Archive for September, 2017

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Cappuccino in Small Batch

September 24, 2017

The last time I was in Brighton, I had a cappuccino off the Small Batch kiosk outside Brighton Station. I was looking forward to one today, and was disappointed to find no kiosk.

Down on the seafront, it turned cool and started to rain. I had intended to walk out along Brighton Pier, but feeling cold, I decide to head inland and take a slow wander back to Brighton Station via a coffee shop.

I had intended Pelicano, as not far from the station, popped in Small Batch on the way.

I have often popped in Small Batch, but never stayed and had a coffee, as always busy.

Today was no exception, but thought I would try a cappuccino.

I was disappointed cocoa was added. Nothing wrong with the coffee, but loses the flavour of the coffee. I mentioned this to the barista after complimenting on an otherwise excellent coffee. He gave me a complimentary card to have a coffee next time passing by.

I picked up a bag of coffee.

A wide range of brew methods at the brew bar, pour over, Japanese syphon.

I like the ultra modern style of Small Batch, what I do not like is that it is harsh and  noisy,  not an ambience within which to relax. Maybe that is why people sit outside.

On my last visit, I asked of Standart, Small Batch are listed as a distributor. I asked again. No luck.

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Cappuccino in Jolliffes

September 24, 2017

Brighton has a thriving coffee culture, there are many quality coffee shops, Jolliffes is not one of them.

The coffee not ground fresh for each cup.

A cappuccino was brought to me upstairs.

Chocolate was dumped on top.

No, you do not dump chocolate on a cappuccino, or at the very least you ask.

Guy who served me became stroppy and stormed off.  No apology.

A long wait.  A girl came with a  cappuccino, slammed it down on the table. Coffee was dribbling down the handle of the cup.

It looked disgusting, and was. Served scaling hot.

Dirty dishes on adjacent table not cleared.

About the only good thing I can say, the ambience was pleasant and they support local artists.

The coffee is local from Red Rooster.

Redroaster should be very concerned as Jolliffes is not doing their reputation any favours.

It once again raises the question, why bother to open a coffee shop if you cannot be bothered to serve decent coffee, and in Brighton there is no shortage of quality indie coffee shops?

 

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Sunday in Brighton

September 24, 2017

A lovely sunny day.

Just missed a late running train at Gatwick. Wait for the next train.

Train overcrowded, people standing, toilets not working.

Heavy police presence outside Brighton Station.

Usually a Small Batch coffee kiosk outside Brighton Station. Not today.

I was pleased to find the owner of Grocer and Grain running the store today.

He has a good selection of coffee.

Big question mark on Back Yard Coffee. The information on the bags meaningless, no information on origin, or even what beans. They did though note roast date.

Down to the seafront. Heavy security outside Labour Party Conference. Have to enter through a security fence.

Hypocrite Labour Party delegates sat outside Costa. There are many quality indie coffee shops in Brighton, support them, not Costa. Similarly do not eat the disgusting food on the seafront, use your legs and walk to North Laine.  The two exceptions, the seafood stall in the arches and and the seafood stall opposite.

Excellent musician Sybie playing in the street. Bought a couple of signed albums.

Also an excellent blues musician.

North Laine as always very busy.

Popped in Brighton Magazine. No, they did not have Standart. I learnt a new issue out.

Lunch at Iydea. Hot sat outside in the sun.

There are many quality coffee shops in Brighton, Jolliffes is not one of them.

Bumped into one of one of the Labour Party delegates who I know. Took him and his colleague down to the seafront.

It turned cold and started to rain.

I was going to walk along Brighton Pier, but decided to call it a day and wander back to the station via a coffee shop.

Dropped in on Small Batch. First time I have had a coffee. It was good.

Train from Brighton, overcrowded and standing room only.

Alighting at Gatwick, and passengers piling on to the train, packed in like sardines.

At Gatwick, crooked money exchange screwing travellers, offering less than a euro for a pound, another only just over a euro. Last week it was possible to obtain 1-10 euros to the pound.

 

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Cappuccino in Krema

September 23, 2017

Krema is one of those coffee coffee shops where guaranteed a consistently good cappuccino.

Today, no exception. Indeed one of the best cappuccinos I have had in Krema.

Horsham Pioneer v 5.0.

A new espresso blend from Horsham, which may in part explain why my cappuccino was so good today.

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Lunch at Gail’s artisan bakery

September 23, 2017

A bowl of soup, followed by quiche, at Gail’s artisan bakery.

I had not realised how late it was, I left for the butcher, then came back for my quiche.

The soup, tomatoes, roast peppers and tarragon.

Served with two doorstops of bread I did not really need anything else. Doubly so as the quiche was not good. I was told it came with salad. The salad a few green leaves.

Curious why the coffee always bad, I asked, does anyone make the coffee? No, we have baristas.

The soup was excellent. The soup usually is, I cannot say that though about anything else at Gail’s.

