Marwood Coffee Shop, Brighton, UK

On giving up my Brighton residence and becoming just another tourist to this fine town there was one coffee shop that had alluded me. Marwood coffee.

The first attempt to find it resulted in walking up and down Ship street early in the morning and in the rain but to no avail. My first sighting at another time whilst not realising what the place was came in the form of their sign boasting about the quality of their coffee.

I arrogantly snorted in derision thinking I knew best. But then later on it hit me and my stomach sunk as I understood who's sign that was. Realising my mistake I have now come to plead forgiveness and give Marwood the review it deserves.

Named after I from Withnail fame it would be lazy of me to state the coffee house is quirky, it is however very cool. Random images, furniture and graffiti line the two storey coffee house. Check out their site for more pictures of the eclectic and entertaining decor.

They also offer up some serious cake which I didn't try but did tempt me.  But if you get rid of the cake and you get rid of the style and attitude that this place has what are you left with? Does the coffee make a mark?

Arriving in a small attractive red cup and saucer the wisps of crema were starting to fade away in their death spiral. First sip gave me plenty of flavour, not too strong but above all a good smoothness. 


It was also slightly sweet all the way through which seems to be the hardest trick to pull off. It left a creamy tone as the main flavour faded away and I can't say I was disappointed.  A little more strength would not have gone amiss but that could have just as easily disrupted the well balanced drink

• Black Americano, drink in
• Medium strength
• Smooth, a little sweet and flavoursome
• Light Crema
• Size: Small
• £1.80
• Beans: Mozzo Coffee

They say they serve kick arse coffee and they do. A good taste, smooth and sweet.


Map
http://www.themarwood.com/

@the_marwood
email: info@themarwood.com

Dinkyccino stall, Brighton/ Worthing /East Sussex area, UK

Somehow  Joe saw Dinkyccino online or the other way round, they became friends but had never met. As luck would have it wondering through the Brighton Food Festival on the way to another coffee house Joe saw Dinky and had a drink. 

The reason for the special interest in this company inhabiting the increasingly popular world of mobile coffee stations is aside from their love of great coffee is their impressive skill in turning out a constant supply off coffee masterpieces. 


Resisting the urge to fill the rest of the review with puns I was impressed with this Monet of Mocha, bringing the Toulouse Lautrec to the latte and the Euan Uglow to the espresso (that is enough!). I believe this fine work belongs all (or primarily to) Adrian Lucking who founded the company. 

If you follow Joe on facebook you will have seen some of these wicked looking brews reposted there and for your viewing pleasure I have borrowed a few from their facebook page and set up a little gallery below.  I hope they don't mind but I could not resist, they look awesome.

But what about the coffee? It wasn't the main man running the stall that day and as I drink it black and straight up for these reviews there would be no chance of milky flair to alter my judgement. The barista asked how big I wanted it which was great service and polite, I took it short to medium. It came promptly and was possibly a little hot. 


The joe smelt good but there was little if any crema in my mug but there was a glint of oil.  It was smooth and silky however there was an uncomfortable bitterness hanging over the whole affair which spoilt what could have been a great cup of coffee. Not so much to destroy the drink but enough to knock it down a peg.

• Double shot black americano, take away
• Strong
• Smooth but a little bitter
• No or little crema
• Size: medium
• £2.50
• Machine: Astoria

A good coffee but sadly not a breathtaking one. Certainly well above the water mark set by many station coffee stalls. I was hoping for sensational to match the showmanship this company prides itself on, perhaps next time. 

Enjoy the coffee art below.

http://www.dinkyccino.com/

http://www.facebook.com/dinkyccino.coffee
adrian@dinkyccino.com

Map - To be found at various events especially in the east Sussex area and regularly at Durrington Railway station, Worthing

Dinkyccino Gallery

Barista Profile: Andrew Long, Ground

Hello. Who are you?
Andrew "big hair" Long


And what do you do?
Barista - Ground, Kemptown

And what is that in detail?
Someone with a flair for good quality coffee

When did you first discover real coffee?
I've always known about it, but was only exposed to it's true potential over a year ago. It was like this big secret in the UK where suddenly someone turned on the lights and went, "hang on why am I in Starbucks? I can drink better coffee from that lovely little place across the road with flowers in the window. I also get treated like a human being.

