You just know that I want to get one of these…. Perfect for those long journeys, or when queuing for petrol when there’s a tanker strike on, or as happens way too often the M5 grinds to a halt.
Black & Beyond
Those who know me, know that I only drink “real” coffee, I’ve recently changed my usual coffee from Percol’s Americano to Percol’s Black & Beyond. This is an increase in strength from 5 to 6.
It’s a strong coffee that is full of flavour. If you like the odd espresso then you’ll probably like a cup of this. However if you prefer a latte then you’ll no doubt find this coffee way too strong.
I generally use this coffee in my cafetiere and certainly gives a kick and is very nice.
You wouldn’t want to have too many cups of this coffee otherwise you’ll have to drag you off the ceiling!
Americano please…
Last week, having managed to catch an earlier train and arriving in Birmingham a little earlier than I needed to, I decided to venture to Caffé Nero for a coffee. (and they have free wifi so that’s useful too).
I ordered my usual for Caffé Nero, an americano with cold skimmed milk on the side.
As I have written before, I have found that the coffee at Caffé Nero is pretty consistent, and this one was no exception. A really nice strong, well flavoured coffee.
If can’t find a decent independent, then out of all the chains if I can find one, then I will go to Caffé Nero.
Flat White
Ever since visiting New Zealand I have had a fondness for the Flat White. It can be challenging to find a decent Flat White in the UK, despite the widespread adoption by coffee chains of the Flat White; unless the barista knows what they are doing, you may think you are getting a flat white, but you get a disappointing cappuccino instead.
I was pleased the other day to order a Flat White in my local Costa and I got a really good Flat White, perfect.
The coffee was good, the milk was steamed to the right creamy consistency and even the pattern on the top was sharp and remained as I drank the coffee.
Hopefully the next time I get a Flat White just as good.
Caffè Paradiso
On a recent visit to London, I was on Store Street in Camden when I decided I wanted to get a coffee and do some work. The Caffè Paradiso was one of many coffee shops close by, but I chose it, partly as it had free wifi, but mainly as it looked like it served decent coffee.
Well the wifi was free and reasonably fast. The coffee was also really good. I also had a plain croissant and it took a while to get some butter. Though the croissant was fresh, it tasted a little too much of almond as though it had been stored too close to the almond croissants.
What I like about these independent coffee shops is they have character and soul. They have a personality which is missing from the high street chains. Of course the reason why high street chains are successful is that they appear to offer consistency and reliability. Though generally I have had excellent coffee from most independent places I have been to, I have on the odd occasion been disappointed. I think this is the reason why people sometimes are a little bit wary of independence and go with a chain. Of course in some places you have no choice and you can only go to a chain. Regular readers of this blog will know from my posts on coffee that chains, which should be consistent can sometimes disappoint. So the next time I am in the area I will hopefully have a repeat visit to Caffè Paradiso for some excellent coffee.
Bloomsbury Cafe
So there I was slightly early for a meeting in Gordon Square in the heart of London, I had time for a coffee, however the only place close by and I could find was the Bloomsbury Cafe on Gordon Street. It’s part of UCL and from what I could see it served coffee in cardboard cups. Without any choice I decided that I did want a coffee and went in.
I had a large Americano which cost a very reasonable £1.30 and really enjoyed it, it was a great coffee. Felt old sitting amongst the students, but I think that’s just life!
Flying for a coffee
I’ve decided I’ve really gone off Starbucks coffee, I find that it is over roasted and I’ve not really enjoyed that coffee drinking experience. So there I was at Bristol Airport at 6am thinking I want a coffee, I could choose between Starbucks and Soho Coffee Co.
I don’t want rehash my previous visit to Soho, but as I didn’t feel like drinking Starbucks I went with Soho. The experience was as it should be, the service was polite, fast and efficient and as for the coffee, it was really nice and I enjoyed it. When you have a nice experience it does make you want to go back.
A flat Flat White
I was less than impressed with a Flat White I recently had at Starbucks, it was flat and insipid. I wonder though how much of that was because it was in a paper cup? I’m not a great fan of coffee in paper cups and where possible I will “drink in” so I can have a proper china cup.
I still find it a little incredulous how much we pay for coffee in paper cups these days, we think it’s somewhat normal!
Good Flat White
I had a really good skinny Flat White today at Costa.
Good flavoured coffee and the milk wasn’t too foamy. This was a different branch of Costa to the one where I have been before.
Still don’t understand why it is more expensive than similar sized coffees. At Starbucks they even use a “short” cup and charge more!
Time for a Caramel Waffle
When is a waffle not a waffle? When it’s a caramel waffle.
Most coffee places seems to sell these caramel wafers and now and again I have been known to order one alongside my coffee.
They are crunchy, chewy and rather sweet, however they complement the coffee quite nicely if you fancy something sweet.
However they are not in my opinion real waffles, they have a waffle texture to look at, but are more wafer than waffle.