Market Lane
Shop 13 Prahran Market
163 Commercial Road
South Yarra VIC 3141
Website
Google map
Coffee to me is something that I need when half a eye is opened to a new day. It never really meant anything more than a stimulant. But after I started this food blog and being exposed to new things and friends, I am beginning to appreciate the humble coffee bean. I am still no expert and there is so much to read, learn and drink!
I like the fitout at Market Lane. It has a very spacious set up and one could smell the aromatic coffee beans in the air. This place only serves a small selection of pastries, cakes and bread and home-made jam. So do not expect any other foods and not for anyone that has a big appetite and looking for a decent meal. It is all about the coffee here.
Coffee lesson
Coffee is definitely the star at this place and it was there and then I decided to try my first ever clover. The bean used is La Pira (Costa Rica Cup of Excellence number 11). To me and please do correct me if I am wrong, clover is like a type of drip coffee except the water and the temperature is strictly moderated by a machine that costs a small fortune. It is an impressive looking machine and the owner, Fleur has offered to show me the process the next I was in.
Fleur on clover machine
The clover was served with in a coffee pot with a cork on top, a nice white cup and a coffee card that gives us an overview of the bean, where the origin is and a description of the flavour. It was love at first sip. Very clean on the palate. And I could really taste the sweetness and a slight zing as well. It was like a full bodied bottle of wine. Very enjoyable.
My first clover
To accompany this lovely cup of coffee, I ordered a piece of orange polenta cake. It is not too sweet, very moist, dense but crumbly at the same time. I wished they serve a bigger slice of this cake. It was so yummy. Anyone has a good orange polenta cake recipe to share please?
Orange polenta cake
Mister was a little more adventurous than his normal order of strong latte and decided to try his first pour over. The bean that he chose was La Candelilla (Costa Rica Bourbon & Caturra Variety – Washed and Sundried). I am glad that he enjoyed it! Again, very clean and we could pick up the black tea and the soft lemon but not the elderflower or jasmine as stated on the coffee card. I guess we do not have very sophisticated palate.
Pour over COSTA RICA Bourbon & Caturra Variety - Washed and Sundried
Despite its rather small selection of pastries, we still managed to enjoy and picked out another delicious dessert cake – walnut roulade. It is definitely not skimpy on the fillings and big on flavours. And again, I wish that it was a bigger piece. I guess we were just hungry, not greedy 
Blueberry walnut roulade
We were definitely happy campers that morning. We did end up going around Prahran market scouting for more food. We did enjoy the whole experience. For those that are interested in cupping, there is a session almost everyday at 11am. I say ‘almost’ as it may cancel on Saturday if it gets too busy.
Some of the things to note about this place is that it ONLY serves full cream organic milk that is unhomogenised. So no soy or skinny milk. And do not even dare to ask for decaf! Some people may appreciate what they do but I would say many do not. How do you feel about this? And one more thing to add, the sugar that is used here is unrefined sugar from Costa Rica. I guess it is the little details that count and that it will make a difference to the taste and experience. But I will like to know how you coffee drinkers feel about this attention to detail? Does it count?
Unrefined sugar
I am going to miss the convenience of getting to this place for a really nice coffee. But it will definitely be one of the stops that we will make if we are in the area. 
I am a big clover fan now but I reckon it has a lot to do with the bean and the expert behind the machine. 
Which do you prefer? Drip filtered type coffee or the dairy version?
I’ve not heard of clover before, so this is very interesting. It’s good how they give you a coffee card with a description of the flavours – my palate is so weak I’d probably miss all of them
I love coffee, so this sounds great but I have to say I do prefer it with a bit of cream/milk and a tad bit of sugar/sweetener over black coffee
Those coffees sound amazing, I have not had clover before! I drink my coffee black but I do like flavored coffee, right now “very vanilla” is a favorite.
Oh I want to go there! I am a coffee “freak”, but am a very strong espresso fan, never had clover. You have all those really great and creative places to go to over there. As for the polenta cake, I have seen somewhere a recipe for something similar, with raisins, in case you are interested….great post!
I always take my coffee with milk or cream – or even better – affogato with ice cream!
I love coffee too. I really love those back home where they roasted the coffee in a drum. That coffee can send me to cloud 9 in an instant….mmm….awesome aroma!
