tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76697777021750632982024-03-05T13:00:31.424-08:00Coffee Contemplationssol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-82067443056400743452011-03-02T03:10:00.000-08:002011-03-02T03:10:41.001-08:00Pour Over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2011/02/13/magazine/13-FOB-FOOD-SPAN/13-FOB-FOOD-SPAN-articleLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2011/02/13/magazine/13-FOB-FOOD-SPAN/13-FOB-FOOD-SPAN-articleLarge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The New York Times is probably full of reporters that have a daily coffee as evidenced of their timely <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/magazine/13Food-t-000.html?scp=2&sq=coffee&st=cse">article</a> on the rise/comeback of the pour over. I have seen pour over bars all over London and have my own station at home totally outfitted with Hario. I love it and appreciate the attention baristas are giving to pour technique.sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-90900533554260849742011-01-27T04:30:00.000-08:002011-01-27T04:31:05.056-08:00London Coffee featured in NYTI just saw<a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/travel/28heads.html"> this.</a> I hope the writer had as much fun as I did tasting this coffee. I look forward to completing my tour when I visit the UK again. I also have my sights on Denmark.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/02/28/travel/28heads_CA0/28heads_CA0-articleLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/02/28/travel/28heads_CA0/28heads_CA0-articleLarge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-74166318549987525252010-06-14T04:44:00.000-07:002010-06-14T04:44:33.643-07:00Germany's Barista Championship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_36j3uRfh5GM/TBAPmbiVUXI/AAAAAAAAJpg/zCe5Pf1mnHU/s1600/DSCN1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_36j3uRfh5GM/TBAPVILHuwI/AAAAAAAAJmI/3HdbQ6dMF4I/s1600/DSCN1187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_36j3uRfh5GM/TBAPVILHuwI/AAAAAAAAJmI/3HdbQ6dMF4I/s200/DSCN1187.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_36j3uRfh5GM/TBAPmbiVUXI/AAAAAAAAJpg/zCe5Pf1mnHU/s1600/DSCN1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_36j3uRfh5GM/TBAPmbiVUXI/AAAAAAAAJpg/zCe5Pf1mnHU/s200/DSCN1204.JPG" width="200" /></a> I went to the Kaffee Olympiade in Hamburg with the gang from <a href="http://godshotberlin.wordpress.com/">Godshot</a> to check out the Barista Championship and Latte Art Contests. We were all decked out in our matching multi-colored t-shirts but none of us competed. I'm not eligible, since I've been in Germany just short of 2 years and the rest of the guys are top-baristas although not the most competitive bunch. I have high hopes for a Godshot team next year. <br />
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Our friend Marcel was participating in the Latte Art Contest. He kicked ass. He teaches a Latte Art Seminar with Kai at Godshot and has one of the steadiest pairs of hands I have ever seen. He got 2nd place but was only .5 point away from the 1st place winner. The whole competition was close.<br />
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The Baritsa competition was also a nail-biter. The guys from <a href="http://www.radical-coffee.de/">Radical Coffee</a> inundated the competition with highly-skilled baristas and the top three finalist were all from this gang. They all showed amazing team spirit and sporttsmanship. It was obvious that they supported each other throughout training. Thomas Schweiger was the eventual winner and will go on to represent Germany at the <a href="http://www.worldbaristachampionship.com/">World Championship </a>in London in 2 weeks. I will be there to cheer him on and finish my London Coffee Tour. sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-75359196366666870172010-04-30T04:33:00.000-07:002010-04-30T04:33:15.742-07:00Map of London Coffee TourI will update as I visit locations.<br />
<iframe width="300" height="300" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=115874217848996648432.00048572313b4a20c5b3e&ll=51.516755,-0.131106&spn=0.004006,0.006437&z=16&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=115874217848996648432.00048572313b4a20c5b3e&ll=51.516755,-0.131106&spn=0.004006,0.006437&z=16&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">London Coffee Tour</a> in a larger map</small>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-87965628291767253982010-04-27T13:20:00.000-07:002010-04-27T13:27:55.474-07:00Tapped & Packed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmK894OU5xJX9U0fs_VDla0bh4S_IoZElg8q9HJfks2JnY-ehgmlcsyNlfSE_PwFiyp5ivgWpQYHAcYAmMq82TNAZMwTixnYBBVlx24yGA7Ha_BBtEkOaISTKmIN5HMpL3l09-XTxFQw/s1600/2010-04-10+10.15.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmK894OU5xJX9U0fs_VDla0bh4S_IoZElg8q9HJfks2JnY-ehgmlcsyNlfSE_PwFiyp5ivgWpQYHAcYAmMq82TNAZMwTixnYBBVlx24yGA7Ha_BBtEkOaISTKmIN5HMpL3l09-XTxFQw/s200/2010-04-10+10.15.57.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRN0PCBxuh2QQ8lvGRRkYs3CCBeir3cBejp6mXAeapiVGbeKQ832ckzKYU2ZnoyapjCVhkvhR3syz0M1FYETWJZrDcqbVVDpEUPN4fglRhnw3yCgAtrpyUdZWoOyfHwdFe0R3lP9oCmo/s1600/2010-04-10+10.16.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRN0PCBxuh2QQ8lvGRRkYs3CCBeir3cBejp6mXAeapiVGbeKQ832ckzKYU2ZnoyapjCVhkvhR3syz0M1FYETWJZrDcqbVVDpEUPN4fglRhnw3yCgAtrpyUdZWoOyfHwdFe0R3lP9oCmo/s200/2010-04-10+10.16.51.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPQiqpS8jJF6BFU1cKsgJQfSnlYcXH7ST7hy-ZWsJzIKISoEVHxTX5nqzVwQwJiDeYuP01r1uNjI6pl4sHh6tY8Sb25uDi1-_sZA1aHViW8d2-heaAiIIYcslDXG2MFj2KhmOeARPnBg/s1600/2010-04-10+10.18.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPQiqpS8jJF6BFU1cKsgJQfSnlYcXH7ST7hy-ZWsJzIKISoEVHxTX5nqzVwQwJiDeYuP01r1uNjI6pl4sHh6tY8Sb25uDi1-_sZA1aHViW8d2-heaAiIIYcslDXG2MFj2KhmOeARPnBg/s200/2010-04-10+10.18.16.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpofb36oUNbOmfwX02Nxv6F34hupgQ4GACgvpbq1wfgVkW6pEraGd37M0JlqoXO46J2aMnE6wmi1i8le95pD1Oc41nzx6iiqgGN2T6aRsBV7TO0jKy-X1IzTxVZoCwNajd6YbIfj_LMGY/s1600/2010-04-10+10.24.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpofb36oUNbOmfwX02Nxv6F34hupgQ4GACgvpbq1wfgVkW6pEraGd37M0JlqoXO46J2aMnE6wmi1i8le95pD1Oc41nzx6iiqgGN2T6aRsBV7TO0jKy-X1IzTxVZoCwNajd6YbIfj_LMGY/s200/2010-04-10+10.24.41.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSTWL2W38f4VJK-RrgDgDL3TUaWXScosTHLMqOLOS44BUJw-t0lp5KXG6YCvBSoRC5FpPQV45FLuhHWToLCj7XQ70Jz78Bb4mZooNaX-pvt1CLffGDQetlWGsnTyeWtVeSpGbmZa8Kv8/s1600/2010-04-10+10.18.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSTWL2W38f4VJK-RrgDgDL3TUaWXScosTHLMqOLOS44BUJw-t0lp5KXG6YCvBSoRC5FpPQV45FLuhHWToLCj7XQ70Jz78Bb4mZooNaX-pvt1CLffGDQetlWGsnTyeWtVeSpGbmZa8Kv8/s200/2010-04-10+10.18.42.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ0myaA2zYcBEXiAqv5F8Mpr-3mHZk1j7fXp1zvqjCQUKcbstmr32LjTa8Q46woas-MDnKMq4UZF0qkmB0UViqkLJty_PvYM-IJMeE2pJLYJdxgJX_zwkEBRSZIV17Xa12TN27V6YiqU/s1600/2010-04-10+10.18.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ0myaA2zYcBEXiAqv5F8Mpr-3mHZk1j7fXp1zvqjCQUKcbstmr32LjTa8Q46woas-MDnKMq4UZF0qkmB0UViqkLJty_PvYM-IJMeE2pJLYJdxgJX_zwkEBRSZIV17Xa12TN27V6YiqU/s200/2010-04-10+10.18.08.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
