Farm, Brighton, UK

The cafe Farm who this review features has recently opened a small farmers market in the lanes. This kind of venture must be applauded along with their ethos of good locally produced food. The inside of the cafe has a rustic quality and it seems like the kind of establishment where the coffee will be first rate, especially as they serve Monmouth beans (my favourite). It never opens before 9 which seems a little crazy for picking up on the way to work foot traffic and luckily for this blog I was late one day and managed to pop in and grab some joe.

The coffee was rushed and made with very little care; seeing this I thought it would be a disaster and was prepared for a teeth clenching muddy ashtray infusion. Being first in I benefited from very freshly ground coffee which helped with the taste. I was a little surprised to see the barista knocking out some coffee before tamping it down without refilling meaning the actual amount that went in was more like a shot than a double. This left the coffee a little weak for my tastes for the sake of something like 5p. However having said all that it was not that bad, a bit nondescript but certainly not unpleasant. If care was taken and more actual coffee applied there could be a great coffee here. 

After totally failing to take a photo I stole their logo. I hope they don't mind me reproducing without permission. I have a photo in mind so intend to replace as soon as I can.

• Black Americano
• Medium strength
• Slightly bitter aftertaste
• No crema
• Medium to large 
• £1.80

Not a well made coffee but somehow it dragged itself out of being not very good to being roughly around alright. 

http://www.farmsussex.co.uk/

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Blue Bird Cafe, Ferring (Worthing), UK

Cycling in a storm with my brother, each with a child lashed to our bicycles was a challenge. Our goal was to work our way along the seafront to a popular cafe. This dog friendly establishment was rammed with Sunday morning breakfasters, a slight steam in the air  from the condensations of wet bodies meeting warm air. There was a buzz of conversation and a fast service of hot food being brought from the kitchen.

The food was great, reasonably priced, locally sourced and they served chips that were not chips but incredible fluffy roast potatoes. The coffee on the other hand was poor. A cartridge based machine (I didn't catch the brand) which produced poor tasting, lifeless coffee. No aroma, that bizarre air driven crema and a taste closer to the last cup in a cafeteria and not the first of the jug.

• Black Americano
• Medium strength
• Pretty tasteless but not offensive
• Fake crema
• Medium size
• £1.80

Not very good coffee but go for the location, the food and the dogs.

http://www.ferringvillage.co.uk/business-directory/bluebird-cafe.htm
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Mange Tout, Brighton, UK

This café restaurant opens later than my normal walk to work so it is rare for me to get a chance to have a coffee there. I was the first person into the attractive modern airy establishment this morning, unfortunately there will still a strong smell of cleaning products in the air. 


The staff were smiling, calm and laid back; when the order came they leapt into action, swiftly with making the coffee. As this was their first coffee of the day I got beans as freshly ground as they can be, these beans where from the Small Batch coffee company.

It came overly large and this weakened the taste a little but overall it was strong enough and quite smooth. The Joe had a good oily sheen and the only real negatives were that I forgot to drink it right away and a slight overly bitter tang at the back of the palette.

• Black Americano
• Medium strength
• Nice and smooth
• Medium crema
• Medium to large
• £1.80

Not at all bad and certainly the best from this place so far. It even came with a tiny meringue. If I had requested it to be a little shorter this would have been a contender so worth another try for certain.

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Grills & Greens, Godalming, UK

Lovely Godalming is a picture postcard village in Surrey. Having lived in Guildford I always saw Godalming  as a nicer place to go when you got a bit older. Recently I went to Grills & Greens for a solid dinner before hitting the local pubs and wine bars. The food for pretty standard fayre, not incredible but by no means bad. We had the Malbec which was excellent and I went for the steak which complimented each other nicely. The service was friendly but very sleepy.

As much as I liked the place I did not the like the coffee. Although my friend rated the espresso I do not trust his sense of taste. Overly bitter right at the front of the palette it seemed stale and badly put together. I couldn't actually finish it but this was partly to being so full at the time as opposed to it being the worst ever.

I was a little worse for wear and did not take a photo. This photo pinched without permission from this lovely walking site. I will replace with one of my own soon.

• Black Americano
• Medium strength
• Nice and smooth
• Processed crema
• Medium mug
• £2.15

Really not very good coffee after an effort of good standing with the food.

http://www.grillsandgreens.co.uk/
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Bills, Brighton, UK

Bills is an institution in Brighton (and the other locations it resides in). The food is excellent, waiting 30 minutes to get a table for breakfast is well worth it. The milkshakes are far too good for my health and the eggs Benedict rocks my world. Having drunk coffee there before I knew it was well made but it had not had a proper review, this time I tried a take away.

It was quite a large mug that I was handed with but it smelt pleasant so I reserved judgement. By the time I reached work it had cooled sufficiently to be drunk fast. It was still strong despite the size but immediately I new it was good as it was so smooth. The taste was not revolutionary and it could have been shorter and therefore stronger but there were no real complaints to be had about this cup of Joe.

• Black Americano
• Strong
• Nice and smooth
• Low Crema
• Large mug
• £1.50 

A little on the big side but a good solid coffee without a doubt.

http://www.billsproducestore.co.uk/

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Cocoa, Brighton, UK

Cocoa is a French patisserie in Brighton run by Jana Solfronk & Julien Plumart. The cakes and the meringues especially all look incredible. You need strength to visit a coffee shop like this. The coffee came a bit big but had a good strength. Sadly the taste just was not there, overly bitter and muddied it had been badly put together to create a truly middle of the road coffee experience.

• Black Americano
• Strong
• A little muddy and bitter
• Medium Crema
• Large mug
• £1.40 

Disappointing considering the quality of the baking. Go for the little cakes and not the Joe.

http://www.cocoabrighton.co.uk/
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