Coffee Diary: Roasted Rituals

 It's been a while and you're all probably desperate for some new coffee places. Seeing as it's nearly Spring and you're not necessarily going to want to sit inside to drink your coffee, this place is perfect. Saying that, I've been visiting all winter so really it's an all-year round kinda place. Now, brace yourselves because I have a huge statement to make. I think I might have found the best Flat White in Bristol. No seriously, Roasted Rituals is the real deal. You can find it just off Apsley Road and it clearly already has it's loyal customers. It's run by Kiwis who are clearly very passionate about their brew, they have their own roast, a drip filter option and proudly sport a South West Coffee Guide. The other thing that makes this place super special is the price - £1.50 for any black coffee and £2 for any white coffee. Such a bargain! Even more of a bargain when you think that a Flat White at Starbucks in now 2.50 (2.70 if you want to have their origin espresso, which improves the taste considerably) There is a perfect coffee, milk ratio. Even at the top you can taste the richness of the coffee and the flat-white silky milk foam is so consistent, it's hard to believe such perfection exists.  I've popped down to the van when I've had a break from rehearsals and it's so relaxing to just sit sipping my cup of joe, listening to a podcast, watching the world go by and getting out of the crazy theatre world for half an hour or so. This place is HIGHLY recommended, perfect for a pit stop or an outside coffee date. Definitely go check it out!

COFFEE DIARY: Mockingbird

This little place caught me by surprise. I was walking down Alma Vale one lunchtime and made a mental note to try it out as soon as possible. Mockingbird is a new player on the busy Bristol cafe scene, serving up a flavour of the American South. With this in mind I took two experts along with me to try it out. So far so good! It's calm and warm, without being sweaty, perfect for a weekend morning with the papers and your favourite person. The interior is pretty Scandi with the odd reference to the US, but I guess the menu is the most important part of the theme. The prices are a little peculiar, with an americano costing the same as a latte, but the atmosphere and the crockery are totally worth it. The coffee is rich and slightly bitter (but in a good way!) and last week I tried their chai latte, which is made from teabags and spices rather than the usual syrupy packet mix; an absolute winner for those of us who don't like their drinks too sweet!  Sarah, Charlotte and I have decided to adopt it as our new local, which is obviously a HUGE decision. Everything about it is relaxing and friendly and unpretentious, so if that's what you fancy, make your way there before everyone takes up the window seats!

Coffee Diary: Recent Haunts

Workshop Fitzrovia - I stumbled across this place on my way to Kaffeine and made a mental note to try it out another day. It's a very small, narrow cafe with lovely details, but very few seating options. It's definitely a 'take-out' cafe. The baristas were very friendly and knowledgeable, although when I was there the manager and designer of the store were taking photos of the place and blocking the customers way to the counter, which seemed counter productive to me (pun intended) Unfortunately they were also a bit rude about it as well, so even though I enjoyed my Flat White (the espresso is quite floral tasting and yes I know how bizarre that sounds, but try it and you'll see what I mean!) I didn't feel especially welcome and don't think I'll be returning. There are too many other options. However, on account of the lovely baristas, I'll encourage you to pop in at least once on your way out of Oxford Street. 

Fernandez and Wells, Beak Str. - Now I know the whole point of a coffee blog is to go and try new places, but this chain is just TOO good and sometimes you don't want to risk disappointment. I nipped into this lovely shop and grabbed their signature Stumpy on my way to the theatre to watch Lord of the Dance (long story) a few weekends ago. I'll go so far as to say, that I think it's my favourite coffee in London and so flipping consistent. For a proper review click the link otherwise GO GO GO GO GO!