I got to <a href="http://www.tappedandpacked.co.uk/index.html">Tapped & Packed</a> a few days after they opened their doors. Everything was shiny, the staff was standing at attention and I was the only customer which was a welcome treat after being one of the herd at <a href="http://solbarista.blogspot.com/2010/04/lantana.html">Lantana</a>. I was tipped off by the gracious owner of <a href="http://solbarista.blogspot.com/2010/04/bou-tea.html">Bou Tea</a> but I'm sure that Tapped & Packed won't be a<a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/venue/2:26890/tapped-packed"> secret </a>for long. <br />
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They were the only cafe besides Monmouth that seemed to make a serious commitment to filter coffee and having single origins. In fact they had the only vac-pot (siphon) I saw on my tour, and also offered other <a href="http://www.tappedandpacked.co.uk/brewedcoffee.html">brew methods</a>; aeropress, filter and cafetiere. Their equipment is all state of the art. They are the only cafe I know of that offers coffee from the <a href="http://www.unionroasted.com/">Union</a>, <a href="http://shop.squaremilecoffee.com/">Square Mile</a> and <a href="http://www.webcoffeeshop.co.uk/">Climpson & Sons</a> making them the go to place if you wanted to taste all these offerings under the same roof.<br />
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All that and their Australian barista was the most interesting to look at. The espresso in the hopper was Climpson but they said they would be changing that often so you have to ask. The owner seems to have a real commitment to art (the walls were already buzzing with it) and the perfect cup.<br />
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I'm sure they will have kinks to work out. Keeping so much in stock and beans from three roasters fresh will be a challenge. They are entering a crowded corner of soho and smartly offer what none of their neighbors have.<br />
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They get the newbie award. It is the place to go to if you want to taste it all, all day long while looking at cute staff.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tappedandpacked.co.uk/aboutus.html">Tapped & Packed</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">26 Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia London W1T1JD</div>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-13715191732641346462010-04-27T06:25:00.000-07:002010-04-29T15:25:10.412-07:00Monmouth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_-GnNJ5wkNSKu086JThfeGKG70JtM5hhqbQPeSripA9aYa9O6j4623mLgawd0QdMY0J35AnlLpxuUgcBPcW40i3l_hKLusCHEWutMGZm2tuYWsMOBCh-7BL4tFILJGSi9XwNT9eWf4g/s1600/2010-04-09+17.04.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="94" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_-GnNJ5wkNSKu086JThfeGKG70JtM5hhqbQPeSripA9aYa9O6j4623mLgawd0QdMY0J35AnlLpxuUgcBPcW40i3l_hKLusCHEWutMGZm2tuYWsMOBCh-7BL4tFILJGSi9XwNT9eWf4g/s200/2010-04-09+17.04.46.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH90LHSkLyMAC6eTCj9D6a1Zey8Hw-qJUhq0eBP2fptG7WUpWldN0yjrkFdrtXdssvY4LiLwsOu8Htoxe4_GtmCxCMiRTJnbeTyIvQgmfVcn-X4dBIaX50IXK2NNMjf63nXNDWo0ZZno/s1600/2010-04-09+18.54.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH90LHSkLyMAC6eTCj9D6a1Zey8Hw-qJUhq0eBP2fptG7WUpWldN0yjrkFdrtXdssvY4LiLwsOu8Htoxe4_GtmCxCMiRTJnbeTyIvQgmfVcn-X4dBIaX50IXK2NNMjf63nXNDWo0ZZno/s200/2010-04-09+18.54.18.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnanD_OwJv3YjiKwi0Jk18XGYVj-5nx3OX4vtXXD9oYnW2shubw4uAyovu1NZk72V9zQsjYA2PxzdGVntrbOg3CvCdsuc0OUYCHPhPHR5jHWgMwAy7OtOAYqWrn3qt3SifswKLLWbXAw/s1600/2010-04-09+17.06.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnanD_OwJv3YjiKwi0Jk18XGYVj-5nx3OX4vtXXD9oYnW2shubw4uAyovu1NZk72V9zQsjYA2PxzdGVntrbOg3CvCdsuc0OUYCHPhPHR5jHWgMwAy7OtOAYqWrn3qt3SifswKLLWbXAw/s200/2010-04-09+17.06.24.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYSG9Y7Q6qRlF3dF56dVJO3u8EdJJEtTyYldM9LLIUh0oGQ_5zUItvHAjIihTy704XlfLkJxs9WM_XBZTyK-cvHbXMHsVAqJLxS9wQl5yZ4IuBzy2nhQEYKpPx0ZTvlWdYjZpvsSVpak/s1600/2010-04-09+17.10.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYSG9Y7Q6qRlF3dF56dVJO3u8EdJJEtTyYldM9LLIUh0oGQ_5zUItvHAjIihTy704XlfLkJxs9WM_XBZTyK-cvHbXMHsVAqJLxS9wQl5yZ4IuBzy2nhQEYKpPx0ZTvlWdYjZpvsSVpak/s200/2010-04-09+17.10.09.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHhbODJa8W1xiMdxp3btPB9BONro-q6P-tY-lHiF6N6aCV56RxC5R-9nwVptgVir6aZIBsZv4Nzf6dlnN62dh4jPo3036N9C6p6qX0LjZgGjPZ6pUpYG1eaXAB23DZdo3_bTESkIbNEU/s1600/2010-04-09+17.05.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHhbODJa8W1xiMdxp3btPB9BONro-q6P-tY-lHiF6N6aCV56RxC5R-9nwVptgVir6aZIBsZv4Nzf6dlnN62dh4jPo3036N9C6p6qX0LjZgGjPZ6pUpYG1eaXAB23DZdo3_bTESkIbNEU/s200/2010-04-09+17.05.29.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVuIYQmC1GShHfLZWu4zDLHkVe2U3cPo15QDDst78LW89QB5o_Xcc7TyDpvM2_idHwp0ZBUVh2JOB98uUAsoRayVSW1WEuFh_ooWyjFGPQjeIL8Khl75Ub3-z_KvyAmhwMZtLv-A_n2E/s1600/2010-04-09+17.06.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVuIYQmC1GShHfLZWu4zDLHkVe2U3cPo15QDDst78LW89QB5o_Xcc7TyDpvM2_idHwp0ZBUVh2JOB98uUAsoRayVSW1WEuFh_ooWyjFGPQjeIL8Khl75Ub3-z_KvyAmhwMZtLv-A_n2E/s200/2010-04-09+17.06.14.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk/" linkindex="95">Monmouth</a> started roasting coffee in 1978 and exist now as the old guys that have somehow kept up. They dominate as roasters in the high-end coffee houses in London and have the busiest retail exchange of beans that I have ever witnessed. Their success is inspiring.<br />
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Since they roast their own, their cafes are on the forefront of filter coffee offerings in London. Filter Coffee is no where as far along as in the US and only a few cafes in London even offer it. Most will give you an Americano instead. To feature their single origin beans, Monmouth uses ceramic filter which enables them to offer a by the cup coffee to order experience similar to the quality of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_press" linkindex="96">french press</a> and cheaper than a <a href="http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/kitchen/clover-coffee-maker.htm" linkindex="97">Clover</a> cup. Since I come from a land in love with single origins and I am personally in love with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_coffee_maker" linkindex="98">vac-pot</a>, this was great to see. Each location offers a plethora of single estate coffees and their espresso blend. They also customize espresso blends for their many wholesale customers. <br />
