then I'd probably consider this joint. Extra points for the lovely staff.

Love Lattes score-card:

Temperature – Just right, despite Phil's protests

Coffee flavour – Lacking

Foam consistency – Silken, like tofu

Food accompaniments on offer – Underwhelming (although the sandwiches described on the menu did sound quite tasty)

Rachel

Lattes on different laaatitudes: Germany special

Mühlbach's Backstube, a shopping centre, somewhere in Delmenhorst.

Delmenhorst is a strange place. It is populated almost entirely by freaks. Admittedly I haven't been there that many times, or for very long, but everyone I have seen has been decidedly weird. However, secreted away in one of supermarket complexes is a unprepossessing bakery who do an eminently drinkable latte. I don't know how they do it, because their coffee machine appears to be one that you just press one button on, and everything comes out all mixed up and scalding. But this was layered like a proper latte and had a fine covering of velvety foam.

Should you ever find yourself here and in need of a latte, make for this place. Of course, I don't know exactly where it is, but I'm sure any of the reliable purple haired middle-aged bikers will be able to direct you there.

Love Lattes score-card:

Temperature – Perfect

Coffee flavour – Good

Foam consistency – Good enough

Food accompaniments on offer – Lovely fresh brötchen with cheese and numerous delicious pastries and baked deliciousness.

Alex

Lunch! Calzone Cafe, South William Street, Dublin

This is a lovely place for lunch or dinner, it’s not too expensive, it’s very informal, and the food is delicious. But do not go there for a latte. I believe they use a blowtorch to heat the milk. And quite possibly set fire to the coffee beans. Not what I love at all, no.

Love Lattes score-card:

Temperature – Broiled

Coffee flavour – Burnt and bitter

Foam consistency – None really to speak of

Food accompaniments on offer – Excellent! I highly recommend it for food. But just stay away from the lattes. They also claim to do a flat white. I would avoid that too.


Alex

Caffe Noto, corner of Thomas St. and Francis St.

I recently happened upon Caffe Noto when perusing the hitherto uncharted territory (for me) of Francis Street. Overjoyed was I upon spying flat whites as well as lattes on the board. Flat whites are a deliciousness not often found in Dublin, and Caffe Noto do a particularly good one.

Smooth and velvety, perfectly sized and because it is smaller than a latte, it's stronger flavour-wise. Better still, their range of sweet deliciousness was excellent. I would highly recommend the lemon cake/slice thing.


Love Lattes score-card:

Temperature – Bang on

Coffee flavour – Good and strong

Foam consistency – The velvetiest

Food accompaniments on offer – Ohhhh yes

Also - free wi-fi and in a lovely building. Good yes.

Alex

Irish Film Institute Cafe, Temple Bar

Whilst awaiting the start of 'The End of the Line' (documentary film predicting the imminent collapse of the world's fish stocks) last night, I ordered a latte from the IFI cafe. I hate the syllable I am about to use, but.....MEH. Resoundingly, MEH. It wasn't that the milk had been boiled out of existence, or that the coffee was particularly acrid - I'd have savoured a bit of acridity over what I was served - it was just utterly, utterly bland. I felt like I was drinking foamed air. I'd barely call it an experience. Ahem. But on the plus side, the film was pretty dispiriting.

Love Lattes score-card:

Temperature – Meh

Coffee flavour – Meh

Foam consistency – Meh

Food accompaniments on offer – Didn't have any, but the cakes on display didn't look too wonderful

Rachel

Simon's Place, George's Street Arcade

Back in the bad old days of the boom, Simon’s in George’s Street Arcade was one of the few places where you could find a decent latte, decently priced.

The price has gone up slightly in recent times (it’s now €2.30), but their latte is still one of the more delicious specimens on the block. The key to the deliciousness of the Simon’s latte is the smooth, creamy, slightly sweet foam.

They arrive in tall glass cups so you can survey the perfect beauty of the layers of coffee, milk and foam before mixing it all up and slurping delightedly. The temperature is just right, and they have a good hit of coffee – something an inferior latte often lacks.

I would strongly recommend devouring a cinnamon bun with your Simon’s latte. They come out of the oven all warm and sticky and sweet at about one o’clock of an afternoon.

Temperature – Usually close to perfect

Coffee flavour – Coffee-like

Foam consistency – Velvety goodness

Food accompaniments on offer – Delicious.

Alex

Lolly & Cooks, George’s Street Arcade

What a revelation the existence of Lolly and Cooks was to my sceptical tastebuds! There is no seating, save a couple of bar-stools at a counter on the side, but the coffee offering more than makes up for it. I sat at one of the aforementioned bar-stools whilst my latte was prepared, right next to the coffee machine, which is, curiously, entirely silent. It's a nice place to sit too, as it allows for minute inspection of the passing traffic whilst remaining relatively inconspicuous (like Facebook, but in 3D). The latte served to me was just a delight; the foam was there in satisfying quantities and of a silky smooth consistency. Further, the foam on top did not abruptly dissipate into a watery, too-hot coffee/milk mix after an inch or so, nonono. Rather, it very subtly and gradually segued into a less dense, but thicker than water, liquid as one neared the bottom of the cup. There was also a decadent coating of foam lining the cup at the end, a sure sign of a satisfying latte. In addition to these wondrous beverages, one can also obtain enormous sausage rolls which are crammed with mouthwatering pork well flavoured with herbs and wrapped round in buttery, flaky pastry. I suggest a combination of both latte and sausage roll in order to maximise the deliciousness levels of your visit.

Love Lattes score-card:

Temperature – Perfectly dulcet (no waiting time necessary before the gorging commences)

Coffee flavour – Mild and smooth. Maybe ask for another shot if you like a particularly strong coffee

Foam consistency – Velvety

Food accompaniments on offer – Top notch

Rachel