Coffee Appreciation

Popped into Workshop for a quick coffee on my way accross town.

They don't accept money as payment.

What the fuck is that about?

Cashless cafe?

Much easier for the staff. No change float. No theft. No banking. No cashing up at the end of the day. No (less) dirt being thrown around the food...

Have Workshop gone cashless?

No need to serve those without bank accounts......

Plus it's not actually hard to count some cash each night.

Bbq (aka Passion Fruit) has gone that way to cashless up here. Makes sense on some levels but personally I feel uncomfortable about potential for more retailers (wider beyond coffee) going that way, in the same way I still buy music on cds and don't buy downloads. #stuckinways

Anyone seen those cash handling machines in France, usually in the bakeries - you put notes and coins in the machine and it spits the change out, staff dont have to touch the filthy lucre at all. I'd like to see those take off.

I got given there Christmas blend for um Christmas, I have really enjoyed their single origins but the blend wasn't great. some beans were completely burnt.

you put notes and coins in the machine and it spits the change out

Just like the self service machines at supermarkets I guess?

That's not good. You should contact them. I get beans from Ancoats, drink in at bbq but we grabbed decaf PF beans on last bbq visit for my partner as she's cutting down on the caffeine.

Yes I suppose so, but in independent shops and focusing on hygiene.

Yeah I see where you're coming from, reckon the kit would be too pricey for indie bakers, only greggs etc will have capital to invest in them?

Maybe, but I saw them in Nice last year and they were everywhere, even the quiet shops in rough neighbourhoods. Probs some food hygiene law makes them necessary.

I'd like to think there was some higher form of reasoning behind their decision not to accept cash, but I can't escape the feeling that the real reason is that they are a bunch of pretentious wankers.

I had my first cashless café experience recently. Quite unnerving.

"We don't take cash."
"But cash is money"
Blank stare

Coffee was meh too. I has to check my phone to see how badly ripped off I should feel.

Lolz, yes I think you may have uncovered the truth. I can’t think of a good reason for a business to make it more difficult for a customer to pay, but then it seems that service has become secondary to concept in so many coffee shops, and for some reason customers seem happy to put up with it.

Plymouth?

Heard some being about S Korea doing away with coins and planning on being note free by 2025 (or something)

It's the future

Off topic but thought this might be the right place. I really like green tea but I currently just use tea bags. Would like to start buying fresh and brewing in a teapot - any advice on what and where to buy from?

T2 were quite helpful when I went in there

Buy whole leaf green tea, it is not as oxidised and much much sweeter as a result. You get what you pay for. Also get a tea kettle as high end tea does not work well with boiling water.

Then learn about how to make green tea, the second and third extractions from the leaves tend to be best.

Postcardteas are very good in my limited tea knowledge.

So I have some beans which I've not used as I'm cutting down / giving up coffee for health reasons - free to a good home; they're a bag of Steve's yellow bourbon, and half a bag of caravan's "Xmas bru". They probably need using sooner rather than later but free if anyone wants them? I work at London Bridge so daytime pickup is easiest, or evenings in se23

still available by any chance?

These have a huge selection - I've proceeded by trial and error and ended up with some really nice teas:

https://www.mariagefreres.com/FR/accueil.html

Can second postcard teas. Super friendly, very knowledgeable, good range of prices. They often have tastings (Sat mornings, I think?) But will often make you something if you don't know what you're looking for. Everything I've had from them has been delicious.