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They are skilled roasters but tend to stick to a medium to dark roast. Lighter roasts are tricky, and have only recently gained traction with its development by <a href="http://www.espressovivace.com/intro.html" linkindex="99">Cafe Vivace</a> and perfection by <a href="http://www.stumptowncoffee.com/" linkindex="100">Stumptown</a> and <a href="http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/" linkindex="101">Intelligentsia</a>. Monmouth is not there yet and their struggle will be to meet the new roasting challenge. With the new players in town and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Wave_Coffee" linkindex="102">Third Wave </a>obsession with freshness and innovation, Monmouth's years are a brand disadvantage but an expertise advantage.<br />
<br />
They bypass the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade" linkindex="103">Fair Trade</a> stuff and trade with farmers <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_trade" linkindex="104">directly</a> which often works out better for the farmer. The coffee beans at the stores is kept in open containers during the day but it goes so fast that it is the only sensible way to store them. They tend to have <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_259853793" linkindex="105">La Marzocco Linea</a><a href="http://www.coffeekid.com/espresso/lamarzocco" linkindex="106">s</a> but generally the baristas are too busy to talk.<br />
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The Convent Garden store was really to small to sit in. The Borough Market location was an experience, esprecially on a sunny day with it's garage style door that results in an open air, covered store.<br />
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Monmouth is definitely the destination if fresh, single estate coffee your thing. They know what they are doing.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_259853753" linkindex="107"><br />
</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk/" linkindex="108">Monmouth Coffee</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Covent Garden - 27 Monmouth Street London WC2H 9EU</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The Borough - 2 Park Street London SE1 9AB</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-79324004580729991452010-04-26T06:40:00.000-07:002010-04-27T13:48:33.917-07:00Kaffeine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCddUCsEavZx-EtdtJqYBFD2dpkZIgzusfWdO_IEL4_Yt94ZDcWoU7b-joBEBnxtL8geE7Q3wOtwq1pWVsYKG6-ZCMQJ_WgLl0_lTsSvXImYz0G5Ahzzma1eKv-8TzKFpDgGgq-9E-Toc/s1600/2010-04-10+09.44.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="24" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCddUCsEavZx-EtdtJqYBFD2dpkZIgzusfWdO_IEL4_Yt94ZDcWoU7b-joBEBnxtL8geE7Q3wOtwq1pWVsYKG6-ZCMQJ_WgLl0_lTsSvXImYz0G5Ahzzma1eKv-8TzKFpDgGgq-9E-Toc/s200/2010-04-10+09.44.51.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSP8LMO0qKZDs4AOhWk26T8XX9e9l9AYIMqTBHiGCOFD8wuo01fax-eulTmU5zAI_AtIXJSV3xA3Dc7UXUPcQ5iaLx6ihuTs2N3YzvsYG4_V2Q4OBI3zAjjFHqM0b7O4m0tzIFNg42HM/s1600/2010-04-10+09.46.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSP8LMO0qKZDs4AOhWk26T8XX9e9l9AYIMqTBHiGCOFD8wuo01fax-eulTmU5zAI_AtIXJSV3xA3Dc7UXUPcQ5iaLx6ihuTs2N3YzvsYG4_V2Q4OBI3zAjjFHqM0b7O4m0tzIFNg42HM/s200/2010-04-10+09.46.41.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijG0PdeePtMwCk3yzatK-m1Ox07KyugD8A9RoFuOaVdpMxm9SiPtIcT5fvCC788aCV2sNNDpKDcOU_6Pq7LTfzi79KT1q7SSmE_51JCx0rz4fkMvKeRqx1q3_NEmc_omRL08ksubmlh4A/s1600/2010-04-10+09.47.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="26" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijG0PdeePtMwCk3yzatK-m1Ox07KyugD8A9RoFuOaVdpMxm9SiPtIcT5fvCC788aCV2sNNDpKDcOU_6Pq7LTfzi79KT1q7SSmE_51JCx0rz4fkMvKeRqx1q3_NEmc_omRL08ksubmlh4A/s200/2010-04-10+09.47.47.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjxc7nWGLwAMHP-qST4J4XpA87mPqbACM3r1SoJkB8wML3_iB4AA9XZRQTXdHc2S_NoMJg8I4paD_OVR54DGcBw3aZfnH4FsBzoiY5QORkKMBtt9-jz0Qb4Er3MuHUgeLIQb2fP4DFz8/s1600/2010-04-10+09.49.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="27" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjxc7nWGLwAMHP-qST4J4XpA87mPqbACM3r1SoJkB8wML3_iB4AA9XZRQTXdHc2S_NoMJg8I4paD_OVR54DGcBw3aZfnH4FsBzoiY5QORkKMBtt9-jz0Qb4Er3MuHUgeLIQb2fP4DFz8/s200/2010-04-10+09.49.17.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
This was definitely a highlight of my tour and if I could teleport myself somewhere right now, it would be into <a href="http://www.kaffeine.co.uk/Home.html" linkindex="28">Kaffeine</a>. It seems like the best of London's coffee comes from Australia and New Zealand. The folks from Kaffeine seem to have pulled off the most sophisticated result. <br />
<br />
The coffee was super. I happened to be there the day after they received their delivery of the new spring espresso from <a href="http://shop.squaremilecoffee.com/" linkindex="29">Square Mile Roasters </a>so I just had straight shots. I was blown away. It was not pretentious. There were a flock of workers behind the counter that seemed like apprentices if for no other reason than their humility. The Synesso machine was beautiful. The result was that I had a little slice of heaven that morning. <br />
<br />
After checking their <a href="http://www.kaffeine.co.uk/Philosophy.html" linkindex="30">site</a>, I found that they had some of the strictest standards that I've heard about for baristas. "Our Baristas have at least three continuous years experience behind a professional espresso machine. They are continuously in pursuit of perfecting the art of espresso making."<br />
<br />
