Coffee Appreciation

Actually, come to think of it, besides Monmouth, are there any small time roasters that are worth anything in London?

I'm from Seattle, and I can think of three high quality coffee roasters inside city limits. And Seattle is a small city.

aaaaaargh. Damn you Seattlite!!! Ha ha. Vita is quality of course - but yep indeedy - Vivace just takes my preference. The guys in there do some of the nicest biscotti too, which kinda floats my boat. The location is pretty awesome too as i can sup a brew first, throw a few dollars away in Snow Con, then back for more!!!

You better let me know next time your headed to Seattle, I'll send you with a shopping list.

I prefer Vita, mostly because I drink my coffee black. Vivace isn't famouse for roasting, it's famouse for making their barristas learn how to steam milk for a year before they're aloud to serve customers.
And I reckon the location on pine is nicer, too. But that's cause theres a dive bar across the road I like, and a mexican place next door. Not to mention the belgian fries...

Actually, come to think of it, besides Monmouth, are there any small time roasters that are worth anything in London?
Square Mile Coffee Roasters would be a good place to start!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJARQUijKGQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi7wDsS2Rqw

You better let me know next time your headed to Seattle, I'll send you with a shopping list.

I prefer Vita, mostly because I drink my coffee black. Vivace isn't famouse for roasting, it's famouse for making their barristas learn how to steam milk for a year before they're aloud to serve customers.
And I reckon the location on pine is nicer, too. But that's cause theres a dive bar across the road I like, and a mexican place next door. Not to mention the belgian fries...

Good call. My coffee from Vita was bought for me - as a Latte!!! What a way to ruin a good shot ha ha, so i haven't yet appreciated Vita in its simplest form!!!!
I'm due to head back early april. I'll drop you a line before i do, as i'd be more than happy to pick you up a few things.

Actually, come to think of it, besides Monmouth, are there any small time roasters that are worth anything in London?

There's a roaster in Delancey Street (Camden Coffee), and Martins in Muswell Hill, who do tea, chocolate, marmalades and all sorts of other stuff.

That's 2 more right there.

There is also a verry good coffee shop in Cockfosters. Fantastic fresh ground coffees.

i'm off to monmouth to get me some beans at lunch today. get in.

has anyone discussed which of the chain coffee places make the most acceptable cup yet? i'll wager that most caffeine addicts out and about in london will be forced to use these places from time to time, so has it been tackled? apologies if it has, i've skimmed this thread several times but never ploughed though the whole thing.

i find starbucks insipid, bland and stale tasting
nero largely the same
costa tends to be more consistently acceptable
AMT used to be my hands down favourite but they seem to have largely disappeared
leaving pret as the current front runner as most reliable provider of drinkable coffee.

thoughts?

Pret? Really? Every cup I have ever had seems to have burnt milk in it...

AMT are the best of the chains, so it's a shame to hear that they are fading.

Coffee @ is sort of a chain, and their coffee is pretty good.

dooks, I agree, AMT was fantastic. Good price and good coffee. There is one at London Bridge Station.

Also, a bit out of the way but a good stop if one is going on a long ride out in north London. There is a farm shop and Cafe at the top of Ferny Hill on the other side of Trent Park. I did a ride with 50/14 and my FG and we stopped there for a breather. Fiddy ordered some coffees, had to wait for ages, when they finaly turned up he was going to complain about the wait but it was the most fantastic coffee. Well worth the wait and a nice ride out there as well.

My acid test is how they respond when I go in and ask for a 'white coffee'. Either they treat me like a wanker because I haven't chosen one of their elaborately-named espresso-based drinks, smothered in whipped cream and full of syrup, they ask me whether I want an americano, or they smile knowingly and get me the filter coffee I'm actually after.

So far I think Starbucks is the only place that does filter coffee instead of americano, and I do like their beans - they have a nice 'spiced' flavour to them. I think it's another vote for Pret for the americano - although when I last went to the one in Farringdon I think they were using a bean to cup machine, which just isn't on...

Coffee Buzz, tiny little booth in Broadgate Circle, next to ice rink, near Liverpool St station.
I've not been to Monmouth or any other proper shops but these guys kill anywhere else I've tried in London.

My acid test is how they respond when I go in and ask for a 'white coffee'. Either they treat me like a wanker because I haven't chosen one of their elaborately-named espresso-based drinks, smothered in whipped cream and full of syrup, they ask me whether I want an americano, or they smile knowingly and get me the filter coffee I'm actually after.

So far I think Starbucks is the only place that does filter coffee instead of americano, and I do like their beans - they have a nice 'spiced' flavour to them. I think it's another vote for Pret for the americano - although when I last went to the one in Farringdon I think they were using a bean to cup machine, which just isn't on...

to be fair that is true. coffee of the day is usually pretty good there. also if you don't want a huge amount of coffee, you can ask for a "short" which is technically on the menu but not shown on the boards.

just got my beans from monmouth. got some costa rican dark, ground for cafetiere which smells amazing. unfortunately i just fsked up my first brew by making it too weak.

I've already got a Kitchen Aid grinder:

It's got 8 step settings which makes an ultra-fine espresso grind.

Are you selling this? Seeing as you got the fancy new machine...

Fucking coffee machine cuntingarsebollocksfuckstainmultitool sledgehammeryourfuckingface int he tweongassssssssssssssgojwe

VB, I'm buying a new machine. Screwing the new pump into these Gaggias is fucking impossible. Instead I'm going to take it outside and throw it at the road. Then bean2cup 4th3w1n

Oh well.. if anyone needs Gaggia spares, let me know. :)

Are you selling this? Seeing as you got the fancy new machine...

No. I still use it occasionally. Plus it's too nice, what if my new machine fails? I'd need this as a fall back thing to keep my caffeine levels up.

I've got about 400g of Kenyan Pea Berry that I really really don't like - whole bean.

If acidic, fruity type coffees from Africa are your thing, you're welcome to it, FOC. You'd just have to collect, probably from the UCL Science Library between 1 and 4pm (but be careful about cycling in Malet Place after last week's debacle!).

PM or post - like I care.

AMT at Marylebone station is my coffee vendor of choice.

Fucking coffee machine cuntingarsebollocksfuckstainmultitool sledgehammeryourfuckingface int he tweongassssssssssssssgojwe

VB, I'm buying a new machine. Screwing the new pump into these Gaggias is fucking impossible. Instead I'm going to take it outside and throw it at the road. Then bean2cup 4th3w1n

I'll take it off your hands if you like?

I'm not quite finished with it yet.. I read some more today about cleaning the boiler or some shit.
I might give that a go. If I pass it on you'll have to reconnect the pump better than I did :)

No. I still use it occasionally. Plus it's too nice, what if my new machine fails? I'd need this as a fall back thing to keep my caffeine levels up.

Oh poo.

Oh well, fair enough. Wouldn't want you to go without caffeine. I tried giving up coffee once. Never again.

I've got about 400g of Kenyan Pea Berry that I really really don't like - whole bean.

If acidic, fruity type coffees from Africa are your thing, you're welcome to it, FOC. You'd just have to collect, probably from the UCL Science Library between 1 and 4pm (but be careful about cycling in Malet Place after last week's debacle!).

PM or post - like I care.

No takers then? FOC means Free Of Charge, in case you didn't know :)

No takers then? FOC means Free Of Charge, in case you didn't know :)

No-one fancies your cast-offs.