Starbucks bakery (not to be confused with tax-dodging Starbucks serving undrinkable coffee), neither cakes not bread good, but very good quiche.

The quiche in Gail’s looked good, but it was not. I left it uneaten.

The salad, I was expecting a small side salad, not a handful of leaves.

The staff are pleasant, though I have never see the same staff twice.

The service poor.

The ambience poor.

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Afternoon in Farnham

September 23, 2017

A pleasant warm sunny afternoon.

Autumn is here, once the sun goes down, it turns cold.

Alight from the bus, walk along riverside walk, through Gostrey Meadow, and up into Farnham.

A bowl of soup at Gail’s artisan bakery.

I had not realised how late it was, I left for the butcher, then came back for my quiche.

The soup, tomatoes, roast peppers and tarragon. Served with two doorstops of bread I did not really need anything else. Doubly so as the quiche was not good. I was told it came with salad. The salad a few green leaves.

Curious why the coffee always bad, I asked, does anyone make the coffee? No, we have baristas.

It was then to Krema for a cappuccino.

Best cappuccino I have had in Krema. The coffee was new,  Horsham Pioneer v 4.5.

I would have walked around Bishop’s Meadow, but sun going down and turning cool.

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Afternoon in Guildford

September 22, 2017

This morning clear blue sky from sunrise. Afternoon sunshine and clouds.

It has been several weeks since I have passed through The Village. It has now all but collapsed. Many of the businesses have pulled out. I was sorry to see the ice cream shop had gone, about the only success story. Those that remain and new businesses are a classic case of self-delusion.

If it was not a success in the summer then it is not going to be a success as the nights draw in and it gets cold and dark.

Sticking outdoor heaters is not the answer. There is no better example of crass stupidity than trying to heat outdoor air. If it is too cold to sit outside, do not sit outside. These heaters should be banned. Or does no one still get it over global warming? How many more destructive hurricanes do we have to see? it is also to throw more good money after bad. How much longer is the local council going to pour public money into this black hole?

There is to be a street food festival at The Village. Not the best location. The High Street would be a far better location. But I can see why The Village want it, in the hope it will pull in the punters.

Excellent lunch at Bamboo Shoots in Jeffries Passage, honey crunch chicken with brown rice. Very tasty, generous portion size. A new Chinese girl working in Bamboo Shoots. Very pleasant personality.

Bambook Shoots is one of the best places to eat in Guildford.

The Thai restaurant next door closed. It says closed for staff holidays. Rumour has it that it has closed.

I am not surprised. It is always empty. It used to be an excellent place to eat, but the staff have done their best when the boss not there to destroy its reputation.

In Food For Thought, the young guy I sometimes talk to about coffee, told me he had spent three years at Lincoln University.

A sign outside Wairose directing to Canopy Coffee for eats. Unlikely to wish to eat, on the other hand directing to a coffee shop for coffee would make sense. I wonder how long before either Waitrose or the local council effect its removal.

A cappuccino at Canopy Coffee. I have spent several weeks visiting top class coffee shops. How does Canopy Coffee compare? It does not. Not to say bad coffee, but not in the same league as the best coffee shops. I picked up a bag of Santa Lucia from Honduras roasted by Origin Coffee. Strange not shown on the Origin website.

It was then a cappuccino at Harris + Hoole. Which is always consistently good, and today was no exception.

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Sunset Autumn Equinox

September 21, 2017

Autumn equinox is when summer ends, equal day and night.

The nights will now be longer than the days, the days colder, the nights colder.

Winter is nigh.

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Lincoln Knights’ Reunion

September 20, 2017

The Lincoln Knights are back.

Having been removed from the streets at the beginning of September, much to everyone’s annoyance and disappointment, they are now lined up in Lincoln Castle.

All 36 knights are reunited at Lincoln Castle for one last time before being auctioned off for charity.

The Lincoln Knights will be sold at auction in Lincoln Cathedral to raise money for The Nomad Trust. A local charity which serves the homeless community of Lincoln and provides emergency accommodation for those who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets.

 

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Afternoon in Lincoln

September 20, 2017

Hazy sun, cloudy, pleasantly warm.

The centre of Lincoln is allegedly pedestrianised. Only there is no enforcement. A car, a lorry followed by a  van, driving through the High Street at 1550.

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday, Stokes on High Bridge, beans not labelled with roast date, when I inquire of roast date, try to sell me beans roasted in April, six months old.

Today, helpful trainee, drew my attention to all beans now have roast date and when I look, I see roasted  September.

I trek up Steep Hill, not time for a coffee.

Walking through Lincoln Castle, I find the Lincoln Knights are back.

A cappuccino in Stokes Lawn Cafe.  I choose the guest Guatemalan. Not great, best I can say of it, not undrinkable as their house blrnd.  It is not of the standard that is the norm in Madame Waffle, The Little Tractor Coffee Shop or Makushi.

Stokes need as  a matter of urgency to improve the quality of their beans.  Their baristas try their best, but not a lot can be done with inferior quality beans

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