I drool when I think of this place. If you could only go to one place in London for coffee, Kaffeine would be it.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kaffeine.co.uk/Contact.html" linkindex="31">Kaffeine </a></div><div class="gcpaddr" onclick="this.blur();return openInfoWindow('A');" style="text-align: center;"><div class="adr text sa" id="panel_A"><div class="name" dir="ltr"><div class="atxt" dir="ltr"><span class="gcpaddrlink">66 Great Titchfield St</span> Westminster, London W1W 7QJ, UK</div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-76736828552036354392010-04-26T05:48:00.000-07:002010-04-29T15:28:34.699-07:00Bou Tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXowgvrVkfKk9YZGzXTqF-TZMVz99NXFKudnvJzHJOdVRj8vF_2Y-YvEjX-hDIhMN369FRQGFqh2Gu5JgI_A1e0JhtS_JGIZGVXZ4aWElwW-UA4RdNaBVJYNdTL3OfrcerWEA9e6fO_4/s1600/2010-04-09+19.10.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="18" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXowgvrVkfKk9YZGzXTqF-TZMVz99NXFKudnvJzHJOdVRj8vF_2Y-YvEjX-hDIhMN369FRQGFqh2Gu5JgI_A1e0JhtS_JGIZGVXZ4aWElwW-UA4RdNaBVJYNdTL3OfrcerWEA9e6fO_4/s200/2010-04-09+19.10.09.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5zXB-1voj8pgTEyKTw6lB0IXfPW91U_YSeI_46Zfngp1P4i6_7gpfEJnf8gyKRabMenAC4n-dLwXV1s1bFO6U0jGDi04H9J8ooY3V5LuNA7bqMkOGTf0Ch141IEiv50WbQbdFMfB09g/s1600/2010-04-09+19.11.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="19" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5zXB-1voj8pgTEyKTw6lB0IXfPW91U_YSeI_46Zfngp1P4i6_7gpfEJnf8gyKRabMenAC4n-dLwXV1s1bFO6U0jGDi04H9J8ooY3V5LuNA7bqMkOGTf0Ch141IEiv50WbQbdFMfB09g/s200/2010-04-09+19.11.19.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRjSPv_ucrlw5Myl3P15Yh-tD37P4XkOuzignv7-Q0KvDspmBf96soh9D7TwLYBvMF69vFs01tbUs0GWmLmm3gqV9oVlLJaxLQfswMBrfcAk-lDfAHI9czataY5XOYhVQHJxg2gSDcFQ/s1600/2010-04-09+19.10.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRjSPv_ucrlw5Myl3P15Yh-tD37P4XkOuzignv7-Q0KvDspmBf96soh9D7TwLYBvMF69vFs01tbUs0GWmLmm3gqV9oVlLJaxLQfswMBrfcAk-lDfAHI9czataY5XOYhVQHJxg2gSDcFQ/s200/2010-04-09+19.10.44.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYsdiFYDIHU8xaKvvj1SM_QNAuH2C5iSFjm1a2KPO9NZBVU-9CgsfgBh-7ok5FSaQCFkwzGc_XJtcZOq4qcww9mSR6CIgMOuaGb1zGlBvRWdxEe5pqZWb0xyA9ObS9qhyphenhyphennofD0keSfEM/s1600/2010-04-09+19.11.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="21" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYsdiFYDIHU8xaKvvj1SM_QNAuH2C5iSFjm1a2KPO9NZBVU-9CgsfgBh-7ok5FSaQCFkwzGc_XJtcZOq4qcww9mSR6CIgMOuaGb1zGlBvRWdxEe5pqZWb0xyA9ObS9qhyphenhyphennofD0keSfEM/s200/2010-04-09+19.11.31.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhav5wynZ5b1jl2ZLPogON65dWFFEfXJyxcX31RIPjxEPXaHk-kHGrKCw0wdVcpFn25CyhZtCpDI9mMoSeFw4HPTEbdwB9Ih24JpjgaMGb7hfx_YmBicQu9hyt0JDEwLoQSLtSFg3FsZT4/s1600/2010-04-09+19.10.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="22" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhav5wynZ5b1jl2ZLPogON65dWFFEfXJyxcX31RIPjxEPXaHk-kHGrKCw0wdVcpFn25CyhZtCpDI9mMoSeFw4HPTEbdwB9Ih24JpjgaMGb7hfx_YmBicQu9hyt0JDEwLoQSLtSFg3FsZT4/s200/2010-04-09+19.10.52.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.boutealondon.com/" linkindex="23"><span class="T2__Char">Bou Tea</span></a><span class="T2__Char"> is in the theater district so I was able to run to it before catching a show. I stayed so long I had to take a rickshaw to catch to show on time. It was not what I expected. It was super laid back and hip but gave me serious service and coffee. </span><br />
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<span class="T2__Char">The owner happened to be there and perked up when I started in with my questions. She was friendly and community-oriented and gave me 3 more great recommendations for my tour. </span><br />
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<span class="T2__Char">The art and style was very DIY and expressive. The barista was kick-ass and on a constant search for the perfect roast. They are currently using Monmouth, a favorite for independent, high-end cafes. Since I had Monmouth so much on this tour (and afterwards since I brought all the beans that I had in London back to Berlin with me to check them out in the lab) I was tempted to try the teas although I was pressed for time. </span><br />
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<span class="T2__Char">From the Yelp <a href="http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/bou-tea-london" linkindex="24">reviews</a> and blog <a href="http://bellaphon.blogspot.com/2009/09/bou-tea.html" linkindex="25">posts </a>seems I missed an opportunity to try some wonderful tea. Given that tea is obviously the focus, it is good to see that they are not ignoring their coffee. It is comfortable, convenient and one of the more affordable places on the tour. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.boutealondon.com/" linkindex="26"><span class="T2__Char">Bou Tea</span></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">22 Wellington St., Opera Quarter Covent Garden London WC2E 7DD</div>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-90971223917349802272010-04-26T05:03:00.000-07:002010-04-27T13:38:37.926-07:00Lantana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5K4pIXdX5mhfuHAIsxlYScqiEIDFAC3dPPdgtc9eJBVVk3KjikJOUE7ztbor0AAmg2UbklyBkxTy93hGO1Wbasuy5Iio_6DdxWSZUYP59km8tORbmLSU28ET7BopED9CSq25nBHDKBU8/s1600/2010-04-10+09.59.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="24" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5K4pIXdX5mhfuHAIsxlYScqiEIDFAC3dPPdgtc9eJBVVk3KjikJOUE7ztbor0AAmg2UbklyBkxTy93hGO1Wbasuy5Iio_6DdxWSZUYP59km8tORbmLSU28ET7BopED9CSq25nBHDKBU8/s200/2010-04-10+09.59.39.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL4Byh_No3Wgk8LR4NBlJMCFQm-H7c7VdEk23PDJ7Llyod0ahbLEpTsL5XE4zC15sDZnD2qOJ8H6zr3LCsCWI9dOQFykwWk4q6IxzsCkDhCtigFUfYZo2lj92fGIu3Q7U-a3x3d_ME2Q/s1600/2010-04-10+10.01.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL4Byh_No3Wgk8LR4NBlJMCFQm-H7c7VdEk23PDJ7Llyod0ahbLEpTsL5XE4zC15sDZnD2qOJ8H6zr3LCsCWI9dOQFykwWk4q6IxzsCkDhCtigFUfYZo2lj92fGIu3Q7U-a3x3d_ME2Q/s200/2010-04-10+10.01.35.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXBJOd8jlwkciW7EfBeH3DZLW-r1Kx8gzSrpxzNPD6ayC_-u-6Z2kKyW3YfAbjUb86sCYRPHXOk-Gnwxn3zffAXOJKcSIb9bwEdqm2iOSzL5fpg8y7qu3NhOktXr8vkaaeBDy8H_8sy4/s1600/2010-04-10+09.59.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="26" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXBJOd8jlwkciW7EfBeH3DZLW-r1Kx8gzSrpxzNPD6ayC_-u-6Z2kKyW3YfAbjUb86sCYRPHXOk-Gnwxn3zffAXOJKcSIb9bwEdqm2iOSzL5fpg8y7qu3NhOktXr8vkaaeBDy8H_8sy4/s200/2010-04-10+09.59.12.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/venue/2:2445/lantana" linkindex="27">Lantana</a> is another Australian import, bringing great coffee and <a href="http://www.eatdrinksleepshoplove.com/2009/10/aussie-breakfast-club-in-london.html" linkindex="28">food</a> to London. The vibe is more like a restaurant than a coffee bar though and they have a full, widely celebrated menu of Aussie brunch food.<br />
