Espresso Extra Espresso

Just a quick note to alert you to a very special new book called

Journeys of Melbourne’s COFFEE PIONEERS

.The book launch is accompanied by a spectacular exhibition of vintage coffee machines [not for sale] at Leonard Joel’s Auction Rooms in Malvern Road Prahran Its on I believe till Sunday this week. I would have not have found this [was it publicised anywhere?] except for that I have to confess to a bit of an addiction to Joels and usually cruise the general sales every Wednesday. I’m very glad I did this week as many of you will know from this post that vintage coffee machines are also a bit of an obsession. Generally I look for quirky bits of silly ephemera and the odd bit of Faberge but this week it was the book and big boy toys that took my attention. Luckily they are not for sale as I might have been tempted again.

The real star of the show is the book that adds another layer to some already fine social histories that have been written about Melbourne and its deep food and wine traditions.

Sandra Makris has managed to capture the stories behind many of the pioneers of cafe culture in Melbourne with a warm well researched volume that is a joy to read.

I am sure it will be available in the bookshops soon but if you can get down to see the machines [especially the new wave young guns amongst you ] I believe they [some of the legends] will be pulling shots on Sunday. Sir James Gobbo opened the exhibition and if you read the book you can read how the Gobbo family has solid claims to bringing the first espresso machine to Melbourne in 1938 an early steam driven La Cimbala for the St.Kilda Grill Rooms that were in Victoria St near the market.  Stories of The Legend Cafe with its Leonard French murals, the Sputnic style model designed for Golden Fleece service stations, the Lollobrigida model speciale, the fleet of Combi coffee carts. Its a blast.