Coffee shops in Holland to only sell actual coffee to tourists
Let’s be honest here – apart from bikes, clogs and Robin Van Persie, Holland (Amsterdam in particular) is almost synonymous with quality and readily available cannabis. But government restrictions passed at The Hague over the weekend have now restricted the sale of soft drugs to tourists in the Netherlands, meaning that coffee shops will be [...]
Nestle wins Nespresso capsule patent battle
Nestle has won the backing of the European Patent Office (EPO) in a patent dispute regarding its Nespresso coffee machines and capsules. Earlier this week, an EPO spokesman confirmed that the ruling body would uphold a patent issued by Nestle, which specified the way Nespresso capsules fit into Nespresso coffee machines. Nespresso had, in 2010, [...]
St. Ali/ Workshop Coffee Co., 27 Clerkenwell Road
St. Ali, recently renamed Workshop Co., is the place to go if you’re serious about coffee. They have their own in-house roaster and are happy to talk you through the science (or art, depending on your point of view) of roasting coffee. Just beware that it takes a while to go through the specifics of [...]
Dose Espresso, 69 Long Lane
Dose Espresso is one of the main players in the artisanal coffee scene and their coffee truly lives up to its reputation. The Barbican Espresso bar’s fine espresso is virtually flawless but their true speciality is the velvet milk froth for their lattes and cappuccinos, which some other reviewers even describe as the best microfoam [...]
Coffee Cocktails – passing trend or heritage drink?
Plenty of new bars serving spiked coffee in Martini glasses, decorated with coffee beans and cream make the love affair between caffeine and spirits seem like a 21st century trend. But actually, there is a long history of alcohol-infused coffee drinks. First of all there is Irish coffee, rumoured to be invented by an Irish [...]
UK Coffee Week 2012
Today marks the beginning of UK Coffee Week 2012. From April 23rd-29th, coffee drinkers will unite all over the country to raise money for Project Waterfall through a collective love of the brown bean. Project Waterfall is a charitable initiative set up by the coffee and foodservice industry. Its goal is to help provide clean [...]
Banksy Coffee House, 162 Essex Road
With Banksy books, T-shirts, tote bags and anything else that can be printed on, it was only a matter of time before someone opened a Banksy coffee shop. The Banksy Coffee House on Essex Road in Angel, not far from a real Banksy, opened in January and is decorated with Banksy tributes in all forms, [...]
The perfect cup of coffee – jazz, a leather seat and purple wallpaper
Coffee lovers unofficially agreed long ago that the right blend of aroma, texture and colour is crucial for the perfect cup of coffee, but according to a new study the surrounding environment is equally important. The extensive study, carried out by the MMR consumer research agency, concluded that sitting at home on a quality leather [...]
Krups Nespresso Eco Essenza XN212040 review
The Krups XN212040 is another one of the German manufacturer’s range of Essenza Nespresso capsule machines. It differs from the Krups XN2003 mainly in that it has a stainless steel attachment and a water tank made from the same material, making the whole appliance look and feel a lot sturdier and more high-end. It is [...]
Look Mum No Hands, 49 Old Street
The perfect coffee shop is a combination of great atmosphere and high-quality coffee. Look Mum No Hands strikes that balance quite well with its Square Mile Coffee Roast and relaxed vibe, which makes you want to stay and come back. Their baristas are friendly and can definitely tell their espresso from a flat white. My [...]