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Some die hard coffee geeks believe that you have to choose between a full kitchen and awesome coffee. So far Lantana has a dedicated<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puqhwnLPXXo&feature=player_embedded#%21" linkindex="29"> owner</a> who is proving them wrong. It was the only place on my tour with a full kitchen and the coffee was superb. They use Monmouth beans and pour good Latte art. I was not blown away but I enjoyed my cup. I did not try their food. They have a dedicated barista who seemed tired and grumpy but skilled.<br />
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The waiters come meet you at a table which threw me off and the place is not set up for standing at the counter and witnessing your coffee happen or talking to your barista. It is tiny and widely popular, so not very relaxing. I felt like I was in the way with my meager coffee drinks and bothersome questions. I was overwhelmed by the people and restaurant environment.<br />
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I'd recommend it if you wanted a meal and solid espresso but not if your main goal is to drink coffee. Lantana is sandwiched between <a href="http://solbarista.blogspot.com/2010/04/kaffiene.html">Kaffeine</a> and <a href="http://solbarista.blogspot.com/2010/04/tapped-packed.html">Tapped & Packed</a> and, for coffee, it is not the best of the three so there is no need to stand in their long line for your coffee fix.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1078202042" linkindex="30"><br />
</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="adr"><span class="street-address"><a href="http://scramblingeggs.blogspot.com/" linkindex="31">Lantana</a><br />
13 Charlotte Place</span><span class="locality"> Fitzrovia</span>, W1T 1</span></div>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-42934596960999118752010-04-22T06:32:00.000-07:002010-05-07T22:57:55.636-07:00LJ Coffee House<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglv8KhAH0fMMocFAAaFuq1sp9cUWbPiSOZtIJ_tAaSzOhUE_Tj1D749ipR4zghcTks_mgirmm3E1pmGs1jk8EX8IyHdY1QPOjHr6tqM3veNJZUQmJRgG2nicWdmgjcAxr_nkxsM66LM6Q/s1600/2010-04-09+10.52.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="112" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglv8KhAH0fMMocFAAaFuq1sp9cUWbPiSOZtIJ_tAaSzOhUE_Tj1D749ipR4zghcTks_mgirmm3E1pmGs1jk8EX8IyHdY1QPOjHr6tqM3veNJZUQmJRgG2nicWdmgjcAxr_nkxsM66LM6Q/s200/2010-04-09+10.52.55.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT9Yb3V-qe2KSd3rADTi8_Itmhme4CUGbD6ipqFR-Eq9n9oUCACie4QOzTMoOVg0p4W_qFQF2Z0NW0Yk-7MrqccOZ5RrylnaBkbuNR2BpqfMqPrr1RWFMnf2xk8MVCLcIafmOpWsFLHo/s1600/2010-04-09+10.46.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="113" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT9Yb3V-qe2KSd3rADTi8_Itmhme4CUGbD6ipqFR-Eq9n9oUCACie4QOzTMoOVg0p4W_qFQF2Z0NW0Yk-7MrqccOZ5RrylnaBkbuNR2BpqfMqPrr1RWFMnf2xk8MVCLcIafmOpWsFLHo/s200/2010-04-09+10.46.21.jpg" width="200" /></a>I did not have to leave Soho to find the gem that is <a href="http://ljcoffeehouse.org.uk/">LJ Coffeehouse</a>. I was lucky enough to find the owner, David, behind the bar and excited to hear his story. David gets it.<br />
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While I love the new energy and innovation flowing bubbling up with coffee's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Wave_Coffee" linkindex="114">Third Wave</a>, the focus on the perfect cup sometimes misses the point. Coffee, Coffeehouses and all of the huppla that surrounds it is about creating an environment where people can connect with each other and hopefully experience something spectacular. The point of it is people. David is in the people business and coffee is a part of that. For many, it is more about the coffee than the people.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KiRdcK-CdfW7q6Fx2b0bumcrPPmC5bcM0dIisPg-P_HTWfwJ9CQ7oDMYQR2JISMfBsv4f9WCbeIGjHK2HfgBQi0IJE9-iGlqpCS8P914vRPvqHfY-2CC7xj3rHeVb3_acMMRmlvthno/s1600/2010-04-09+10.46.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="115" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KiRdcK-CdfW7q6Fx2b0bumcrPPmC5bcM0dIisPg-P_HTWfwJ9CQ7oDMYQR2JISMfBsv4f9WCbeIGjHK2HfgBQi0IJE9-iGlqpCS8P914vRPvqHfY-2CC7xj3rHeVb3_acMMRmlvthno/s200/2010-04-09+10.46.51.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hTkcvR2iorbvt42n6t7qVuo9EARAVgPmAG9gOTnq-pBNMrFQN6l8nsoHNMfCF4XZhIjRv9SpP4q5p0q-FuI2r-m6dMQrRqDpzwA5KmTE-xjYdipTUMxsrRq8mvbg7tpMo3wPvpd37No/s1600/2010-04-09+11.32.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="116" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hTkcvR2iorbvt42n6t7qVuo9EARAVgPmAG9gOTnq-pBNMrFQN6l8nsoHNMfCF4XZhIjRv9SpP4q5p0q-FuI2r-m6dMQrRqDpzwA5KmTE-xjYdipTUMxsrRq8mvbg7tpMo3wPvpd37No/s200/2010-04-09+11.32.02.jpg" width="200" /></a>In keeping with this focus, LJ's does things a bit differently. They offer 3 sizes in coffee drinks that range from 8 to 16oz. You can get your soy, decaf, and skim milk here all prepared well on a La Marzocco GB5 with Union Hand Roasted beans. I love the purple packaging and name of the "Revelation" blend but I was not so impressed with the taste. It is definitely in the ballpark of a good roast but never quite closes the deal. Like Climpsons, it is safer/milder than I like it and lacks an element in the blend that serves to highlight and transform the base into something extraordinary. <br />
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LJ Coffeehouse is very LGBT friendly. Everyone can feel comfortable here. The chairs are all soft and the coffee keeps you coming.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">LJ Coffee House<br />
3 Winnett Street Soho London W1D 6JY</div>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-25283748955246637292010-04-22T05:07:00.000-07:002010-04-22T05:48:13.153-07:00Fernandez & Wells<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru6nu6FRH8EzXTk3Rk1gMsgg62zQOprxlf-xTZvXr9PGY7E2px3MzZ8r9XLrfVRFJ1_l_IUudPduluNv2Dfn8ANmTHtyhNSyukstR2ouqAE8bOvvcFixOa407NT1TlWs0MZyxQZlHafQ/s1600/2010-04-09+10.38.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="47" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru6nu6FRH8EzXTk3Rk1gMsgg62zQOprxlf-xTZvXr9PGY7E2px3MzZ8r9XLrfVRFJ1_l_IUudPduluNv2Dfn8ANmTHtyhNSyukstR2ouqAE8bOvvcFixOa407NT1TlWs0MZyxQZlHafQ/s200/2010-04-09+10.38.44.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
After a few days in London. I developed a rhythm. I would wake early and hit at least 3 spots on my list before the rest of the city waked up. I kicked off this pattern with a stop at <a href="http://www.fernandezandwells.com/espressobar.php" linkindex="48">Fernandez & Wells.</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieweOgIcr1FZT6GoLGV9hR9wQCWXclyly4-YnOwR-KK-_PZzvupkN7ZIBPFnkIx36THDD9aIlZlG7eUYwEaih9u0_FfqCOH_fxJnAyYm5sw_D2Ux8GyYgqN-069g7vvVO17w5_uQRca7k/s1600/2010-04-09+10.37.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="49" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieweOgIcr1FZT6GoLGV9hR9wQCWXclyly4-YnOwR-KK-_PZzvupkN7ZIBPFnkIx36THDD9aIlZlG7eUYwEaih9u0_FfqCOH_fxJnAyYm5sw_D2Ux8GyYgqN-069g7vvVO17w5_uQRca7k/s200/2010-04-09+10.37.50.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