Coffee Diary: Kaffeine, London

About a week ago my friend posted this Buzzfeed on my timeline. As a coffee enthusiast I started dreaming up roadtrip plans to visit all the best coffee shops in the world. Thankfully there were a few shops closer to home, one of which is Kaffeine on Great Titchfield Str. in London. Now I remember going to Kaffeine a couple of years ago and really enjoying it. It was pretty quiet then but now the shop is a constant hum of activity. I decided to pop in after an interview in town because I was pretty curious about something called The Flight. The Flight is, from what I can tell, a unique coffee tasting experience that started at the cafe last year. It consists of three coffee based beverages: an espresso, cascara tea and a cappuccino. The idea is to introduce customers to their guest coffee, in a way that allows them to really taste the brew. What I love about this place is how obviously passionate and knowledgeable the baristas are - apparently you have to have three years of coffee making experience before you can work behind their bar! I was served by an incredibly enthusiastic barista who explained The Flight 'guidelines' and described the flavour of each beverage impeccably. You start with the cascara, a palate cleanser  made from coffee berries and blended with early grey tea. Once your palate is suitably cleansed, you sip the espresso slow and meaningful, letting all the citrusy, dense goodness fill your mouth with happiness. Then you finish the rest of the cascara and start on the PERFECT cappuccino. I chose to have mine with  Kaffeine's very own almond milk (50p extra) and let me tell you that was the best cappuccino I've had in a LONG TIME. The almond milk was the perfect mix of malt and vanilla, which when combined with the dense, citrus espresso created a rather delightful tasting experience. Also, they managed to get the most consistent foam I have seen with almond milk and it didn't sink whilst I was fraternising with the other drinks so BRAVO Kaffeine baristas! Folks who love coffee as much as I do, this really is a MUST-DO on the London coffee scene. Hop to it!

COFFEE DIARY: Fernandez and Wells

As you turn off Regentstr. into Beakstr. a delicious tranquility breezes along the bricks and catches its breath right outside this understated cafe. So understated in fact, that I almost missed it completely. I'd asked a few friends to recommend me their favourite London coffee haunts and the Fernandez and Wells chain was definitely the winner. In terms of style it reminded me a lot of Monmouth Coffee sans communal seating. It was also very peaceful when I arrived and I was able to get a prime-people-watching spot by the window. I was served by possible the friendliest Barista in London, it was his first day on the job and his enthusiasm was infectious. If you're reading this Barista-man, THANK YOU FOR HAVING SUCH A SUNNY DISPOSITION. Anyway, I wasn't sure what to have, I said I was huge Flat White fan and was told to try the Stumpy. Little did I know that this little coffee beverage actually originates from the cafe on Beakstr. so I definitely made the right choice. It is essentially a small Flat White and slightly stronger than a Cortado. The coffee was exquisite. As for the cafe itself, it's the perfect place for a quiet catch-up with a friend or a chance to catch up on your reading/notetaking. I really enjoyed it and will definitely be returning, as well as checking out the other stores around the city. 

COFFEE DIARY: Didn't You Do Well

I've walked past this little cafe so many times and have always made a mental note to pop in sometime to try it out. It's not really the sort of place you can sit and work in for hours, nor is it really the place for a deep and meaningful with a pal. The space is incredibly intimate and when I was there you could hear a pin drop. If you're looking for somewhere to get a bit of peace and quiet then this is your spot. The coffee is good too, although a bit pricey and with an interesting aftertaste. Lots of people were coming in to get a take-out, which is pretty ideal considering how close it is to the university and other businesses. The strawberries and cream filter coffee is pretty incredible and I want to pop back in to try another flat-white. The staff are also very knowledgeable and friendly, so the silence isn't too awkward! There's also this cute little vimeo to inspire you. 

Didn't You Do Well, 20 Park Row, Bristol

COFFEE DIARY: Joe's Coffee

Another recent addition to Bristol's independent coffee scene is Joe's, situated just off Whiteladies Road. I've had a few coffees there already, but a few weeks ago I grabbed a date with one of my Bracknell-turned-Bristol gal pals Emily K, to review the place properly. It's small and smart, without sacrificing cosiness. There's a perfectly situated arm-chair near the window; wonderful for people-watching and snuggling up with a book. Drinks are reasonably priced and the coffee is locally sourced at Bristol-based Extract Coffee Roasters. It has one of the best Flat-Whites in the city, which is saying something! Their selection of teas is equally pleasing. Probably the best thing about this place is the service - they are the friendliest Baristas in Bristol. I will definitely be back for another cup of Joe soon!