How did you get started in the coffee trade and learn your skills?
I've had to use a machine at some point in the majority of the jobs I've had whilst growing up. Some of the skills learned along the way have been exotic to say the least in method and madness. 


Being asked to pour instant granules into a grinder as a fresh faced 18 year old will never cease to amaze me. But the past 18 months have been a real eye opener and a privilege since moving to Brighton. 

What is the best thing about doing what you do?
The people you meet. Customers and colleagues alike. I'm not just a machine, and neither are you. Find me another job where you can be yourself and you'd be lying.

What drink do you make best?
I make a damn fine Cappuccino but my best drink is Espresso. I take great pride in trying to make it the best you've ever had.

What are the top 3 things you should you look out for from your neighbourhood barista?

• Someone who engages with you on a personal level. 
• Not being afraid to voice their own opinion. 
• Not baffling customers with your extensive and often boring knowledge of blends at 7am. It's dull and unnecessary, lets be honest. 

Working in a good cafe with good people you end up seeing how bad alot of other cafes are. Right from service to the drink. It's the snobbery that annoys me. How can you be a coffee snob when your coffee is about as exciting as being slapped around the face with a side of pork? Cafes are places where people go to every single day of their life. It's part of their routine which you end up being part of. Show some respect.

A home coffee brewing trick or technique?
Be good to your beans. Use a nice cup.

What do you look for in a good bean or blend?
Balance and honesty. If you like it, great. If you don't, stop pretending to be the blurb on the back and throw it away.


What do you drink yourself? There's an "in" joke at work that I HAVE to have a sugar in my coffee because I'm not hardcore enough to take it straight. This is true to an extent. I only ever put sugar in milk based coffee because to me they resemble a cake. And cakes have sugar. 


However, my preference would be a strong small black coffee, either a single origin fresh filter or espresso based long black.


What is your favourite professional machine and grinder?La Marzocco, Compak K-10

What is the most important part of the coffee process- the growing, the roasting, the blending, the brewing or anything in between?
It's all important. mess one process up and it has a knock on effect.
How do you make coffee at home?
Aeropress. I'm currently experimenting with Turkish coffee.


Anything else you want to say?
I'm also very font of fine cheese and American country pop music. Don't hold it against me.


Andrew, thanks for taking the time to talk to me. 

Andrew in action unedited

Andrew works at Ground one of the premiere coffee houses in Brighton.
Map: here
Website: www.groundcoffeehouses.com
Twitter: @Ground_Coffee
Original review: http://damnfinejoe.blogspot.com/2010/09/ground-brighton-uk.html

The Mad Hatter Cafe, Brighton, UK

This was the coffee I had before speaking at the Develop Conference in Brighton. I was nervous so it was a bit of a risk going somewhere new but The Mad Hatter Cafe looked popular and more importantly was where I had got off on the bus. 

After trying to score some bacon (I was low carbing it) I found it was a vegetarian establishment. Although I'm fairly certain the man did then try to offer me ham. I declined the under counter chacuterie and went for a mushroom and cheese omelette. Fluffy with a gooey heart and plenty of it; this protein feast was just what I needed to power we through my talk. I very much enjoyed demolishing my plate and had need to wash it down.

As is usual I opted for a black americano. When it first arrived it was so hot I could not get near it. There was n0t much going for it in terms or aroma and there was no crema to think of so I had to bide my time and wait for it to cool. Cool it did and I was rewarded with a good, above average coffee. Although a little weak for me it shone with regards to flavour. It was full and flavoursome and smooth all the way through. There were no sour notes and at the end a little sweetness shined through. 

