Mareeba Coffee Works
The first stop in our Tablelands coffee tour. Coffee Works has changed hugely since my first visit back in 2002, but unfortunately not, in my opinion, for the better. The informal cafe that I remember has gone, as is the free viewing of how coffee is made. For that you now have to pay $19. I can’t comment on the Coffee World “adventure” but according to their brochure it’s “like a Disneyland for coffee”. As for the new cafe, you have to walk through their shop first (which is larger than the cafe itself, overly cluttered and too commercial) before you can order and sit down.
So, to our coffee experience at Coffee Works, which we did get to eventually. We ordered two long blacks, a cappuccino, and a white machiatto. The service was quick, the “Caramel Sin” cake was delicious but not too sweet, the coffee however was average. Our judges thought the coffee had no flavour, “it sits in the throat”, was bitter instead of smooth, over done, over roasted, burnt.
The verdict: 5/10
I’d have to disagree to this comment, I was hugely impressed with the coffee works, What they have created is a unique tourism attraction for a town that doesn’t offer much else. When you have a small business you need to look at ways of creating interest for everyone, not everybody is a coffee lover so having the gift shop is great for the other customer who might get dragged in by the coffee lover (as my husband did). My takeaway coffee was great and my regret is i didn’t buy the chocolate, but they have created a online shop which i might just treat myself to a gift box.