COFFEE DIARY: The Barn

Just before Christmas I was asked to translate this article about a new Prenzlauerberg Cafe for one

of my translation classes. The owner, who is rather unfairly nicknamed a 'coffee nazi', was criticised for his 'purist -not to say militant approach to coffee drinking'. If you were thinking of using this cafe as a moving office or a place to meet with other mums and toddlers, then think again. Pushchairs, laptops and loud phone calls are banned, as well as spoons, sugar and extra milk. Naturally, upon reading this article I was intrigued and made sure that I stopped by on my recent trip to Berlin.  I was already a fan of The Barn's coffee expertise, but this place really takes the term 'coffee-snob' one step further.

I turned up on a snowy weekday afternoon and was strangely comforted by the slick, lab-like interior. It's a large space and unlike a lot of cafes in Berlin, exudes an unusual tranquility. Perhaps this has something to do with the no-laptop, no-pushchair rule. I went for my standard Flat White order, but I would like to return and check out their drip-filter because those machines looked pretty impressive. Everything was timed and presented to perfection. My only complaint was the lack of toilet facilities, which seemed a little ridiculous. Nevertheless, I think the general controversy around the place is unfounded. There are certainly enough Bio-Mummy and Laptop friendly cafes in Berlin to compensate for one cafe owner putting his foot down. Sometimes people just want to sit quietly and sip their espresso, which is exactly what Ralf Rüller facilitates. 

COFFEE DIARY: Monmouth Coffee

On my last trip to London-Town my bestie recommended the Monmouth coffee chain to me. That afternoon I found myself coffee-starved and alone, so thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try it out. I went to the original store in Covent Garden on (wait for it) Monmouth Street and found it a very small, smart cosy little place, packed with equally smart looking people. Yet despite it's slick first impressions, the atmosphere was undoubtedly friendly and made all the more so by the communal seating arrangements. This can feel a little intimate. I was told by one of the Baristas that they are often the meet-cute cafe for many a blissful couple. Mobile phones are not permitted at the tables, but if the forced-socialness doesn't put you off, then it's weirdly relaxing. 

I ordered a flat-white, which came promptly and lived up to all my post-Berlin coffee expectations. The milk complimented the espresso perfectly, the foam was silky without being too cold and the coffee they used was warm and sweet. The coffee-curious among us will appreciate the leaflet explaining all their blends, which you can buy to take home. For those of you who are not coffee-fanatics, they also offer non-coffee options and a selection of cakes. 

If I'm honest it did feel a little bit crowded but I have heard that the other stores are slightly bigger, so it's worth checking those out. I certainly will be next time I'm in town. Anything for that perfect cup of coffee, eh?

COFFEE DIARY: Ten Belles, Paris

Paris is quite renowned amongst my friendship group for having terrible coffee. There are coffee expectations, high coffee expectations when you find yourself in Paris. You want to sit down at a cafe and feel all artsy and sip a cup of Jo whilst writing in your Moleskine, but in reality you find yourself paying 3 euros for an over stewed, badly presented espresso in a cafe/bar full of tourists. After two wonderful trips to the city with multiple coffee disasters, I decided to do some research before heading off on the coffee prowl. The first one we went to, was the Broken Arm which is absolutely worth visiting, because it's cute and has a little boutique attached to it. But the real crowning-coffee glory of the trip was found by our pal Matt, who we met in our hostel. He took us to Ten Belles, a tiny little cafe just next to the canals. It's part of the Third Wave Coffee Movement, which basically means that the coffee is ethical and brewed using the latest filtering methods. We all decided to go for the €3 Filter Coffee and it was absolute perfection. The coffee was so smooth that you didn't really need to add milk! It tasted like pure indulgence and the cafe definitely somewhere you'd want to take your moleskine with you. Atmosphere and coffee quality combined this cafe is a real MUST for any coffee lovers! I also really, really wanted to take the mug home with me. 

