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: 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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Bean Review: The Christmas Blends

Welcome, new comers. The tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances. I got a lot of problems with you people! And now you're going to hear about it! You, Kruger. My son tells me your company stinks!

Frank Costanza (Seinfeld episodes “The Strike”)

With all the Christmas spirit different coffee roasters here in the UK offer a festive blend for the season. So I decided to give a try to three different coffees.

Christmas Blend Time 

Ozone Christmas Blend

Ozone’s blend is a mix of Brazil Alta Vista, Guatemala El Eden, and Kenya Gathaiti.

It comes in a medium to dark roast, more medium than dark. You will find some chocolate and spicy notes, a notch of acidity, and long aftertaste. Good for milk based drinks as the chocolate flavours mix well but you will miss some of the spicy notes you will get in single or double espresso shots

Ozone's Art

Roaster: Ozone Coffee

Medium Roast

Christmas Blend 2015

Varietals: Not specified

Score: 4/5

Their package comes with a lovely snowflake design from Sophie Mo

Ozone Coffee Roasters

Coffee Roasters

T: 020 7490 1039

Twitter: OZONECOFFEEUK

HurRave Holiday Blend

The second festive blend I tried was from Rave Coffee. Their HurRave blend is a mix of Indian, Rawanda, and Ethiopian coffee.

Again a medium to dark roast a bit bitter, it has a strong berry finish, and a quite long aftertaste with too many bitter notes. Sadly it felt a bit monotonous for both milk based and espresso shots. Quite strong coffee so probably better for flat white or cappuccino and to cover the disguised a bit.

Rave's Blend

Roaster: Rave Coffee

Medium/Dark Roast

HurRave Blend

Varietals: Not specified

Score: 2.5/5

Rave Coffee

Coffee Roasters

T: 012 8565 1884

Twitter: RaveCoffee

Allpress Christmas Blend

The last one I tried was Allpress Espresso Christmas Blend. It is a mix of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Guatemala Huehuetenango, and Sumatra Aceh.

Medium roast a bit mild, some floral notes, citrus acidity, nice spicy aftertaste. Milk based drinks such as cappuccino quite mild and sweet getting nice balance with the spices and citrus flavours. Much better for espresso shots as flavours lost in flat whites. If you can’t live without milk based then go for a small cup macchiato to keep some of the coffee notes and better balance.

Allpress Blend

Roaster: Allpress Espresso

Medium Roast

Christmas Blend

Varietals: Not specified

Score: 3/5

Allpress Espresso

Coffee Roasters

T: 020 7749 1780

Twitter: AllpressDalston 

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

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Bean Review: Algerian Coffee Store’s Velluto Nero

Yeah, see they like to sell their own coffee

Jackie Chiles (Seinfeld episode “The Maestro”)

Algerian Coffee Store is probably one of London’s oldest coffee traders established in 1887. Even though ownership have changed since they open they have kept some of the original features and they offer one of London’s cheapest coffee in Soho with a £1 for an espresso or £1.2 for a cappuccino

They have many blends and single origin but the one that took my eye was the Velluto Nero. A dark roast blend of South and Central America beans.

Coffee Beans

Roaster: Algerian Coffee Store

Dark Roast

Velluto Nero Blend

Varietals: Not specified

Score: 3/5

It’s a good coffee, definitely for espresso shots. A nice layer of crema, the dark roast is not as intense as in other beans I have tried, quite low bitterness, and a long aftertaste. Some floral notes but quite subtle. Milk based drinks as flat white it felt a bit one-dimensional.

Coffee Time

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

Algerian Coffee Store

T: 020 7437 2480

Coffee Store

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A Coffee in Edinburgh III: Artisan Roast [On The Road: Edinburgh]

Well, what does he do? Is he an artisan, a craftsman, a labourer of some sort?

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Stakeout”)

Another great coffee place in Edinburgh. Artisan Roast is an alternative, full of character, independent coffee place and roaster. We got into their original branch in Broughton, established since 2007

Barista in action

We got a macchiato and a flat white, the coffee was superb, Janszoon blend 70% Sumatra and the rest Brazil, strong, good balance, nice aromas, chocolate and fruity flavours, and fun latte art.

Macchiato

Flat White

Espresso Machine: Kees Van Der Westen

Beans: Artisan Roast

Score: 5/5

One coffee

Artisan Roast

T: 075 2623 6615

Coffee House / Coffee Roaster

Approx Damage: £4pp

Area: New Town

Edinburgh

Twitter: artisanroast

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Coffee Enquiry XXXIII: AllPress

She thinks you’re a guy that doesn’t like coffee

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Phone Message”)

Wandering around in Shoreditch I visited AllPress. Espresso drinks or filter brews, some sandwiches, breakfast dishes, and other bigger options for lunch. A big window allows seeing the roaster in action, and you can buy coffee beans or grinder to take home.

The place

The place was completely packed on Saturday, we got a flat white and a macchiato, really lovely coffee, creamy, with a nice bitterness, no latte art.

Coffee time

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco

Beans: AllPress

Score: 4/5

AllPress

T: 020 7749 1780

Approx Damage: £5pp

Area: Bethnal Green

Borough: Tower Hamlets

Twitter: AllPressE2

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