Coffee Appreciation

Elan Valley has a series of reservoirs that feed water Eastwards to supply Birmingham. 'Source' might have been a tap in Shropshire from same feed. Clearly not though as Waitrose advise it is filtered through ancient rock first.

Reassuring that it gets the (V) for Vegetarian symbol too.

filtered still has limescale, and it's about the minerals in the water which a filter can't add.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10875537/Secret-to-perfect-cup-of-coffee-lies-in-the-quality-of-the-water-researchers-say.html

Guys I wasn't being specific to the Waitrose water when I flippantly made the shipped around the world comment! I am aware where Shropshire is.

Great review though. Would have your company send you to a wine tasting next.

Sadly they have a rule which means they can't pay for alcohol :(

I used to use a filter as our water is very hard in Norfolk but swopping to Tescos Ashbeck made a lot of difference to the brightness of the coffee. Wouldn't go back now.

I was concerned about the environmental impact of bottles and transportation but I'm now not sure if that is any worse than using a filter for a month and then chucking it (and the processes and chemicals used in making those).

I've seen so many coffee presentations where someone very pleased with themselves twats on about coffee without actually serving any to anyone. It's shit. Everyone is bored after 15 minutes, stifling yawns. Get a load of coffee into people early doors and they engage with such enthusiasm. You have an evening centred around stimulants - dish them out! Guess what too - people buy stuff when they're buzzing off caffeine and excited about all this new stuff they've learned.
/rant

Can't beat a good cupping session!

(Not a euph...)

This was a morning class so everyone had forgone their morning coffee with the expectation we would be having some early doors in the class
Agh.

Hell's teeth.

Sounds like they could work on explaining things like bottled water better, or have people discuss it a bit more, to avoid people leaving thinking they're snobs! Talk about not getting the point across.

I was concerned about the environmental impact of bottles and transportation but I'm now not sure if that is any worse than using a filter for a month and then chucking it (and the processes and chemicals used in making those).

I'm pretty sure it is. Plastic bottles are not sustainable - even if they can possibly be recycled - and bottled water from the UK has to be carried around by lorry, which ultimately means more diesel particulates and more HGVs on the road, which is something I'd hope a forum supposedly full of cyclists would care about.

I don't doubt that it makes a difference but I'll stick to tap water thanks.

The bottled water argument is similar to that for brewing beer. Basically, it's generally better than bad London tap water, but it can actually be too soft in some cases, depending on the type of bottled water. I use bottled water in my espresso machine as it uses a tank and I don't use that much.

Has anyone tried the Oomph? It looks like an aeropress, but with a rotating bit to stir the coffee (I think) and brews straight to an insulated cup....

Cracking on with the shop. New partition to allow 2 doors between serving area and WC built, just need to skim that and fit skirting and architrave. Flooring and work surfaces upstairs done, flooring downstairs fitted and frames built for counters. Roaster moved in, which feels great, plus coffees chosen, designs for packaging and cups done and visualisation for shop front sorted; signwriting starts next week. Manager hired too. Just equipment suppliers and packaging manufacturers giving me sleepless nights, plus the prospect of nobody walking through the doors.

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Nice one!

Looking great so far! This is in Northampton, right?

Looks great so far. you've even managed to slip a slight nod to a famous walking dead meme with the sign on the door. :)

Ha, yes, I couldn't decide which order to put the name in. It's so it sort of makes sense when the doors are opened inwards. The shop is down a side street so the doors are my side-on visibility as I'm not allowed a hanging sign.

And yes, Northampton. Cultural Quarter, no less.

Where's the name from?

Yellow Bourbon is a variety of coffee cherry. Yellow bourbons from Brasil were always highly sought after at Monmouth where they were the prefered choice as the base of the espresso blend, so it's a happy association.

Will have to book in a jaunt to Northampton.

Interesting, thanks.

15% off at Rave Coffee today - MOTHERSMATTER15

just about to finish a bag of Brazil Sitio Mossa Senhora do Carmo from Rave, well priced, very fresh will order another bag soon!