A week in May

Hello everyone, 

A quick blog post to actually re-blog a video that franklovesellen.com posted a while ago, which includes footage from our trip to Szczecin and the Olympus Photography Playground. 

If you have a few free minutes have a watch, and see some of our daily life, as it was this past May, and how clever E is at compiling and editing videos!

Enjoy!

M

Photography Playground OM-D Olympus Berlin

Photography Playground OM-D Olympus Berlin

We recently went to the Photography Playground hosted by Olympus. 

  

FrankLovesEllen has posted about our experience and included some of the pictures that we managed to take. Check out the blog here:

In short, in exchange for your passport you were given a new Olympus Camera for 90 minutes. You then walk around the 1930s factory, which Olympus had converted into various exhibitions and lighting situations, in order for you to test the qualities of their cameras. And at the end you were given the SD Card to keep your photos. 

All in all a pretty cool deal - especially for free!!! €€€€

But check out FrankLovesEllen.blogspot.com for more of the details.  

M

Kaffee in Berlin series: #2 The Barn

THE BARN (ORIGINAL)

Situated in the backstreets behind Hackescher Markt in the trendy streets of Koppenplatz and Auguststrasse is the original Barn.
(Directions here) 

Care of http://barn.bigcartel.com

I say the original Barn, because they opened a larger roasting plus tasting shop on Schönhauser Allee, however I deliberately recommend the original.

Care of http://barn.bigcartel.com - Photographer not legible

Only a very small shop, which unfortunately does not allow dogs or prams inside, the footpath accommodates a surprisingly decent number of customers on any given day - however if the sun is shining (a rarity as it is in Berlin), it makes for a very pleasant coffee stop. 

(C) Franklovesellen

A small selection of fresh cakes, biscuits and small lunches are available (at the newer Barn they even make Australian ANZAC Biscuits!!) and as for the coffee, it is very Melbourne style - full flavour but not too strong. 

(C) Franklovesellen

While there are tradition Espresso, Cappucino, etc - my recommendation is for the Cortado - similar to a Melbourne-style Caffee Latte but served in a different glass and slightly smaller. But for €2,20 is stronger than the cappuccino (less milk) and cheaper. 

(C) MJT

(C) MJT

In summary, the Barn comes in at a very high recommendation:
Coffee: ★★★★
Service: ★★★★
Recommended Drink: Cortado
Price: €2,20

(c) Franklovesellen

Best Coffee in Berlin

It has been far too long since my last post! Over a year, embarrassingly. In that time I have wanted to write about so many places in Berlin, but life and work have taken over. And so my resurgence of blogging will commence at our favourite and local coffee shop. 

ANTIPODES

Image care of franklovesellen.blogspot.com

As an adopted Melbournian, I am quite particular about my coffee. As such, E and I have spent much of our time in Berlin testing various cafes and can confirm that Antipodes is by far the best coffee in Berlin. 

Perhaps in further posts I will write about other coffee places, but today's focus is Antipodes. 

  

Founded and run by Jane and Paul from New Zealand a couple of years ago, Antipodes is THE place to get your fix of Cafe Latté and home-made biscuits (German Kaffee und Kuchen may be good, but Antipodes are even better).

Image care of franklovesellen.blogspot.com

 

Image care of franklovesellen.blogspot.com

Located within walking distance between Senefelderplatz and Rosa-Luxemburg Platz (both U2 stations - only one stop from Alexander Platz) but on the quieter street of Fehrbellinerstrasse, Antipodes is not only a local cafe but a hub of ex-pat Australians and New Zealanders. 

Care of googlemaps

Open Wednesday through to Sunday (yes, when it appears like everything closes on a Sunday, at least you know Antipodes will be busy!) you can get your double shot fix and if you are feeling hungry too, then Paul will cook something very delicious. The menu can vary, but favourites of mine have included the Eggs Benedict, the English Muffins with Bacon, Eggs, Avocado and of course the PIES! My favourite - the Mushroom pies, but equally satisfying - Pepper Steak / Salmon. 

Image care of tylerkateross at http://statigr.am/p/357120403866979572_1550578

Not only is it an extremely pleasant atmosphere (whether inside in winter or outside during warmer months), but I can guarantee that when bringing guests they will never be disappointed. Polish, Czech, English, German and Moroccan friends have always been impressed with the coffee (frequently commenting without encouragement on how great the coffee tastes) and Australian visitors have been extremely relieved to finally find a real coffee in Germany - made just like in Melbourne/the Antipodes (in particular the Cafe Latté). 

Image care of franklovesellen.blogspot.com

So if you live in Berlin and are looking for the best coffee shop, or are here on holiday as a visitor from the other side of the world, stop by to meet a bunch of Antipodean ex-pats and get your fix of caffeine. 

Image care of franklovesellen.blogspot.com

And if you are a regular, then you can also start a collection of stamps to work your way towards a free coffee and biscuit. 

 

For more information about the daily specials and quotes like their facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Antipodes/124448277614199?fref=ts 

Otherwise see you there!!