This post is for all
the caffeine addicts out there whether you source it from coffee,
chocolate, tea, or all 3 combined!

The day we visited
Herberton we finished the day by camping just outside Atherton so as
the next morning we could be closer to our next destination
Coffee Works at Mareeba. Please note that you can also visit Coffee Works at Cairns CBD and Rusty's Markets, Port Douglas, as well as Townsville. We arrived nice and early so we could have
breakfast from the cafe. Upon arrival to Coffee Works and entrance to Coffee World
(the tasting and museum part of Coffee Works) we were told of the UNLIMITED sample tastings of
COFFEE, CHOCOLATE & TEA. It was a good thing we had decided to
visit in the morning because as a result we were buzzing all
afternoon.
We took a seat and
looked at the menu for the cafe and both instantly decided on the
Eggs Benedict BBQ style, with smoked salmon. We both love a good Eggs
Benedict! I however, am a bit fussy with ones from a cafe as I have
ordered them a few times before and been let down as they are never
as good as the time my Granma made it for me. I hadn't ordered them
for a while so I decided to give Coffee Works the benefit of the
doubt. They were the BEST cafe Eggs Benedict I've had for a very long
time. The Hollandaise sauce was nice and creamy, the eggs were cooked
perfectly to how I like them, nice and runny and overall it was
delicious and flavoursome. I made a point of telling the kitchen
staff of my approval and thanks. At this point go back to where I
said it was Eggs Benedict BBQ style. I had forgotten this, and also
as it had been a while since I had eaten Eggs Benedict I had also
forgotten that the eggs are supposed to be poached. Their cooking
facilities are limited and so they do their eggs on the BBQ. However,
they are not fried, oily and greasy as you would expect from BBQ
eggs. According to the kitchen staff, some people like to complain
that the eggs are not poached, but considering how good the Eggs
Benedict was, and that the eggs were cooked to both our liking and
perfection (I like them runny, while Cameron likes it a little more
cooked) with the same delicate flavour that comes from poaching them,
I do not understand why one would complain. The cafe staff
appreciated my feedback. What a wonderful start to the morning.

Did I mention UNLIMITED
tasting of coffee, chocolate and tea?... While waiting for our
breakfast to arrive we started on what Cameron and I call dessert
breakfast made up of a buffet style array of sample chocolate to try.
There were the usual milk, white, and darks, next were the coffee
flavoured chocolates, then last was the more unique flavours and
blends of chocolate which included chili, orange, peppermint white
chocolate, lemon myrtle, even a pepper and lime chocolate. We
enjoyed eating the chocolates in the last container more later in the
day at morning tea time rather than breakfast. The chocolates were
then washed down with of course coffee and tea. There were 4
varieties of local blend tea, and somewhere between 10-20 varieties
of coffee blends including locally and overseas grown, as well as
different flavoured ones such as Irish Cream and hazelnut. Later on
(after 10am) some coffee flavoured liqueurs were added to the table
as well for sampling.

After dessert breakfast
and then real breakfast, it was at the point where the caffeine was
starting to kick in! We decided to give our stomachs a rest and go
into the museum part of Coffee World. Here we were given what looks
like a remote control and told that it is the audio guide. There are
many numbered listening stations throughout the museum which you can
listen to as many or little as you choose, and in any order by typing
in the number on the remote. Some are short and tell you about
different coffee machines over the years, while others are quite
detailed talking of the history and difference between coffee, tea,
hot cocoa, the stages how and why it has developed in certain parts
of the world. Some of the stations we found most fascinating were the
story of Pocahontas, the difference between sugar in tea versus milk
with coffee, and there was even a station that talked about how cup
sizes and shapes evolved. The amount of coffee was the same so the
link was actually to whether the country was known to be a beer or
wine drinking country. Beer is drunk in a larger glass, wine in a
smaller glass, hence a similar evolution coffee cups or mugs in these
countries. In the museum there is a very large collection of coffee
machines, roasters, grinders, coffee pots teapots, and many stories
to read. Over the years much research has been put into this place.

Back in the main area
we got talking to the wonderful, knowledgeable staff. At this point I
also noticed in the garden that there were some trees with what
looked like berries on them. I asked what it was. The response was
that not many people notice but what I had asked about was the coffee
bean tree. Fantastic! Plant identification and recognition is not my
strong point despite being a tour guide myself, but I am interested
in the edible plants. I think having the coffee bean plant on site is
a fantastic idea. The staff member picked one off and cracked it open
to show us inside. She also said I could eat one of the berries if I
wish, upon which I quickly took up the opportunity. This was good to
taste the coffee bean in its raw, natural state and to compare the
difference in the finished product of a roasted coffee bean. In the
garden they also had a cocoa tree growing with a lone seed pod on it.
As these are slow growing, and as there was only one it was simply
for show, but for a first time seeing a cocoa bean pod was still
fascinating.

As well as unlimited
coffee, chocolate and tea, a great cafe, an informative museum, great
staff, and coffee and cocoa trees, Coffee Works has a nice gift shop,
and a chocolate shop. Our final stop at Coffee Works was the
chocolate shop to stock up on some of the yummy treats we had taste
tested. If I had my Charlie Chocodile shirt the day we visited I certainly would have worn
it as Charlie can't get enough chocolate. Never the less I will wear
it as much as I can. Cassowary Col also featured in this photo with Charlie Chocodile. Entrance into the cafe and shop is free however if you wish
to visit the museum and have the full caffeine tasting experience at
Coffee World there is an
entrance fee. Here is a tip though. Prior to your visit, pick up a Coffee Works flier at an information centre in the area to recieve a $5 discount for adult admissions. Even though
entrance is not expensive, make use of this discount. Don't just take
the advice from me because it is even on their
website. If you are visiting far north Queensland, Coffee Works is certainly worth the visit, and I will be
recommending it to many people.
- Jeni
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