A dangerous, devilishly good brew
Boston Brew
Where: 187 Montpelier Road, Morningside
Open: Monday to Friday 6am - 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 7am-4pm
Call: 087 802 6434
There is a coffee I will always remember. It’s hardwired into my brain.
Some thirty odd years ago I arrived at Florence Station at 6 in the morning. It had been an overnight train from Amsterdam to Rome and I’d slept abominably, if for no other reason Switzerland insisted on passport control both in and out.
I was here to meet a friend. We had both decided to take advantage of a much cheaper Italy. The lira as it was then had just had another one of its spectacular implosions, and besides, while in Northern Europe it was still pretty grim, in early April spring in Italy, if not quite sprung, was certainly springing. The first flush of verdant green was on the trees.
As I waited for my mate on a train from Venice, I spotted a little coffee counter on the station platform. It was “un caffè, per favore,” not realising espresso was the default setting. This thimble full of ambrosial liquid arrived, with top notes of orange and lemon and a deeply flavourful, not bitter, brew that took in hazelnuts, malt and caramel, all topped with a lovely rich ring of foamy crema.
I was hooked.
I ordered another one.
And promptly bounced off the walls of Florence for the rest of the day.
I was reminded of this with an espresso from Boston Brew in Morningside this week. This was another beauty, one of the best espressos I’ve had in Durban. An intense nutty almost dark chocolate brew, strong but not bitter, and topped with a rich crema that lasted to the end. Wow.
The Glass Guy’s cappuccino was lovely too, and everything that a good cappy should be, but my little glass tot measure of nectar dwarfed it. Hats off to the barista.
The Boston Brew is a wonderfully relaxed coffee shop, bakery and eatery in an old house in Morningside. It takes up the old verandah and spills out into the front courtyard. It’s popular with Durban’s many keyboard warriors working remotely. And for mums picking up children after school. And for small business meetings.
At the back of the verandah is the barista station, and a display fridge showing the days baking. Yes, it’s all made here in house.
The small menu is simple and mostly vegetarian. Breakfasts can include granola, or posh oats or a protein bowl, but otherwise takes in a variety of ways with eggs and includes French toast. While the lunch menu includes toasties, bagels and wraps. I opt for their cheddar, mushroom and red onion toastie on sourdough (R75), which is delicious. I take up the menu recommendation to add fresh chilli which works well.
The Glass Guy enjoyed his poached eggs on mushrooms on sourdough topped with Hollandaise (R95) - I suppose you could call it a mushroom benedict. The eggs were cooked perfectly soft. The hollandaise was nice and rich. There is also a version of this dish with smashed avo, and tomatoes and spinach.
I also enjoyed the baked blueberry cheese cake, all the more so since the blueberry coulis over it wasn’t overly sweet and jammy, but properly tart. The Glass Guy relished the last slice of spicy carrot cake (R54), as we enjoyed a second round of coffees.
Food: 4 ½ (for the espresso)
Service: 4
Ambience: 3 ½
Liv Store and Cafe
Where: 136 Florida Road, Morningside
Open: Daily 6am - 5pm
Liv Village has opened a second store in Florida Road, and it really is a lovely setting.
Situated where Cowfish used to be, it’s a smart, stylish venue, the bar area serving as a simple and informal cafe, the main restaurant as part shop and part deli.
On a sweltering day it’s nice and cool with all the windows open and a pleasant breeze blowing through. I enjoy a good coffee as I browse through the shop. There are good quality second hand goods from their charity store, plus a number of artistic products made at the village. Beautiful table cloths and bags and coats and wallets. It’s ideal for Christmas gift inspiration.
The menu is simple and you basically build your own breakfast. My scrambled eggs on sourdough with mushrooms, tomatoes and bacon were very enjoyable. The waitress's smile is lovely too.
Daily baking also features and I would love to have tried something but this was a fleeting pop in before the office called.
Definitely worth a visit.
Food: 3 ½
Service: 3 ½
Ambience: 4