Cafe Ringduvan, Visby, Gotland, Sweden

Before we embarked on a round of supermarket shopping we popped into a little cafe built outside the city walls. The staff were not sure about what an Americano was but after a little translation we got there. Cafe is a filter coffee, svart is black so I just need to know what long is and then I'm there. They then had the good grace to ask me how much water I wanted; this was a great sign.

This coffee was about as good as I make it at home (not bad but not the best), perhaps slightly better. A little over espressed and lacking that bean sweetness but nice and short, strong and swiftly served. It sat especially well when gobbled up with a chokoladebull and a Dessirebulle.

 

• Strong
• Smooth not overly bitter taste
• Little crema
• Small cup- Bonus points for choosing level of water.
• £2.00 (20Kr) 

Another good coffee. Not the greatest but very good. Another strike for the pearl of the Baltic, two for two.

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Cafe Amalia, Visby, Gotland, Sweden.

We happened upon this trendy looking cafe and 2nd hand clothes shop in the heart of the historical city. It was full of immaculatly looking Swedes, well groomed and well dressed. The food looks healthy and natural yet still full of goodies (confirmed that the chocolate cake is yummolicious). 

The Americano came very short bitter and not burnt. Could have been a little sweeter but no real complaints so not much to say. A great first coffee in sweden and the second cup tasted just as good. 


Regular Black Americano

• High strength
• Strong smooth taste
• No bitter after taste
• Small amount of crema
• Small cup
• £2.50 (25K)

An excellent Americano. If all the coffees taste this good, I'm in for a treat. So good I came back and used the free Wifi to post this blog.


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Gotland Sweden

Going to the chapel and I'm going to get married in Gotland, Sweden. Whilst I am here I intend to try at least a few coffees.

In Sweden they have planes like this:

So you imagine the coffee is going to be good. These people live a high quality existence so I hope they demand as much from their joe shots. However I'm pretty certain I will be left with the same disappointments in many places

We board the plan for a coffee adventure (and a wedding).

Coffee Republic, Brighton, UK

Not blogged for a while but took the opportunity of having a final cub before departing to Sweden for two weeks. Coffee republic on the main Brighton Highstreet looked solid enough. 

The smell inside of an unwashed area should have been warning enough. The smallest mug was a Tall and it was a huge mug to contend with. A sweet aroma and plenty of crema seemed promising as iI started out. Due to the rancid inside I moved outside to the busy and baking paving stones of the western road. 


Like so many of these chain coffee's, the beans were burnt and all sweetness lost. This left a taste of tar and the slight tounge buzz of chewing tobacco. After a while I was left with lingering taster of mud. Strengh was undercernable, 








Tall Black Americano

• Strength? Two shots. 
• Burnt grit and earth
• Ashtray aftertaste
• Plenty of Crema
• Massive cup
• £1.80 (need to check this)

A horrible cup of joe. Don't ever try this. Seriously don't. I mean it.


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Café Delice, Brighton, UK

Went to a completely new café this morning right on the corner of the narrow lane that is Kensington Gardens. Café Delice was cosy with lots of nice things to eat well presented. They were serving coffee made from the reliable illy beans.

I didn’t have enough money on me and the lovely man let me off 40 Pence. What a dude!

Regular Black Americano

• Medium strength
• Sweet taste all the way through.
• No bitter aftertaste.
• No Crema
• Small cup
• £1.60

A great coffee and my review is not at all altered by the man letting me off. Sweet, not over espressed and not burnt. The only criticism would be that it could have been a little stronger.

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http://www.cafedelice.co.uk/

The Flying Coffee Bean, Brighton, UK

When taking the train from Brighton I normally get my java from The FBC. Run by a somewhat aggressive Irishman who feigns joviality it is a fast turnaround which is often required when running for the choo-choo.

Small Black Americano.

• A weak but sweet tasting cup. 
• Muddy gritty aftertaste. 
• No crema.
• Small cup.
• £1.60. 

Previously I have saved up my loyalty points and then got a large (3 shots) in a medium cup. This gave the coffee some flavour. Another trick for these factory coffee houses is to ask them to put less water in.

Normally bearable this was pretty poor but above the (very low) mean of large coffee chains.

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iydea, Brighton, UK

This is a lovely little vegetarian restaurant tucked away in the north lanes. I went with my brother for a birthday lunch which culminated in the receipt of a fine bottle of Glen Turret.

The food as ever was excellent; I had the potato and onion pie. I recommend this place for hot lunch to take away but eating in was plesent. We finished our meal with an espresso.

• Strong, slightly bitter but not at all burnt or tasting of grounds
• Nice crema
• A little long so too much water espressed through, making it a little bitter
• Good aroma but no real sweetness on the front of the pallet
• £1.60

Lewis is more critical than I but we are agreed; Good, above average but not perfect.

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http://www.iydea.co.uk/