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)

The Best Chai Latte in Melbourne

So you make a great coffee, but how does your Chai Latte stack up?

I’m part of the silent minority who prefer a Chai Latte to a coffee. But, the best coffee joints don’t always guarantee that you get a quality Chai.

A Chai Latte is a relatively complicated drink so, I’ve taken it upon myself to review a few places based predominantly on the quality of their Chai.

My criteria:
- Loose leaf or powdered
- Strength of the ingredients used
- Temperature
- Of the ingredients, the separation and flavour of my favourites: milk, vanilla, peppercorns and cinnamon.

Current Chai reviews:
- Cheerio (Lennox St, Richmond)
- Est 1983. Espresso & Panini Bar (Cremorne St, Richmond)
- Demitri's Feast (Swan St, Richmond)
- Alice (Napier St, Essendon)
- Bendigo St Milk Bar (Bendigo St, Richmond)
- Three bags full (Nicholson St, Abbotsford)
- Thousand £ Bend (Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne)
- Fifty Acres (coming 23 August 2013)
- Grace Cafe (coming soon)
- Espresso 3121 (coming soon)
- The Fair Foodstore (coming soon)
- Friends of Mine (coming soon)


Want me to review a place or particular Chai? Just let me know, simples :)