Afrogato @ Constant Gardiner Coffee, Light Street

A veteran of more than 7 years, Constant Gardiner Coffee at the ground floor of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce building, Light Street (opposite the Padang) is a low key cafe that serves excellent coffee and chocolate. The cafe does little marketing, preferring word of mouth promotions by its satisfied customers. It's regulars include many discerning coffee connoisseurs and baristas. The interior decor at the Constant Gardiner does have a vertical garden (alas the ferns are fake), and French style wooden bistro tables with ironwork legs. Outside on the five foot walkway are more potted (real) plants.

The cafe has its own coffee roaster and roasts it's own Penang blend as well as it's more expensive range of coffees. Locals according to its proprietor prefer a less acidic blend. A notable feature of the cafe is its extensive range of chocolate beverages - about 18 but only 8 are on sale at anytime. The cafe has a nice sideline selling roasters and teaches aspiring baristas the A to Z about the art of coffee roasting.

The proprietor, a coffee aficionado that used to write for coffee magazines, included a free cup of chocolate when I flashed my business card. My afrogato with two expresso shots was RM16.