Again I find myself sat on a train in the middle of nowhere, following another fantastic step in the right direction for both speciality coffee and baristas in the UK. I find my conviction shaken, my tastebuds challenged, and the bar set once again higher.
Last night, I finally attended my first Square Mile Coffee ‘taste [...]

Well with only a couple of months to go before the heats for the UK Barista Championship. Preparations are now underway at The Angel Coffee House. We are being represented by me of course, and also my co-host Ash Porter in the midland heats.
Today was the first day of really working on the runs at [...]

As promised, here is the write-up for the UK Barista Championship Jam, held at Pumphries Coffee, Blaydon-upon-Tyne, Newcastle.
I’m not entirely sure that anyone knew what to expect at this jam, even with the itinerary that was mailed out, but still we all made the trek to get there. Some from just round the corner, me [...]

Pour-over coffee is a great way to enjoy coffee, and if done properly, it can bring out the flavours of a coffee nearly as well as cupping the coffee traditionally, so it’s about time I put together a bit of a how-to. I don’t do a lot of these, as more often than not, I [...]

Today, whilst sat on my break at work reading a book called The Power of Now. A fantastic self-help book with idea’s deeply centered in Zen Buddhism. I had an epiphany. An epiphany that affirms what it is about being a barista that I feed off.

Finally, the half hour is up, and I struggle back to my feet to get back to work. By this time all signs of the lunch time rush have been cleared away, and you wonder if it was infact a dream. All messes wiped up, drip tray cleaned up, coffee grinds brushed away, and slowly, [...]

Right guys. Please bear one thing in mind… I’m not in a fit condition to be driving a motor vehicle, heavy machinery is well beyond my means, and god forbid I could suitably chaperone any sort of dance. But I can write, albeit after checking through my spelling mistakes.

After a half hour sit down, relax and a quick drink and a sandwich. It’s back to work, and time to prepare for war. Everyone starts working to get themselves ready for the lunch time rush, an inevitability in a coffee shop. Portafilters are cleaned out, the milk fridge fully stocked, and all the barista [...]

Today guys, I want to talk about what it’s like to be a commercial barista. I know a lot of my readers are purely home-baristas, enthusiasts, hobbyists etc. and whilst I don’t by any means want to question your skills, but with the luxury of time you guys have to pull shots, its a [...]

Right guys, some bad news coming. This evening, I split up with my girlfriend of a few years… I know, you’re all thinking “what’s this got to do with coffee damnit”. Basically, I will be losing this laptop, plus I’m now tight enough on cash, that I can’t get anywhere to interview.
I’ll you guys updated, [...]