Coffee Appreciation

Cheers Dok, this place has decaf only grinder (they showed us it being empty one time we were there together). I appreciate stock management is probably tricky either way.

Depends on their stock levels of other beans too. If its a roaster, they certainly wont be ordering decaf beans on their own. It maybe on a pallet waiting for their next delivery. At a roaster I used to work at we used to roast about 1.5kg of decaf a week. Half would go to customers as bean sales, half would get used in the cafe. At the roaster I work at now we dont roast decaf, but only get asked a handful of times a week from customers.

Cheers Dok, this place has decaf only grinder (they showed us it being empty one time we were there together). I appreciate stock management is probably tricky either way.

I'd rather keep my stock low within acceptable dates than stock up on something I know goes off, and I'm not happy serving. Customers normally understand, as expected a quality product. I'd like be honest with customers and explain it all instead making up something.

Depends on their stock levels of other beans too. If its a roaster, they certainly wont be ordering decaf beans on their own. It maybe on a pallet waiting for their next delivery. At a roaster I used to work at we used to roast about 1.5kg of decaf a week. Half would go to customers as bean sales, half would get used in the cafe. At the roaster I work at now we dont roast decaf, but only get asked a handful of times a week from customers.

Same here, I roast a 5 kg batch every other week, but lucky enough to add one bag to the pallet that's already heading my way. Again, you have to think ahead about your stock, green or roasted. I understand life is busy, but it has to be done.

My partner drinks decaf only and is getting miffed that a v.nice local coffee shop has "just run out" on her last 3 visits. Q for baristas, is decaf something a decent shop should manage good stock of, as they would espresso or filter, or is it an afterthought with a 'it don't matter' attitude to those what might want order it?
Considering how many pregnant/nursing women meet for coffee mornings this really surprises me. Having said that, I suppose it is harder to precisely predict the demand of decaf.

[Edit: As people have just said before me.]

I hope that's a joke because I LOLd

Got a electric grinder at work finally!

I'd also expect a good coffee shop to stock flavoured syrups. I don't drink any coffee drinks with them myself but my partner does. It's surprising how many don't have them.

^this

It's like restaurants that don't have salad cream, so infuriating.

This place doesn't even keep sugar on the premises. And it's brilliant.

They sound like assholes.

Comfort

"Comfort is a handshake at the door, an offer to take your jacket. Need a lift to the airport? These coffees deliver time and time again, rain, wind or shine. The good life is within arm's reach."

Adventure

"Adventure is a drive in your friend's Porsche, a job offer from the CIA. Mom and Dad's advice is useless and the decisions you make are your own. These coffees are a glimpse into life's endless possibilities, rewards waiting to be earned."

They sound like assholes.

Out of context, so does practically everyone writing about coffee enthusiasm. In context, their approach makes sense and is really simple. It's purism that adheres to the KISS principle, rather than blinding the casual coffee fan with twenty brew/pour methods.
What's great about their shop is that there's no WiFi, no laptop cunts having conferences, no fat birds in gym gear ordering two-pint soy lattés.
I'm a fan.

Maybe so, but a job with the CIA?

Out of context, so does practically everyone writing about coffee enthusiasm. In context, their approach makes sense and is really simple. It's purism that adheres to the KISS principle, rather than blinding the casual coffee fan with twenty brew/pour methods.
What's great about their shop is that there's no WiFi, no laptop cunts having conferences, no fat birds in gym gear ordering two-pint soy lattés.
I'm a fan.

Say word to this. I know coffee is a comidity that alot of people enjoy, but its no different from going to an amazing wine bar or restaurant and ordering a glass or Blossom Hill and a plate of Chicken Nuggets. Just because there is an established idea of what a coffee shop should be, it doesnt mean that every where should have to conform to it...

thanks for the update

Buy a dongle.

Thanks all for decaf comments yesterday evening, will have polite grumble with them when next there.

They sound like know it all cunts, out to tell you what you should want. Fetishising a simple product and asking people to conform to their ideals. I imagine it's a very friendly and hospitable atmosphere when they belittle peoples tastes by refusing them sugar. All it says is 'our tastes are 2 sophisticated for you'.

I don't see it like that. I see it as, 'We know our coffee. Try it without sugar, we reckon you won't think it needs sugar.'
As somebody who otherwise always takes sugar in their coffee, all I can tell you is that I think they're right. I can't tell you why, I'm not much of a coffee geek. I just really appreciate the otherwise-pared-down take on the shop - to me it feels like a response to the over-abundance of faff masquerading as service and hospitality across the rest of LA. It's a bit like a proper old pub in that respect. No bullshit; just walk in, drink up and fuck off.
Cities need coffee shops like this alongside the 'replica of my mother's front room' approach from Starbucks and co.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/07/caffeine-addiction-coffee-drug-energy-drink

How much is a gaggia cubbika worth?

Looking to de clutter my flat of espresso machines so what is the concensus.

^^^
"He bought a 480ml cup of coffee from one branch of Starbucks on six consecutive days."
Mistaking 'cup' for 'bucket' there...

I don't want to be that guy, who insists that everyone else is doing it wrong.

Me neither - Tbh I tended to go to Handsome either pre- or post-ride, and not spend more than ten minutes total there whether alone or with other riders. I appreciated the place for what it is.
If I wanted to meet friends for coffee, or take my non-coffee-drinking wife out to a café, I'd go somewhere else as I know Handsome is a bit restrictive in that sense. I'm really glad to have had the choice though.

^^ And brown burnt sugary water for coffee.

Today I had to go to one of the biggest warehouses in the country storing coffee after it arrives in UK. It's of a very impressive size...
Because Bike cellar/workshop/man caves are, like, so 2013.

No cafe is asking anyone to conform to their ideals. Customers can always vote with their feet, its not like theres a shortage of coffee vendors out there, and if you want a starbucks experience then there's probably one round the corner anyway.
One of my favourites in Amsterdam always recommend trying their espresso without sugar to those who ask for it, mostly because their roast method and bean choice makes for a sweeter drink than trad bitter Italian ones, which tend to benefit from a bit of sweetening. When entering with a more standard expectation of what coffee tastes like, I don't think its unreasonable to make some recommendations about serving.

Colona & Smalls wrote a good blog about sugar I think?