The Best Coffee in Berlin part 3

I'm still managing to keep up with my coffee hunt! Woop woop! I actually visited these cafes quite a while ago now, time is flying by! WAH. 

St. Oberholz, Mitte, Rosenthaler Platz. I stumbled on Oberholz accidentally, whilst navigating my way around central Berlin, I later realised that it was THE cafe that pretty much everyone has been talking about. It is the hub of the hipster scene, mainly the expat hipster scene. Most of the upstairs area is taken over by large groups of Americans with massive headphones skyping their friends or Japanese students coding a website. I've been there a few times now and it is always heaving. This makes it a terrible place to try and work because it is always hot and muggy, particularly near the windows. The coffee is good, but nothing particularly special. You can get a decent Cappuccino or a Latte Macchiato, but for the price you pay, I'd say go down the road a bit to The Barn or Bonanza Coffee Heroes if good coffee is what you're after. Still, their iced coffee beverages are good and I'm told that their chai latte is the best in the city.  They're also open late, which means that you can keep working through until 11pm, which is great and it does seem to calm down a little by 8pm. Whilst the service is polite and helpful, I had the impression that I wasn't quite cool enough for the baristas to take me seriously. This made me reluctant to make it my local. Friendly service is EVERYTHING. I still pop in occasionally, mostly to meet a friend before church because the location is so central, but I have to say that I found the whole experience a little bit overrated. 

Five Elephant Coffee, Kreuzberg - I had been wanting to try out this cafe for a while, so took a rather intentional wander towards Golitzer Bahnhof and beyond in search of great coffee. I wasn't disappointed. The cafe itself is situated on  quiet street, away from all the hoards of people, which gives it a really pleasant and peaceful atmosphere. The interior is clean, smart, but still cosy and they have a fantastic selection of magazines. There is definitely a very strong Fair Trade theme throughout, which is appropriate considering their policy is to be as transparant about the source of their coffee beans as possible. They also roast their own beans on site, which means the coffee is super fresh and doubly yummy. I tried a Flat White, which at €2.20 is the cheapest one I have had so far. The only criticism I have, was that it wasn't piping hot, otherwise the texture was perfect and the espresso was warm and rich. I also really loved the burnt orange crockery they used, it made everything feel warm and exotic. The baristas were very friendly and very clued-up on their coffee trivia. I sneaked a peek and other people's drinks and the latte art was consistently flawless.  My drink was also brought directly to me, which was lovely touch. I'm really sad that this little cafe isn't just around the corner from me, because I would happily make it my 'go-to' for the rest of my time here in Berlin, alas it's a 20 minute U-bahn ride and then a 10 minute walk, which makes things a little less practical. Nevertheless I hope to stop by one more time before I leave. 

The Best Coffee in Berlin part 2

The Barn Mitte - the last time I tried to check out this cafe, it was pouring with rain and all the inside seats had been taken. Needless to say it was too miserable to sit outside or walk along with a takeaway, so I went and checked out another place instead. Be warned: this place is popular and it has a reason to be. The Barn is a bit like Boston Tea Party in Bristol, in that everything is locally sourced, excellent quality and well presented. They roast their own coffee, which they sell in crisp brown bags, along with locally produced jars of jam and honey, plus dozens and dozens of yummy looking pastries and cakes. 

The service was friendly and the vibe was less hipster, more young professional, business and bookish types. It feels calmer than St. Oberholz around the corner, which is exactly what you need, when the plan is to sit and journal and read for a while. I sat on the tiny little stools outside, which are perfect for people watching, especially in the morning when the street is still shady. My caffeine of choice was their infamous flat white. It was excellent. It was as smooth as Godshot, No Fire No Glory and Bonanza Coffee Heroes but had an extra kick in the aftertaste. So, if you like a stronger cup of jo, then definitely head to The Barn. It's friendly, small, not too expensive and situated on a surprisingly peaceful street in the centre of town (you can see the Cathedral peeking out at the end of the road!). 

