Coffee Appreciation

London Review of Books cake shop is one of my favorites, just the other side of the British museum, or there is Store Street Espresso (I think), which is also good

Tapped & Packed on Tottenham Court Rd near Warren St. or the Sacred shack in Torrington Square if it's still open.

Perfect, thanks for the suggestions

Time to bring some love back to this thread:

Another attempt to marry these and the mc2 this morning, after success with the Happy Donkey Italian beans.

Whilst I'm pretty sure it won't be the best coffee, and (of course) I always try to go to independents, I noticed that Pod (the Eat / Pret type place) do happy hours on coffee between 10-12 and after 3 where it's all £1.

Could be good if you're screwing for your fix / skint. And at least it's not Starbucks / Costa / Nero

I'm off to Portland for a week or so, at the start of April. Does anyone have any coffee tips? I was thinking Stumptown, but what else? A quick google reveals this but it's a few years old.

^ I had some Stumptown espresso a few months ago. It was good.
I'd give that Synesso a go at Water Avenue. Lovely looking machine.

Time to bring some love back to this thread:

Another attempt to marry these and the mc2 this morning, after success with the Happy Donkey Italian beans.

What does that one taste like? I've read mixed responses, and quite a few people brewing it as ristretto.

The Happy Donkey beans are pretty cool if you're after a classic espresso blend and roast.

It's described as chocolatey, floral, & champagne. but that's probably as much suggestive on the theme for the month as what comes through.

I got a good pour this morning, and it's quite nice after a week of HD, had a bit of tobacco afters I thought.

As I drank it the Oscar P story broke... spooky.

p.s. I preferred the hangover cure blend in Jan.

p.p.s. I would get the HD Italian again, but not over my usual go to roasters.

if anyone's in Wellington get to Flight Coffee's Hangar http://flightcoffee.co.nz

if you're in NZ or elsewhere order their stuff. The bomber is without doubt the best espresso I've tasted. Nom nom nom.

In other news, I've got the hang of the Handpresso now. Shop quality coffee on Patagonian hills here I come!

Glad you've got it sussed :)

Glad you've got it sussed :)

damn straight, it's a great piece of kit. Just need to get the case to protect this bad boy from damage. Still, looking forward to getting my Gaggia back.

Presso for £25:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/presso-espresso-maker/1009798659

Currently drinking Climpson's Sidamo Espresso Blend. Nice and rich in an americano.

Next up, Hasbean's Wote Yirgacheffe in the aeropress which probably ranks as one of the best beans I've had.

The Coffee Addiction is on CNBC now..

Gaggia Selecta Deluxe. This is basically a Gaggia Classic, minus the three-way solenoid. The lack of three-way solenoid means that the puck of used coffee is slightly soggier after brewing, but I don't think it makes much difference. Freshly de-scaled. Includes single/double baskets, plastic tamper, measuring spoon, etc.** £70**.

So I'm now the proud owner of this. Was accosted on the way back to Hoxton station, and informed of having made an excellent choice in coffee machine, well before I'd even made anything.

Just had a chance to fire it up now, after a 5:30AM start this morning, now debating whether to finesse my technique more or try and get some sleep tonight. Decisions decisions

made an awesome coffee smoothie with some banana's which were almost on the turn this afternoon.

double shot of espresso (31g) cooled in the fridge for 10 minutes after pulling
2 bananas
1/2 tsp cocoa powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
top up with milk to max fill line and whizzed until smooth.

result was funking awesome. 8/10

Just had a chance to fire it up now, after a 5:30AM start this morning, now debating whether to finesse my technique more or try and get some sleep tonight. Decisions decisions

If you've got beans to waste (maybe get some from the supermarket using the packing date code secret which I shared earlier, so you can get them within four weeks old) then you can always take one sip to check shots and pour away.

It can take a few sink shots until you get the flow rate right after adjusting grind and tamp.

Also, as I was saying before, get to know a fixed routine, eg. allow unit to heat with portafilter, flush grouphead, wait for another boiler cycle, then go!

made an awesome coffee smoothie with some banana's which were almost on the turn this afternoon.

double shot of espresso (31g) cooled in the fridge for 10 minutes after pulling
2 bananas
1/2 tsp cocoa powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
top up with milk to max fill line and whizzed until smooth.

result was funking awesome. 8/10

That sounds like a vastly-superior version of my typical post-ride recovery drink. Did the cinnamon work?

I normally just do:

super strong aeropress (leftover from the pre-ride wake up drink)
banana
milk
thick plain yoghurt
nesquick
(sometimes) chopped mixed nuts - the ones you get for baking / desserts etc.

Am definitely going to try this though!

cinnamon worked well but is best used sparingly, cuts out some of the bitterness of the coffee nicely though.

of course it has no place in an actual cup of coffee.

^ Of course - that would be getting into some sort of starbucks egg-nogg latte style monstrosity.

For a smoothie maybe honey could be a good alternative, or some vanilla flavouring?

Cinnamon's a clumpy fucker.

anyone tried the new single origin espresso from square mile yet?

http://shop.squaremilecoffee.com/products/tijuco-preto-espresso

have a bag coming after mondays roast date. sounds interesting.

^no, but the description sounds pretty ace. I think I noticed they were selling it in LMNH when I was in there earlier / yesterday (!?).

Would like to hear how it is, I may invest in a week or so when my current bag o'espresso is done