Some days I really feel like I could rule the world with enough coffee...

From here: http://jjumpjennifer.tumblr.com

....Some days I'm not sure there is ever going to be enough coffee!

Starbucks new reusable cup - Only £1

New reusable cup from Starbucks

I got an email from Starbucks last week explaining that they were launching a new reusable cup in time for UK Coffee Week which I talked about last week.  The new cups are only a pound and every time you use it they will give you 25p off your coffee.

For UK coffee week they will also donate 25p to Water charities as well.

Made of plastic instead of the usual cumbersome ceramic, it looks like a Grande paper cup.  It reminds me a little of the keep cup the original reusable cup, the same sort of plastic and weight.  I don't know if the cup is dishwasher safe (and I forgot to ask!) but it doesn't take a huge amount of effort to wash it up.

My big wonder (not worry) is whether I will actually bother to take it out with me in future.  I'd like to think I will, and I know that if I worked in the city I would definitely use it, I thought it was worth a punt anyway. It'll actually save me a little more than 25p a time, as my usual drink is a venti, which is more expensive!

I'll report back on whether I actually use it over the next few weeks, or if it'll just get used at home to make me feel like I'm getting my starbucks fix! Would you make use of a reusable cup?

UK Coffee Week

Next week is UK coffee week and coffee shops around the country are coming together to help raise money for Project Waterfall.

2012

Over 360,000 people participated in UK Coffee Week 2012 by donating 5p to the price of their coffee, hosting a fundraising event or participating in projects such as Coffee@Work. 

Get Involved

There are a whole host of ways to get involved, including adding as little as 5p onto the price of your coffee at participating stores.  All of these chains are involved, as well as local independents, check the list lower down that page for details.

If you work in an office you could even host a Coffee@work event to raise additional funds.

I only heard about this today, but hopefully we can all manage to do something, to help Project Waterfall through the product we love so much!

Strangers Coffee Shop, Norwich

Remember when I wrote about the local barista in the finals of the UK barista championships? Well, as I promised, I went back and visited the coffee shop, taking some notes whilst I was there.

The Coffee Shop
Strangers is a beautiful little cafe, in the heart of Norwich's lanes - kind of on the corner of Pottergate and Lower Goat lane.  I love this area of Norwich and twice now I've managed to snag the window seat to indulge in a little bit of people watching whilst enjoying my latte! The Lanes is full of little indie shops, charity shops and places to eat and drink with very few chain shops and Strangers fits right in.

With 5 tables inside the shop is small but perfectly formed and for warmer days there are some seats outside too. I love the atmosphere in the shop, the staff are friendly, the music is excellent (opinion I know!)

This is the counter - view from my seat by the window

The Coffee

My drink is a latte, usually with skimmed milk (if it is available) and as large as possible! The number of shots are advertised on the board and a large latte comes with 3 shots, costing £2.65.  3 shots is often a bit much for me, so I ask for just 2, and it is perfect.  The staff are happy to do it.

In the mornings, before 10am they offer a regular (assume medium size) latte/cappuccino for £1.50 and my large was only £2.  

According to their website they offer the best latte art in the city, and my beautiful coffee was not a disappointment: 

Pretty leaf in my latte

My coffee was served with a biscuit, those yummy lotus ones, all caramelly and lovely that go so nicely  with coffee so I was able to resist the amazing looking cakes (only just though!) though I did get takeaway sausage rolls and donuts for lunch.

The Verdict

Overall this is the kind of coffee shop that just makes me happy. The prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is welcoming and the coffee is out of this world. I didn't notice any kind of loyalty scheme (I'm a sucker for those!) but it doesn't matter! The coffee is enough to make me want to make it a regular haunt.  I can't wait to get back there!

Remember my friends at "The Fountain"?

Well, they have been featured in the local newspaper in Bedford.
There has been a lot of talk about suspended coffees around various social media sites recently, which is what The Fountain guys have been doing all along.  If you have spare cash, you can buy a coffee for someone less fortunate than yourself.

The general consensus is that it is a good idea, I certainly think so, and I'd love to see more places fully embrace the idea.

Here is a copy of the article:

Norwich Barista is a finalist in the UK Barista championships 2013!

I was very excited to read the news this week that a barista from one of the coffee shops in Norwich, Strangers in Pottergate has reached the final of the UK Barista championships to be held at the London Coffee festival on 27th April.

I've yet to try Strangers, I've walked past it a few times and it looks lovely, so I will give it a go and report back! I've also got a roving guest blogger who will be at the Coffee festival, so watch this space!!

Ground Coffee Review - Tesco Finest Costa Rican Fair Trade coffee

From the Tesco website, the bag

My coffee grinder has broken recently and whilst I am looking to replace it I've decided to buy pre ground coffee for the moment and this was the latest that I picked up.

The description reads: "Gentle and fruity with a slightly spiced chocolate after taste" and the strength rating is a 3, which is about right for me.  I believe the strength ratings are pretty universal to UK supermarkets too.

At my last job my colleagues and I used a cafetiere rather than make instant or get coffee from the horrible machine, or spend a fortune in the cafe downstairs. Whilst we did this we tried a whole range of different coffees, usually when they were on offer, but we often came back to the Costa Rican beans. There is something smooth and mellow about them, I'm not sure I can describe what it is.

This coffee promises gentle and fruity. I wouldn't say I got fruity specifically but gentle was about right.  This is a good all round coffee.  It makes a delicious latte, but you need to be careful in the percolator (if you don't like super strong coffee) and measure properly.  I put a bit too much in the machine and it was too strong.  3 scoops for 8 cup worth of water would be perfect.

Overall not a bad cup of coffee, and definitely going to go on the "we'll buy this again" list.  Costa Rican beans win again.

By the by, the packaging has changed since the tesco website was published, my picture is a bit fuzzy...

I think I like this packaging better!

Currently available in tesco for £3.28 for 227g.

Too True

Kopi special offer

The coffee that I reviewed early on in this blog, Kopi, currently have a special offer running - If you go to this link you can try a 3 month subscription for the price of 2 months. That is just £16.90 for 3 months of awesome coffee.

I might have to give it a go myself!