The Best Coffee in Berlin part 1

Arriving in a city like Berlin can be a bit daunting: everything is huge, there's too much to see and it takes you at least half an hour to figure out how to get anywhere. The key is to try and find places that can belong to you. Everyone needs that familiar, regular hang-spot to help them feel settled and grounded in their whirlwind of thoughts. I love finding that coffee shop: the one with the friendly baristas and the coffee that makes you go weak at the knees. I have to find a space where I can think, reflect, bring friends to, read in and write in. The problem is that Berlin is cafe city. There are so many incredible places to grab a to-go or sit and people watch. I didn't want to waste time, getting lost, drinking bad coffee and running the risk of never finding a cafe that 'fitted', so I decided to do some research. I went online and jotted down a few highly rated third-wave coffee movement places (this basically means that the coffee will be well crafted, cared for and beautifully presented - all my favourite things!) Then I went exploring. It was wonderful and I will definitely be doing a similar thing for any big cities that I visit in the future. I still have a few more to visit, but I think I've already found a favourite. 

Godshot, Prenzlauerberg: this was the first place I tried out. It was a rainy day in May and I was looking forward to snuggling up with a book and a delicious flat white. Every review I had read, had raved about the service and the quality of the coffee, so my expectations were high. The cafe itself is very unassuming and inviting, with simple furniture and lots of seating options. Whilst the staff were competent, they weren't especially friendly, still they seemed to know exactly what they were doing (unlike Costa in England!) I decided to go for the infamous flat white. The ratio or milk to coffee was perfection, however it was served in glass, which meant that it wasn't quite hot enough. Also, for a cafe that offers classes in latte art, the splodge on my beverage was particularly unimpressive. Perhaps, the good reviews have made them a bit complacent. Nevertheless, I felt very at home and will definitely return to try something different. 

No Fire No Glory Prenzlauerberg: this was another cafe that had rave reviews so once again, my expectations were sky-high. I loved the layout of the place, the colour scheme was very calming and there was a great choice of seating, from couches, to armchairs, to tables. It was also very peaceful and if the weather had been less drizzly I might have even decided to sit outside. The service was excellent, although again, not particularly friendly or enthusiastic (perhaps I expect to much...) and the flatwhite I had was one of the best I have ever tasted. The temperature was perfect, latte art was pretty and the taste was smooth and rich. However, it was a bit expensive and I remember feeling a bit pinched. I think I'll go back again, but the price has definitely put me off, when it comes to coffee I want quality AND quantity, if you know what I mean.

Bonzanza Coffee Heroes, Mitte: this was another rainy day venture, but it's one I will never, ever regret. As soon as I walked into this this tiny little cafe, I felt instantly at home. The set-up is very relaxed and simple, as they roast and ground their own coffee beans in store. I loved the simplicity of their branding and their choice of crockery, there aren't that many seating options but I soon settled myself. The tiny little counter is dwarfed by a huge coffee machine, over which peep the friendliest baristas I've met so far. Again, the Flatwhite wasn't cheap, but this time I really felt that I got value for money.  I have been back a few times and the Latte Art and quality of the coffee is incredibly consistent. That is always a great sign! With the recent change in the weather, I've been mainly sitting outside on the benches provided, which has been absolute perfection. The street that houses this little coffee marvel, is also very peaceful with lots of interesting architecture and fun second hand-shops just around the corner.  It's definitely one of my favourite places to go in the city, with friends or by myself with a book. 

Although I appear to have found my 'place', I'm still determined to keep searching, as there are so many cafes I have yet to check out. Will keep you all posted :-) until then, go have a Flat White on me!