• Double shot black americano, drink in
• Medium to weak strength
• A good robust flavour
• No crema
• Size medium
• £2.00

A really nice coffee that by not going for gusto has ended up with a lovely smooth taste. They are not at the top table yet but this is undoubtedly good and leaves a large gap between them and those behind.


Map
http://www.themadhattercafe.co.uk/about.html

Competition: Cafe Coho Prize Draw Winners

The winners of the Cafe Coho prize Draw are:

Brianna Beck - 1st prize: 10 free coffees
Liam Kelly - 2nd prize: 4 free coffees
Lucy Fowler - 3rd prize 2 free coffees
Rachel Dey - 4th prize: 1 free coffee
Swisscub Janlove (Greg) - 5th prize: 1 free coffee
Simon Lewis - 6th prize: 1 free coffee
Tom Ewing - 7th prize: 1 free coffee

Well done to the winners and thanks to everyone who spread the word on Facebook and took part.

Joe will make contact to explain how you can claim your prize. Sorry this took so long.

The Review: http://damnfinejoe.blogspot.com/2011/02/cafe-coho-brighton-uk.html

Barista Profile: Damon McMinn, Small Batch Coffee Company

Hello. Who are you? 

Damon 

And what do you do?

Whatever needs to be done. 

And what is that in detail?

Set up shops, close down carts, drive around, drop things off, pick things up and, finally, make some coffee. 

When did you first discover real coffee?

Dug coffee in a big way since my teens but my eyes were only recently opened. So much I didn't know. So much I still don't. 

How did you get started in the coffee trade and learn your skills?

A lifetime ago - dare I say it? - I worked for... Starbucks. I consider the skills necessary to produce a fine coffee so elementary a bonobo could acquire them. Pulling shots, steaming milk and putting the two together is not about skill, it's about information and desire. Does one possess the necessary information to know what is good? If so, does one desire to produce something good? Bonobos likely can't grasp the concept of "good" and even if they could, I suspect the only desire they'd be interested in exploring is how much they love touching each other. This is why we at Small Batch don't employ them. It's company policy.

What is the best thing about doing what you do?

Going to bed early. I'd sleep in later, but hey. 

What drink do you make best?

I once had a Zen monk as a customer. “Give me the best coffee you have,” he said.

“Everything on this cart is the best,” I replied. “You cannot find here any coffee that is not the best.” 

With those words, he was enlightened. But not enough to leave a tip. Cheap bastard.

What are the top three things you should look out for from your neighbourhood barista?

In no order. A smile. Care. Can do. 

A home coffee brewing trick or technique?

A grinder. We sell hand ones. They're meditative.

What do you look for in a good bean or blend?

Subtleties of taste and smell are not my arena. As long as it tastes good and I know it's been roasted with love, I'm happy.

What do you drink yourself?
1/3 espresso and 2/3 hot water. Pretty much a standard since forever. I do quite like a flat white though.

What is your favourite professional machine and grinder?

La Marzocco Linea. Never used a Synesso, but hear they're pretty top notch. Anything that reliably grinds on demand. 

What is the most important part of the coffee process - the growing, the roasting, the blending, the brewing or anything in-between?

They're all the most important and can't be separated. The coffee in the cup is what counts. The growing of a high quality bean is crucial, as is the roasting, as is the brewing. Blending is a detour on the journey from farm to cup.

How do you make coffee at home?

Aeropress. It's fun.

Anything else you want to say?

Suppose a town has one and only one barista who makes coffee for all and only those who do not make coffee for themselves. Who makes coffee for the barista?

Thanks for the chat.

Red Roaster, Brighton, UK

Red Roaster is one of the older and more prominent coffee shops in Brighton. Situated near the bottom of St. James' street, it is a large establishment with plenty of light and is packed full of seating. It is very popular and is nearly always full.  

