The Place

Described as a Melbourne coffee house in Hong Kong, Brew Brothers is a specialty coffee house in the heart of Sheung Wan.  I’m not really sure why the reference is made to Melbourne coffee houses, but Japanese head barista Hikaru Ono spent some time there.  At the time of my visit, the Brew Brothers facade was covered in Hong Kong’s ubiquitous bamboo scaffolding, so perhaps the look is supposed to be Melbourne like?

Much of Brew Brothers is taken up with a kitchen, catering to the all day menu as well as coffee.  The interior is quite utilitarian with basic fittings and fixtures that in hindsight were quite forgettable, the only exception being the large open window at the front of the coffee joint.  A spot to watch the world pass by while you are having, what is quite frankly, an amazing cup of coffee.

The Equipment

A single La Marzocco Linea PB two group head espresso machine and a Mazzer Major espresso grinder.

The Beans

The house blend is from Ethiopia, but other blends are available upon request.

The Package

Our lattes were made separately but arrived together in short glasses with clean sharp latte art, a tulip and a heart variant.  There was a strong and nutty-caramel aroma that had a very sweet smell.  With a medium body and high acidity, I loved the earthy taste that had a lingering burnt tinge that was quite pleasant and lingered on the palate for some time.  There was a great complexity to the flavours, with a mild fruity undertone that contrasted to the caramel main flavour.

The lattes were prepared correctly, with each milk jug cleaned prior to use on the specially built cleaner next to the La Marzocco espresso machine.  Milk was prepared to the exact temperature by feel, giving us a couple of lattes that were top notch.

Interestingly, my takeaway tasted somewhat different, with a much higher acidity and more robust body that had a very strong flavour.  The burnt floral taste was more prominent but still held a nice sweet undertone.  All coffees were well balanced and very, very yummy.

The Rating

The Details

Where: 33 Hillier Street, Sheung Wan
Web: https://www.facebook.com/brewbroscoffee/
Cost: Very Reasonable
Visit: Go out of your way to get some