Marakoopa Coffee

I've been dying to try out Marakoopa Coffee, Lars and Sarah Cooper's new coffee cart. They set it up in late December in the garden of their house, which is on Marakoopa Road on the way to the famous caves of the same name.

The location is ideal because the caves, which are fascinating and should be on every tourist's itinerary, attract hundreds of thirsty visitors, and Lars and Sarah's garden is a beautifully maintained oasis in the midst of mountains, bush and farmland.

As a Melbournian born and bred I'm a bit of a coffee snob, so although I knew the food would be good and the setting perfect I was a little nervous about the coffee.

We finally made it over there yesterday with our Canadian guests. It was a lot of fun. You stand up at the van to place your order of tea or coffee and try to resist the goodies that Sarah bakes herself.

You then carry these off to one of the umbrella-sheltered tables that dot the garden, breathing in the fresh air and savouring the view.

But the coffee, the all-important coffee?

Our international verdict was that it's excellent. The Coopers buy their beans from a small, specialised, Launceston coffee roaster, and even our table of coffee snobs enjoyed every drop.

Farmdoc and I plan to cycle there next time. That way we'll have earned our muffins and brownies.