They are unapologetic coffee snobs. This is not an insult and I loved it. You won't be able to find skim milk or decaf here. Just take a look at their lean menu of no more than 5 coffee drinks. Don't worry about the lack of options, what they do, they do well. They are the coffee store equivalent of the record store in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146882/" linkindex="50">High Fidelity</a> minus Jack Black.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUhwYl8QPzFT6jRB4hrqPo4AQlyP1rSHbWvle7gdQQYzit8Onsq-_GKMXirtQrvh3nY2vjYBrH6aLwB_r5EWN_aLrxr9gfkZTzMNU5wuTvnSpNv3RqfoCZ3Kvy2WxuT_BAV17v7_0Oqk/s1600/2010-04-09+10.29.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="51" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUhwYl8QPzFT6jRB4hrqPo4AQlyP1rSHbWvle7gdQQYzit8Onsq-_GKMXirtQrvh3nY2vjYBrH6aLwB_r5EWN_aLrxr9gfkZTzMNU5wuTvnSpNv3RqfoCZ3Kvy2WxuT_BAV17v7_0Oqk/s200/2010-04-09+10.29.38.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_pXdo8fCqkx4A4oZKgLcVuGfVWBlQNtPraH1lYuPDwXBomnl1_U2Y-DxzD48PHXrJJwDc4WtvMQb-VTDzwq_mhlYtZBQq_bQ14yheThKM1bAPkhYv-7ArAP92CT1lqD49UgZwXEqj3c/s1600/2010-04-09+10.29.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="52" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_pXdo8fCqkx4A4oZKgLcVuGfVWBlQNtPraH1lYuPDwXBomnl1_U2Y-DxzD48PHXrJJwDc4WtvMQb-VTDzwq_mhlYtZBQq_bQ14yheThKM1bAPkhYv-7ArAP92CT1lqD49UgZwXEqj3c/s200/2010-04-09+10.29.54.jpg" width="200" /></a>The barista, Rowan aka <a href="http://misterbarista.blogspot.com/" linkindex="53">Mister Barista</a> does not disappoint. He knew his stuff. Although I could not buy their blend, which you can only experience in the store on their shiny <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesso" linkindex="54">Synesso</a> machine, I knew by my first drink that it was something special. I had a <a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2009/08/12/329208/inside-beverages-coffee-espresso-yourself.htm" linkindex="55">Stumpy</a> and was instantly intoxicated by the small, unlikely shop I found my groggy morning self in.<br />
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The abundance of baked yummies, the random crates of fruit in the corner. The weekend morning shuffling of customers and deliveries. The sun shining through the front window and bouncing off the machine to fill the narrow shop with light. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzzbDQZvfNQrftVy2TjfTMralN_6Zgzxov6V65bd5_eW_Y39Cg62qufSlRUEH2cWxvB-VxRvHN71TS6qwu7P6W3gWscxio_Ko9JGqUR6C_SPrlXenG5WiwuMI5cuBEls6CpB2VLhKRdA/s1600/2010-04-09+10.29.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="56" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzzbDQZvfNQrftVy2TjfTMralN_6Zgzxov6V65bd5_eW_Y39Cg62qufSlRUEH2cWxvB-VxRvHN71TS6qwu7P6W3gWscxio_Ko9JGqUR6C_SPrlXenG5WiwuMI5cuBEls6CpB2VLhKRdA/s200/2010-04-09+10.29.24.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This was a highlight. The Synesso is not an easy machine to get consistent results on unless you know what you are doing. It allows for a lot of manual play.<br />
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I will definitely be back.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fernandezandwells.com/beak.php" linkindex="57"><span class="T1__Char">Fernandez and Wells </span> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;">73 Beak Street London W1F 9RS<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJs3SFdgJJID-N-J5mtC7JWFnuH9EYIqf4YyZgovx6UHGcUKwLTDsbGKrLpvQlJw3Cay8H5JT0B81hDE5aYItHEWqNMzTNesFb_6aTGlQnqpOGArnVs-PnMmgAzSyNDmXTXJ0QlvMG28/s1600/2010-04-09+10.30.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="58" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJs3SFdgJJID-N-J5mtC7JWFnuH9EYIqf4YyZgovx6UHGcUKwLTDsbGKrLpvQlJw3Cay8H5JT0B81hDE5aYItHEWqNMzTNesFb_6aTGlQnqpOGArnVs-PnMmgAzSyNDmXTXJ0QlvMG28/s200/2010-04-09+10.30.57.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-22096077326542488142010-04-22T03:51:00.000-07:002010-04-22T05:45:36.908-07:00Climpson & Sons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedTtDftIYKMoZWoGnOuvxswo8bGPV1FD3AY8ccA6cvSUlTrskoQv3oDeApMLD5wpkBJiemAVxJiWVdMfmSLlYMcWOzXR6-J0O6NmPUcJiCpDCFnMeK26xnBKYzNIlSDnRTVXc2XQH2e4/s1600/2010-04-05+11.10.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="34" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedTtDftIYKMoZWoGnOuvxswo8bGPV1FD3AY8ccA6cvSUlTrskoQv3oDeApMLD5wpkBJiemAVxJiWVdMfmSLlYMcWOzXR6-J0O6NmPUcJiCpDCFnMeK26xnBKYzNIlSDnRTVXc2XQH2e4/s200/2010-04-05+11.10.01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Like almost all West Indians, I have an aunt that lives in London. I did not expect to have any good coffee when passing through her neighborhood. So I was surprised when across the street from her house I saw the newly opened <a href="http://webcoffeeshop.co.uk/" linkindex="35">Climpson & Sons.</a> While I was happy to stumble across a place on my coffee destination list, I also recognized the changing (read gentrification) of my aunt's neighborhood, a hint that she may not be able to afford her flat in a few years time. But this blog is not about urban migratory patterns and how they are affected by capitalism and class, it is about coffee. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBF77zLROJemfMGc4inV2F2_itQOHZhF0lbM-Gy_g8Ijgzfs5A2u6lAYcergACl7qEoUsnNXsszNV8fBKKejK8_Y69L54MuXsiJFXY3iUayjXVDHgUY8P6My5auDwNpxpMYggmRIBmY6M/s1600/2010-04-05+11.05.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="36" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBF77zLROJemfMGc4inV2F2_itQOHZhF0lbM-Gy_g8Ijgzfs5A2u6lAYcergACl7qEoUsnNXsszNV8fBKKejK8_Y69L54MuXsiJFXY3iUayjXVDHgUY8P6My5auDwNpxpMYggmRIBmY6M/s200/2010-04-05+11.05.03.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In the London coffee shops of old, (which means most coffeeshops that I tried to avoid) people would sprinkle cocoa on your espresso while making a cappuccino. Leaving the poor populace with the impression that a cappuccino was some sort of chocolate coffee drink. I unfortunately encountered this practice at Climpson & Sons. I will say that when I visited in January, the barista did not do this and since it was Easter Monday there was a replacement barista but this cocoa stuff coming between me and my cappuccino is just madness. Can someone start a campaign to end this?