Bean Review: Exmouth Espresso Blend

A lot easier to blend in a sea of people in Staten Island than China believe me

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Invitations”)

I had the chance to get my hands around a couple coffees from Exmouth. So the first one I’m trying is their Espresso Blend with origin from Ethiopia and Nicaragua.

Roaster: Exmouth

Medium Roast

Espresso Blend

Varietals: Not specified

Score: 2.5/5

Cortado time

The coffee has a light body with short aftertaste and mild bitterness. Citrus acidity with some apricot notes. A bit mild for milk based drinks as milk overpowers the subtle notes of the coffee. Espresso not strong enough with thin crema layer.

The beans were grinded with a Rancilio Rocky grinder and the extraction made with a Rancilio Silvia

Exmouth

Coffee Roasters

T: 020 7377 1010

Area: Bricklane

Borough: Tower Hamlets

Twitter: ExmouthC

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Bean Review: Bonanza Espresso Blend

There's a George Bonanza to see you

Doorman (Seinfeld episode “The Watch”)

The last time I was in Berlin I took some time to visit and try their independent coffee scene. During my trip one roaster/place was the highlight, Bonanza Coffee Roasters. Independent Berliner retro innovative roaster, with a philosophy of roasting as little as possible to fully develop flavours and bring what makes the coffee distinct

Coffee Time

Bonanza's Espresso Blend is a mix of Irmas Pereira Brazilian with Ethiopian Limu beans from Seka Forest

Roaster: Bonanza

Medium Roast

Espresso Blend

Varietals: Acaia / Bourbon / Catuai / 74110 / 7227 JRI

Score: 5/5

I got a bag of their espresso blend thanks to a friend that lives in Germany and was kind enough to bring it back to London. The coffee has a medium body with long aftertaste and mild bitterness. Short but sharp acidity coming from citrus notes and cherries. To balance flavours some chocolate, caramel sweet notes, and a nutty touch from hazelnuts

Macchiato

Great for milk based drinks such as flat whites or macchiato as the milk highlight the sweetness and hazelnut flavours

The beans were grinded with a Rancilio Rocky grinder and the extraction made with a Rancilio Silvia

Bonanza
Coffee Roasters
Twitter: bonanzacoffee

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Bean Review: Square Mile Belen

Just let me finish this mile high and I'll be right with you. Oh, and Jerry, we are going to need a case of Kaiser rolls

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld episode, "The Slicer")

I wanted to get beans from Square Mile a while ago. So as soon as I spotted they had a new espresso Colombian coffee I couldn’t resist.

Espresso Time

Belen is a single origin espresso beans, from 50 producers within Belen association in Huila region.

Roaster: Square Mile

Medium Roast

Belen Espresso

Varietals: Caturra

Score: 3.5/5

Espresso Perfetto

Lovely coffee, Belen is light and full of juicy flavours. Great aromas as soon as you open the bag. It produces a thin layer of crema, and you will get a light body full of floral and berries notes. Long aftertaste, some bitterness, and strong acidity from some citrus notes. Goes well with milk based drinks such as a macchiato as the milk exalts some of the sweet notes.

The beans were grinded with a Rancilio Rocky grinder and the extraction made with a Rancilio Silvia

Square Mile

T: 020 7729 3744

Coffee Roasters

Twitter: squaremile

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Bean Review: Lavazza Qualita Rossa

Smugness is not a good quality

Cabbie (Seinfeld episode “The Scofflaw”)

I went to Italy and as soon as I got back I decided to fill the hopper with a commercial Italian coffee. Different choices but at the end decided to go with Lavazza Qualita Rossa.

Roaster: Lavazza

Medium Roast

Qualita Rossa

Varietals: Not specified

Score: 3/5

Macchiato

A Robusta and Arabica blend, Italian tradition even though the roast is medium instead of dark. Nice crema layer, good balance, some chocolate notes, and a bit of bitterness with a long aftertaste.

Overall decent quality, quite good for milk based drinks as flat whites to reduce the bitterness and get good contrast with the chocolate notes.

The beans were grinded with a Rancilio Rocky grinder and the extraction made with a Rancilio Silvia

Lavazza

Commercial Coffee Brand

Twitter: LavazzaUK

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Bean Review: Nude Espresso’s East Blend

You know I went out once with a nude model. Never let me see her naked. Hundreds of people see her naked every week, except me. Needless to say it was quite vexing

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Doodle”)

Nude Espresso has always been one of my favourite independent coffee places since this London coffee movement starter. Every time I have the chance to be nearby one of their stores I got a cup. So it was time to review the signature blend of this micro-roastery.

Nude into the hopper

You can buy their beans on their website or any of their stores. They have a good selection of single origin and their East Blend.

Roaster: Nude Espresso

Medium Roast

East Blend

Varietals: Not specified

Score: 3/5

Espresso and Pasteis de Belem for Breakfast

It was not bad but not great. I had mixed feelings as Nude is definitely a great place to get a nice cup of coffee. If you love a nice thick layer of crema on your espresso you might be a bit disappointed as all the extractions gave me quite thin results. The coffee is not that strong, has lovely aromas and nice and long aftertaste. It’s sweet with some acidity, some smoky wood notes, and mild bitterness in the shots. Milked based drinks resulted a bit mild, with the milk overpowering the coffee. Best for single or double shots of espresso avoiding any milk but again you might be disappointed with the crema.

The beans were grinded with a Rancilio Rocky grinder and the extraction made with a Rancilio Silvia

Nude Espresso
T: 077 1289 9334
Coffee Shop & Micro Roasters
Twitter: NudeEspresso

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