Chai Latte Review: Thousand £ Bend – 361 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne 3000

Oh cinnamon, where for art thou?

There are many things to love about Thousand £ Bend, the location, the Pink pop-up store currently in the back, the fit out, the people going about their business, just to mention a few. Sadly, the Chai Latte, isn't on that list. Though it's bearable, didn't live up to the flat white or the brekky

The Chai Latte tasted as if infused entirely in water with a dash of  milk added, as a result it seriously lacked that sexy creaminess, which gets you up in the morning and was more of a weak Chai tea. 

All could have been forgiven if they hadn't forgotten the the CINNAMON grrr!

My chai rating:

6/10 (stay in bed)

Chai Latte Review: three bags full – 60 Nicholson St, Abbotsford 3067

Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!

To date, one might say that three bags full is officially the bah bah black sheep of the bunch!

As you raise the cup to your mouth the hit of cinnamon tingles the senses before your lips even get a taste. The milk and perfect temperature ensured the delivery of those sweet spices and the peppercorn ensured the spices stick around for a little while after the sip.

Though three bags full has a very yuppie feel to it, I rate it, and rate it highly as far as the Chai goes!

The brekkie coming out to the tables looked amazing with the most picturesque avocado halves I have ever seen.

My chai rating: 

9/10 (Chai-mazballs)

Chai Latte Review: Bendigo St Milk Bar: 37 Bendigo St, Richmond 3121

Mum, I’m just off to the milk bar

I have always loved milk bars, so comforting and homely. Milk bars have all the good stuff a kid like me could ever want. I love the idea of being able to actually sit and place an order in a milk bar, and Bendigo St didn't disappoint.

As far as Chai Lattes go, I hadn't really ever considered Bendigo St as one that should be given a chance. A lunch meeting there the other day sparked my interest.

Not too overwhelming in flavour and not to underwhelming either, Bendigo St has all the makings of a regular local Chai guy. The creamy milk was great, temperature a little cooler than normal, but not bad. Despite the Chai missing CINNAMON (sacrilege!), which would have otherwise crippled their scoring, I think this place has some serious potential.

My Chai rating:

6.5/10 (easily a 7.5+ if cinnamon was present, which I’ll ask for next time!)

Chai Latte Review: Alice: 25 Napier St, Essendon VIC 3040

Alice is in Wonderland

Walking in to Alice I noticed a sign, Jonesy's Dairy Fresh milk, one might say, this is the crème of the crop as far as milk goes, and I thought, I'm in a good place. Though, that's where it ended in the Chai Latte stakes and I was left chasing the rabbit down an endless hole of an illusion.

Though the milk was indeed exquisite and the ANZAC cookie was to die for; not to mention a delicious lunch, the Chai Latte was…powdered…TAAHN, TAHN TAAHHHN...if it wasn't and I made it, the recipe needs to go away.

Soz Alice, that's a fail. The arvo hit such a low, I had to chase it up with a weak Latte (very nice) just to resuscitate my Saturday.

My Chai rating:
3.5/10 (steer clear and ask for a glass of milk instead)

Chai Latte Review: Demitri's Feast - 141 Swan St, Richmond 3121

Giasou Demetri giasou

Oh Demitri, you know those places that the second you walk in to, you say to yourself, "This place is going to be good!" Well Demitri, you had me at hello, the problem is, you lost me at goodbye.

A gorgeous milk that was faintly spicy, just didn’t quite cut it in the Chai stakes. Other than the milk, the other positive was the taste of spicy goodness that delayed leaving the palate until a few seconds after you had your sip; that could only be the lovely clove. That lasting aroma alone gave Demitri's Feast an additional +1 in my Chai rating.

Now, I know my cinnamon and the cinnamon used can make or break a Chai Latte, on this occasion though...it broke it. Cinnamon should taste sweet and delicate, the one I had was very flat, in fact I didn't even know it was present until half way through when I opened the cap and noticed a froth filled lid riddled with bad cinnamon dust.

My Chai rating:
6.5/10 (order a coffee instead. If the groans of my colleagues were anything to go by, the coffee was spectacular.)

Chai Latte Review: Est 1983. Espresso & Panini Bar - 20 Cremorne St, Richmond 3121

Well & truly established!

With a school nearby and Swan St only a stone’s throw away, you may be hard pressed not to find a free car park or worse yet be forced to park illegally and risk getting a fine; and it would almost be worth it.

The look, the feel, the colours and service was what puts Est 1983. Espresso & Panini Bar amongst my top ranked places in Melbourne to quench your Chai Latte thirst.


Loved the classic motor bike shop next door, which really did add to it all; the furniture place next door to that, also made a neat time killer.


My chai rating:
8/10 (worth going out of your way for)

Chai Latte Review: Cheerio – 323 Lennox St, Richmond 3121

Cheerio, Adieu mon cheri!

If you were walking too quickly you would miss it, but Cheerio is a cool looking place, which despite not having too much room or tables available, it had a very steady stream of business.

While waiting for my Chai, I noticed a woman working in the kitchen who topped off the perfect look for this place. Not sure if it was the warm tattoos on her arms or the look of emotional hurt in her face but I loved it, I must come back for brekky someday soon.

The Chai’s prep looked great and it was set for a winner, though it wasn’t as good as I thought. He over did the milk or something because it was waaay too hot (slang for >90deg). The overheated milk sadly washed out the spices and I couldn't even taste the cinnamon or vanilla meaning I was left with the faint aroma of cloves with the slight pinch of peppercorn (or was it star anise?). I think this place needs to be given another chance, I really loved the look & feel, I’ll try again soon and update you.

My chai rating: 
6/10 (marginally better than the powdered Lipton Chai Latte)