Coffee Appreciation

i-steel just arrived. Pulled a few shots trying to dial it in – I don't think my slap-dash approach is going to cut it any more...first shot was suuuper fruity (as I was expecting from the St. Ali Rwandan) but with a light, thin crema. Upped dose, slightly harder tamp and hotter extraction produced a completely different shot – most of the fruitiness gone but with a thicker, dark crema. Threw some milk in and it came out a treat but I'm gonna need to pay more attention if I'm gonna get consistent results out of it!

Had an absolutely cracking soy latte at Starbucks on the weekend, arguably the kings of coffee.

Square Mile has reached Manchester, seems bit pricey compared to my usual hasbean at £12 for 350g (vs 4 - 6 for 250).

Very nice though, very fruity as promised on the label. Kenya Kangunu AA, ground in zassenhaus brewed in aeropress. lovely.

What bean is it? That's a BIG markup...I just bought a 350g bag of the summer espresso from Notes for £7.50.

Square Mile has reached Manchester, seems bit pricey compared to my usual hasbean at £12 for 350g (vs 4 - 6 for 250).

Very nice though, very fruity as promised on the label. Kenya Kangunu AA, ground in zassenhaus brewed in aeropress. lovely.

Where at?

Had an absolutely cracking soy latte at Starbucks on the weekend, arguably the kings of coffee.

That is a good one, as is their gingerbread frappucino (with extra cream).

Kenya Kangunu AA stocked at North Tea Power.

12 is a lot more than 7.5, but not like for like.

on investigation, no different to shop price, with notes on price rises

http://shop.squaremilecoffee.com/products/kangunu-aa

Despite trying really hard I still can't beat the taste I get from my stove top aluminium espresso pot; makes perfect coffee (I use Lavazza Oro) - espresso or small Americano with a tad of full cream milk ; )

My fave place to drink coffee though would be Scootercaffe (formerly known as Scooterworks cafe) at 132 Lower Marsh, SE1 behind Waterloo station. Nice, earthy place with well worn floor, junk shop furniture & the best bit - a beautiful re-conned 1950s coffee machine by Italian company Faema. This makes lovely coffee & you're not ripped off like at some of the well known coffee chains. Anyway, excellent place for coffee & good atmosphere. Think the cafe/bar also does a film club in their basement, screening cool films, haven't been myself but would like to.

B&W 35mm film shot of the cafe front here when it was known as Scooterworks - sorry for shameless link to my photography site ; ) http://www.vespamore.com

PS Scootercaffe get their coffee beans from specialist roaster Londinium & grind them at the cafe. You can read about Londinium here http://londiniumespresso.com/pages/about-us

We have a job going for a bike loving Barista http://www.londoncoffeejobs.co.uk/?p=14636

anyone got a cheap grinder for sale that isn't terrible?

Is there a standout make/model for manual grinders? I'm not looking for the Phil Wood of grinders, just something that'll last a bit.

Apologies if it's covered earlier in the thread, I've not spotted it.

What do you get the man who owns everything else by Rapha?

IMG_2086 by alexecrawford, on Flickr

Is there a standout make/model for manual grinders? I'm not looking for the Phil Wood of grinders, just something that'll last a bit.

Apologies if it's covered earlier in the thread, I've not spotted it.

I've got the Hario skerton and it's very good.

had 2 fine filter brews in notes earlier, square mile kenyan thru wooden handle then hasbean limoncillo thru aeropress, got a few tips for my home brews on the latter - great knowledge, service & enthusiasm.

Tried Tapped and Packed this morning on Rathbone Place - nice place, good coffee, nice looking food and not as crowded as other local places. Well worth a go.

Blue mountain from jamacia is nice

I've got the Hario skerton and it's very good.

I'm actually putting my Skerton Mill in the Classifieds tonight.

It's great - i'm just getting lazy.......

Is there a standout make/model for manual grinders? I'm not looking for the Phil Wood of grinders, just something that'll last a bit.

Apologies if it's covered earlier in the thread, I've not spotted it.

I'm thinking about one of these http://www.orphanespresso.com/OE-PHAROS-Hand-Coffee-Grinder_ep_636-1.html

Hang on, it could be the Phil Wood of hand grinders! It hasn't been out long, but there is a link upthread, I think.

the porlex is pretty much the best home hand grinder you can get (that's not £150 like a OE pharos)

http://www.creamsupplies.co.uk/porlex-tall-hand-grinder/prod_1850.html

or an old zassenhaus from ebay.de

the Hario Skerton is supposed to be ok as well

Got these for sale. My Mrs bought them from a coffee shop in Sicily in '98, used them for a couple of years and have been boxed up for about 10. As you can see one of the espresso cups is missing, other than that, very good nick
Pick-up in Islington, £30

PM me

Sorry, these aren't NJS

nice cups.

years ago i made a mate an espresso coffee in a small porcelain cup and he said "what the fuck is that?! did you steal it from a dolls house?"
i was a bit miffed and had to explain what an espresso was.

he brought one of these illy collection cups back from a work trip to swissland, found it at the back of the cupboard the other day and it's worth about £30. (not that i would pay that for it)
and 500 euro!? for the box of six

Where in Clerkenwell can I get good iced coffee? I quite fancy some of this, ideally:

in espresso room this morning & asked dan to please 'grind some fany' for me — has bean finca la fany, that is. got bemused looks from customers.