Red Roaster don't just make coffee they roast their own beans and supply many of Brighton's coffee shops. The beans are lovely and prepared to a very high quality. I've had these at home and in many other coffee shops in Brighton but the beans are only one part of it, the brewing makes a huge difference.


When I first moved into town I was told about them and it may surprise readers that I have not done a review to date. The simple truth is that I have drunk coffee there, I have bought beans there and I have deliberatly not written this review before. Why? Well I've not had a great cup of coffee from there and I was waiting for a great one.

Sadly this time was no different. This is not to say it was bad, it was just not fantastic. Although made with care and with a good strength and crema there is an off taste. My black Americano was marred with an issue of an after taste of slightly off creaminess.

I have to say I am not sure why this is the case. Perhaps it is a certain flavour that I am personally not a fan off and others are but for me it is a perfectly acceptable but not a great cup of coffee.

• Double shot black Americano, drink in.
• Very strong
• Off cream tang
• Dark crema
• Size small - Asked for it in a small cup
• £2.10

Strong competent coffee but with an off putting aftertaste.

http://www.redroaster.co.uk/
Map

Hudson & Bridges, Brighton, UK

Hudson & Bridges is a coffee shop and Deli on the outskirts of Kemp Town, it sits on the edge of the garden district. The owners also run the similarly themed Swan pub, which is just round the corner. I have to say I like the place although I think the decor is pretty terrible however the ambience is good, the staff friendly and attentive and most of all the products are great.

The food and the coffee is top notch. Lots of nice savoury and sweet things to choose from including bread from the Real Patisserie and nice looking pastas and pies to eat in or take away. I've drunk coffee here many time, it is solid , close to where I live and I like browsing Deli style produce.

Top marks for presentation as the coffee comes often on a board with just the espresso and a jug of water. I've only been to a few places that do this and I love it, I get it just the way I like it. It had a great aroma and I mixed it quite strong. The taste on this occasion was good but marred by a tangy after taste that I could not ignore.

Early rises you can get an espresso for a £1 before 9. 

• Double shot black Americano, drink in.
• Strong
• Good aroma, slight tang.
• Little crema
• Size medium
• 1.70

Normally a very good coffee, this last one held a little bitter tang but don't let this put you off. Best of all you get to choose the strength yourself.


Map

The Real Patisserie - Kemp Town

Although their website does not say it the wonderful cake and bread emporium of The Real Patisserie has opened a new store and bakery in Kemp Town. I've reviewed the Trafalgar street store before, how does this new place fair? 

Situated next to the excellent Pizza Face which itself sits next to the truly awesome Ground the new site for The Real Patisserie is a good one. The store is large and light and is focused on selling rather than sitting and eating or drinking. It has one large wooden table with benches. The rest of the store is handed over to the display counter and the open baking area and bread shelf. I liked the style of the place and the sight and smell of all that freshly baked bread really got my juices flowing.

I went in with my old man who was in Brighton for a medical thingy for a spot of breakfast. We were a bit early but they kindly let us in and served us, we were then treated to tray upon tray of freshly baked produce pouring out of their ovens. We both had black coffees, he had the cinnamon swirl, I had the Croque Monsieur. These in turn were lovely and fresh and the latter a bit heavy on the bechamel but perfectly pleasant.

The coffee was made quickly with no pretension. Like all The Real Patisserie stores they use Red Roaster beans. 

It came in a small cup and I was struck my a very pleasant aroma. On tasting it was strong, sweet and smooth. I have to say I was surprised, it was a great cup off coffee, I expected it just to be pretty good. I don't have much else to say as it was a quality brew.

• Double shot black Americano
• Strong
• Sweet flavour
• Little crema
• Small size 
• £1.25

It had all the 3 S's (strength, sweetness, smoothness) with no negatives. At £1.25 this is one of the cheapest quality coffees you can get in Brighton.

Map

http://realpatisserie.co.uk/index.html