That walnut roulade looks good. I remember having filtered coffee everyday in New York- I def miss it. Might drop by!
That coffee chart is great! They need a Venn Diagram in there too though
Very interesting post. I generally order long blacks when drinking coffee out. It is VERY interesting to taste a good coffee as an espresso, then taste it after adding milk and/or sugar. Amazing how the taste can dramatically change.
I’m not a coffee drinker but thks for the interesting & informative post!
Although I don’t drink coffee, I like its smell very much. The smell of coffee has strong effect on me that makes me feel more energetic.
I’ve never heard of a polenta cake before! Thanks for sharing! I’m going to keep an eye out for recipes and I’ll keep you posted on my findings
Ok seriously…if I keep reading your blog my next trip is going to be to visit! I love all your food trips! I like drip coffee with cream, no sugar.
I have never heard of clover before so thanks for the informative post. I love the look of that little polenta cake
And I say “rock on” to the café serving no decaf and full cream milk. Those who don’t like it can go elsewhere…
I’ve never been a big coffee drinker (it gets me waay too hyper!) but I love the smell of it! Your experience sounds like so much fun, and I love that chart/diagram they have.
Haven’t heard of clover before. Is it similar in flavour to espresso coffee? The little pot it’s served in, is so cute
@Belle@OohLook – The clover has such a clean taste that some of the flavours are distinctive. I have poor palate too.
@Rochelle (Acquired Taste) – I used to have black coffee with condensed milk. Very asian!
@Natasha – 5 Star Foodie – Seems like black is very popular.
@citronetvanille – yes, I am interested in a polenta cake recipe.
@Trissa – affogato is the perfect summer coffee
And I agree with the change in flavour.
@MaryMoh – So do you still drink coffee or tea now?
@Adrian – You will like this place. But go with a full tummy! limited food choices
@Conor @ HoldtheBeef – Good call on Venn…. apparently they have not found the right type of skinny milk for it so they do not server skinny
@Blackswan – I have my one coffee a day and then 2 on weekends. I am beginning to enjoy it more
@Christine@Christine’s Recipes – WOW! You just need to smell the aromatic coffee? I don’t mind that as well
@Dhale – Please do. We could start a trend
@STacy – Please call me when you do visit! We shall have heaps of fun
@Mardi – Next visit, we shall go coffee hopping
@Experimental Culinary Pursuits – It is a very informative diagram. It was quite a standout from the entrance as well
@Y – The pot is cute. I want one too. The flavours are different as they use different method. I do like a good expresso but now I prefer clover. And the beans that they use for clover is better as well.
Oh man, I want this coffee. I don’t know anywhere around me that serves this but I need to find it!!
I adore the smell of good coffee from shops like this. Sadly I stopped drinking coffee several months ago due to health issues. I do miss drinking coffee though
I’m sure you’ll be disappointed with my answer coz I love all kinds of coffee(except expresso!)….hehehe….That little pot looks so gorgeous. I think that just enough for one serving, right! I don’t think they served tiny bakery. There’s no excuse that we’ve to admit we’re kind of big eater!
@Trix – If you do, please try it
@Jessie – I keep to one a day and then 2 on weekends… heh. Sorry to hear about your healthy issues. I hope it is not too serious!
@Kristy – It was a rather big pot of coffee but so yummy.
This is a lovely post. Thank you for showing your support for a local coffeehouse! Woot!
Just a quick point of information on the Clover machine, if it’s at all helpful to you and your site visitors. The Cover is indeed a very expensive machine (around $11,000 for one). It’s not so much a “drip” maker, however, as an upside down French press (or coffee press), and it’s especially designed to brew a single cup for a single customer. This cuts down on wasted beans. At shops like Market Lane, premium beans are used to make coffee and you can imaginge the waste when half a pot of brewed coffee goes unsold and must be discared (coffee really should be consumed within 15 minutes of brewing). My Clover thoughts for the day! LOL!
Cheers and happy drinking!
~Cleo Coyle
author of The Coffeehouse Mysteries
http://www.CoffeehouseMystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
[...] sweetness and the tea-like characteristics from mine. But I somehow missed the clover that I had at Market Lane. It is a personal preference and I need to give the rest of the beans a go Another excuse to come [...]
They have a clover @ seven seeds and brother baba budan too.
Come to think of it they have the same cakes as well..
Are there any original ideas left out there??