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqDvzGZDaXWHgi_Nw5WFFUevnT2W_jSoBQzWDMxbsmqarnGpOlWZDUmslkLYPUfIj7CS7qPPVtratNdA6Az7CBFdamS1COsssX8uapnkRHZTdyxSZIUW-ANoOwKdBXGWzkHQtriAVOB8/s1600/2010-04-05+11.30.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="37" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqDvzGZDaXWHgi_Nw5WFFUevnT2W_jSoBQzWDMxbsmqarnGpOlWZDUmslkLYPUfIj7CS7qPPVtratNdA6Az7CBFdamS1COsssX8uapnkRHZTdyxSZIUW-ANoOwKdBXGWzkHQtriAVOB8/s200/2010-04-05+11.30.10.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I could not buy beans at this store so I had to get them at a store later in my tour that carries their beans. Generally, Climpson & Sons is highly respected as roasters on the <a href="http://breadandbuttermagazine.co.uk/2010/03/22/the-london-coffee-revolution/" linkindex="38">London scene</a>. There was always a good flow of people and I bumped into Cameron, the barista from Flat White, on my way out the door. People who know and love coffee go to Climpsons. I had a chance to taste their coffee sans cocoa and found it to be mellow but loosing its stronger elements when served with milk resulting in a laid back effect. It is a solid blend but it does not take many risks. That said, I have a lot of respect for them and how they have helped to raised the bar in UK coffee. Check out this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGPCY1O_QSk&feature=player_embedded" linkindex="39">video</a> about their humble beginnings. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vhUVFu4iysHDsa6uW06Mg5yJ8sxjfFXfp72JGP6yHgqU4MtHUGlh12h3uNtmpKdh4jbSg3PsvEcunM74S2xNOn-K_LXXTowoq3R9tCTpVH7xQod48RVg6iSxzoSHKK5tks1D3gP5tgA/s1600/2010-04-05+11.15.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="40" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vhUVFu4iysHDsa6uW06Mg5yJ8sxjfFXfp72JGP6yHgqU4MtHUGlh12h3uNtmpKdh4jbSg3PsvEcunM74S2xNOn-K_LXXTowoq3R9tCTpVH7xQod48RVg6iSxzoSHKK5tks1D3gP5tgA/s200/2010-04-05+11.15.24.jpg" width="200" /></a>The Hackney store is small and sports a spare style. The seating and counters are made from milk crates and corrugated tin as well as other salvaged materials but still comes off as clean and intentional. There is an <a href="http://www.londonfieldsradio.com/" linkindex="41">unexplained radio station</a> set-up in the corner by the door. My favorite nook however was the back corner where you could look over the backyard and shed through the huge old-fashioned window.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><address class="noline"></address><div class="full_address" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://webcoffeeshop.co.uk/" linkindex="42">Climpson & Sons</a><i> </i></div><div class="full_address" style="text-align: center;"><span class="address"><i>63 Wilton Way, E8 1BG</i></span> </div><div class="full_address" style="text-align: center;">67 Broadway Market, London, E8 4PH </div></div><i></i><br />
<address class="noline"></address><div class="full_address"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v9wADFWm1TmXd-dX33k75OACIzkEcvvi24pzZCC9DE-U6IqWeJLHGzBccOv1CJekXZ6DBZ0J3mRUUFDUyBKOrQiURn6Z04XIs-NUpiVgopRCBaCDkQeYCXolm3FUQJ6AJAK1qJVeV0k/s1600/2010-04-05+11.07.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="43" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v9wADFWm1TmXd-dX33k75OACIzkEcvvi24pzZCC9DE-U6IqWeJLHGzBccOv1CJekXZ6DBZ0J3mRUUFDUyBKOrQiURn6Z04XIs-NUpiVgopRCBaCDkQeYCXolm3FUQJ6AJAK1qJVeV0k/s200/2010-04-05+11.07.53.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZPTaKJxvYLECsA4d8eEE-prR0XXCGwwjyj6tFc4NagHJ-0nQMFB5pBlVEypkpEAcxiDGtbcwM1BevAe2SKDkOvu0vyJOyx43ozkrOIULz_nlBJiX_CmztE_2636-e5cYKGdeyPVh3Ik/s1600/2010-04-05+11.09.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="44" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZPTaKJxvYLECsA4d8eEE-prR0XXCGwwjyj6tFc4NagHJ-0nQMFB5pBlVEypkpEAcxiDGtbcwM1BevAe2SKDkOvu0vyJOyx43ozkrOIULz_nlBJiX_CmztE_2636-e5cYKGdeyPVh3Ik/s200/2010-04-05+11.09.48.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-59980307147724373412010-04-22T01:49:00.000-07:002010-04-22T01:52:44.469-07:00Flat White<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mj3fdB7m45iTuToukFOQQe7zSGSKDKSQ7nWUdNCcjHUnI9cctYAFTvWxNEXdie8_6irgDAEGZnT-nCitdzD-2YfSV7v4bbY4dM2PpZwO_k1K4PR5JUxJVRINSlc-V6Zv66UcVrNJJqM/s1600/2010-04-04+13.13.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="30" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mj3fdB7m45iTuToukFOQQe7zSGSKDKSQ7nWUdNCcjHUnI9cctYAFTvWxNEXdie8_6irgDAEGZnT-nCitdzD-2YfSV7v4bbY4dM2PpZwO_k1K4PR5JUxJVRINSlc-V6Zv66UcVrNJJqM/s200/2010-04-04+13.13.02.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I could not have picked a better first stop for my London Coffee Tour than <a href="http://www.flat-white.co.uk/" linkindex="31">Flat White</a>, the Australian coffee invasion of London. Serving up their own blend of <a href="http://shop.squaremilecoffee.com/" linkindex="32">Square Mile</a> roasted beans with a passion on 2 La Marzocco Lineas are two serious baristas. The most passionate barista I've met in a while, Cameron, is a New Zealander who talks about coffee the way others talk about a lover. He got really excited when we started talking about coffee from Papa New Guinea and his accent got super strong and started to escape my American ears but I enjoyed it nonetheless. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfOePxOXes3JyFkZpl8wiIhqDZJF58s4vEnMGhw5yGSU0mTjIzY24Qb9bdnqfZdC_MG0_yo90tieHCTuRCYH_gUsMv7SkcCAZbj-VttV8JjCdQglZ03OUacWrV_-PIncngRC3oBVemA8/s1600/2010-04-04+13.13.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="33" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfOePxOXes3JyFkZpl8wiIhqDZJF58s4vEnMGhw5yGSU0mTjIzY24Qb9bdnqfZdC_MG0_yo90tieHCTuRCYH_gUsMv7SkcCAZbj-VttV8JjCdQglZ03OUacWrV_-PIncngRC3oBVemA8/s200/2010-04-04+13.13.32.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The coolest thing beside the coffee at Flat White is the friendly staff which was a bit of welcome culture shock for me after living in Berlin. I felt like I was at home. That's Claire behind the counter, Eric whipping up sandwiches, the afore mentioned Cameron and another mysterious barista who only talks through the delicious drinks he makes.<br />
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Flat White is obviously not a secret because there was another crazy coffee customer who made a special pilgrimage to the store and was animatedly asking about the mechanics of the espresso machine. I visited on Easter Sunday and Flat White was open and busy.<br />
After my awesome experience there, I am not surprised.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flat-white.co.uk/" linkindex="34" target="_blank">Flat White</a>, 17 Berwick Street W1. Tel 020 7734 0370 </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCWj7TQcOEMNAYP9f-Es7y5kV5Yfzv2DhdbSd6lpWguEIgUHqpAVRffXCn-Z0Gx9JJnIaesuGK8fImJLol9cd-SSc2tPv8IheuRWDtlai59_-p3TcrmK3C9l3lIrYISLOTPVI6WNQkzI/s1600/2010-04-04+13.12.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="35" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCWj7TQcOEMNAYP9f-Es7y5kV5Yfzv2DhdbSd6lpWguEIgUHqpAVRffXCn-Z0Gx9JJnIaesuGK8fImJLol9cd-SSc2tPv8IheuRWDtlai59_-p3TcrmK3C9l3lIrYISLOTPVI6WNQkzI/s200/2010-04-04+13.12.30.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVceEjrrfKWmg1jUu8owmzfXj_itar6AbuO5KwGzG6Fu2EltMTY4e-LeLFGq6szNqr163sSCbe9DsNhQ4-WZbjJClUT4NMW4jidAMj-s2yt7cp7zOvBS8qWIHEjYe5yPd_aaWw0uBQgPU/s1600/2010-04-04+12.36.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="36" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVceEjrrfKWmg1jUu8owmzfXj_itar6AbuO5KwGzG6Fu2EltMTY4e-LeLFGq6szNqr163sSCbe9DsNhQ4-WZbjJClUT4NMW4jidAMj-s2yt7cp7zOvBS8qWIHEjYe5yPd_aaWw0uBQgPU/s200/2010-04-04+12.36.08.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGw78FXTcoIf5h0qtPcnXwvoi3GJO5kD_aZPotEpQ3mIcFrkD5VvVRs0ki9BcY08qhKTTBPDfVMX7N4H10zuzJSRv9QpJ4TPjq0WqA_v9FNw9W_9mx_4epEhDmMKhggh0faCXapZuGfdg/s1600/2010-04-04+13.07.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="37" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGw78FXTcoIf5h0qtPcnXwvoi3GJO5kD_aZPotEpQ3mIcFrkD5VvVRs0ki9BcY08qhKTTBPDfVMX7N4H10zuzJSRv9QpJ4TPjq0WqA_v9FNw9W_9mx_4epEhDmMKhggh0faCXapZuGfdg/s200/2010-04-04+13.07.55.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6p96atynh8HnI_8rslkOjHfLDIUeAYdPLWNbufl6SrCIM4EZdQhRrqjrE-lcLIMKmDNBW0w6OmRnMyCUCleeirS_6AmqL_07LR9mk6_yKtxcsBDMimfpbG8OEEk8v18fNl5qTnBYuUM0/s1600/2010-04-04+13.09.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="38" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6p96atynh8HnI_8rslkOjHfLDIUeAYdPLWNbufl6SrCIM4EZdQhRrqjrE-lcLIMKmDNBW0w6OmRnMyCUCleeirS_6AmqL_07LR9mk6_yKtxcsBDMimfpbG8OEEk8v18fNl5qTnBYuUM0/s200/2010-04-04+13.09.42.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-60311965451271214252010-04-14T06:02:00.000-07:002010-04-22T02:31:33.029-07:00London Coffee Tour - LaunchI spent last week sitting in the cafes of London sipping on some of the best espresso drinks I have had this side of the Atlantic. I've lived in Berlin as a recovering American for the last 2 years and nothing made me question my migration more than finding out that Europe, the home of coffee as we know it, is in many ways behind the USA in Coffee innovation. I know I'll get in trouble for that opinion and for a long time I tried the diplomatic approach of saying the coffee is different here not worse but I've seen the light. It is worse and I visited some folks in London that are working hard to change that. <br />
Bless their souls.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;">I compiled a list based on the recommendations from coffee geeks that visited Berlin's <a href="http://www.godshot.de/" linkindex="18">Godshot</a> store where I work as a barista. A surprise visit from a couple of <a href="http://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk/" linkindex="19">Monmouth</a> baristas one week before my trip rounded my list out to more than 20 serious coffee destinations in London. I was prepared to be blown away and I was. Although I was also underwhelmed, I'll focus here on what I found compelling in London. Here is my basic criteria for a coffee destination. Some of these may seem like a given for some but one can not take them forgranted in the Old World.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><ul><li>Use of fresh per cup ground 100% Arabica beans with a known roast date that is less than one month old.</li>
<li>Machines that are up to the task of producing great shots and enhancing the work of a skilled barista.</li>
<li>Skilled baristas that are passionate, knowledgeable and efficient.</li>
<li>An environment that is controlled to stabilize variables that negatively effect sensitive coffee beans. </li>
</ul><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669777702175063298.post-82201779577837140352009-12-15T06:22:00.000-08:002009-12-15T06:22:27.180-08:00My coffee connectionI fell in love with cafés long before I discovered coffee. While I was working outrageous hours as a software engineer in Seattle I would crawl into a corner of one of the many amazing cafés there after dinner to write poetry and people watch. Cafés kept me sane. They acted as the only place where I could hang-out for the cost of a cup of tea and feel like I was in some sort of public home.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When I moved on to being a Barista in North Carolina and went through my coffee basic training I started to see the how deeply complex and variable coffee is and how I could maximize its potential. My enthusiasm to get the most out of my machine and beans was picked up by my customers and pretty soon I had regulars that were so regular that they would chew me out if I was late or inquire about me if I was sick. I became like a neighborhood bartender to sober people and pretty soon I knew the back-stories for most of my customers. Somehow in our 2 minute daily interaction they were able to tell me the most intimate details of their life. My relationship to coffee was still somewhat distant, I was not connected and educated about where my coffee came from and what that meant . My goal was to make people smile all day long and the coffee was a means of doing so. Luckily my business partner was passionate about coffee and had the experience to make sure our coffee met the highest standards. I learned how to turn coffee which I thought a vehicle to imbibe caffeine into something that made people look at their cup in amazement, stop on their way out the door to turn back and ask me questions. It was like magic.<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My connection to people shifted my connection to coffee. I needed to be able to answer questions about free trade, origin, taste differences and roasting methods. My roasters (Broad Street Coffee Roasters which unfortunately are no longer in existence) were an inspiration. When I sat them down for a deeper perspective they were an inexhaustible source of information. They referred to growers by their first names and kept their pictures on the wall. They had a keen sense of responsibility for the livelihood of these growers and I realized that we were both motivated to enhance our work through human connection. Them to the grower, I to the coffee-drinker.<br />
</div>sol chicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03154280687736202134noreply@blogger.com0