Has Blog

Its the water inside the M25 that makes coffee taste better

"......don't moan or grown that there isn't a “scene” in your town but get off your backside and make that scene happen......"

I feel its time to rant a little on the blog, and I also feel its time for a little commentary on the industry I live and work in.

OK so maybe rant is a bit strong, but throw out opinion and thought.

A recent blog post (shout out to Alex Redgate http://awlred.wordpress.com/) questions the community outside of the London scene or lack of it, and its kind of made we want to post about the “London Scene”. This is in no way a dig at Alex, hes a top man, and we love him here.

There has been a hum of “isn’t the London scene wonderful” and I must admit I agree, to a point. Its great to see our capitol city picking itself up introducing competition and diversity from what was a one horse city. But the swipes at lack of community outside of London disappoints me. It disappoints me as I hear it a lot from people that have no idea whats happening in our city’s around the country.

I personally think there is plenty of community outside of London, I also know there are many many amazing outlets outside of London. but like everything from down south they believe they do it best because of the transport links and of course the much larger audience. But lets not forget a few short years ago, there was Monmouth, there was flat white selling Monmouth and there was Fernandez and Wells selling Monmouth and that was it. Coffee tour was over in a flash in one of the most cosmopolitan city’s in the world. At this time the hub of the UK was on the Halifax, Huddersfield area, one that that was way ahead of London (just look at the northern heats compared to the canceled London UKBC).

If you Go to Scarborough, or Leeds, or Liverpool, or even Manchester now (for years a black hole of coffee culture) or Derby, Burton, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, York (and there are many more) there is at least one place to go to get a great coffee experience. But you have to look for them and often these people are just tring to run there business and don’t have time (or inclination) to create a scene.

I get tired of the “only good place is London blah, blah” its as boring as the other international destinations I’ve heard the same of (Vancouver, Copenhagen, Portland etc). This is not the fault of people doing great things in these city’s, to the contrary its because of them they have these powerful emerging coffee shops and roasters. Its also that a press is very city centered, take a look at the independents 50 best coffee shops, they seem to agree that most of the best are in London.

I tip my hat to everyone that makes these places stand out on the coffee maps of the world, but they quite often either spread the word effectively or empower there customers to do so and build a strong tribe that spread the word for them. Armed with a press that listens (and is normally a tube ride away) and these powerful advocates you can see why it happens.

But I know I haven’t been to 1% of the coffee shops in London village, let alone the many outside, so I cant write off every coffee shop, on what is or isn’t being done in them. So often we judge a coffee shop by the coffee roaster they use, or the machine and grinder they make it on or the decor they have fitted out their store with. The barista doesn’t seem matter so much how much care attention and pride they put into their shots. I bet you in every town there is someone who wants to make better coffee, I bet you in every chain store there is some one with the passion for better coffee that just doesn’t know it exists.

Don’t moan or grown that there isn’t a “scene” in your town but get off your backside and make that scene happen, organise something go into the coffee shops in your local town and speak to the baristas and see if they would be interested. Post blogs that inspire people in your local area I don’t know anything to drum up support.

Of course you could just move to London.

"Written on March 11th, 2010 | Posted in Thoughts | 5 Comments »

Has Bean Meet Up

".......this time we have a plan, something that will make you want to come along.........."

So its that time of year again when we want to have a get together, meet up with you our friends and drink some coffee together. The last ones we have done have been fairly informal affairs, chat coffee and off. But this time we have a plan, something that will make you want to come along. We also know that is going to be over subscribed this time, there is limited places with something that will be very exciting.

Its going to be in Stafford, its going to be at the roastery, and its going to be a 11pm till 4 pm learning and mix up fest.

There will be two courses (two maybe three). This will be on making espresso, steaming milk and putting it all together. Now I am no barista that we can be sure of that, so I’ve roped in the 2009 Irish Barista Champion and 2009 4th placed finalist from the World Barista Championships, and the newly crowned UK Barista 2010 Champion and 2009 UK Latte Art champion and 6th placed from the 2009 world latte art championships. Not one but two national champions. The programme will be firmed up closer to the date. But it will be an espresso fest.

Now we only have two espresso machines to do this on, so we need to keep numbers to a minimum. So when its full it full, there is a waiting list once it fills up. You need to go to this site here and RSVP as soon as possible. The price is £10 for the day, but you will leave with £10 worth of coffee at least, and also drink oodles worth of espresso, the price is more to make sure people turn up, again because of the limited space, a financial commitment always helps sort the people who may come, and will come. I’m afraid we cant allow guests with attendees because of space we just can’t accommodate them.

So should be fun, an experience like this would normally cost many many times and you wouldn’t get the coffee goodie bag at the end.

We look forwards to seeing you.

"Written on March 7th, 2010 | Posted in News | 4 Comments »

UK Barista Championships

"....John has often not gone for the easy safe options, he has pushed the boundary's of what is thought should be done and at the same time pushed my boundary's as a roaster to try things I would have normally written off...."

This was something I didn’t want to post about until the dust had settled and the euphoria has died down. Just enough time for it all to settle in and enjoy the moment.

I got a little excited about the whole thing (as I do with barista competition), but I think Monday now seems like a world away and enough time has past.

We are pleased to announce to those not embroiled in the coffee world and who may not have heard that Mr John Gordon of Gorilla Tampers and Square Mile Roasters won this years United Kingdom Barista Championship with the most amazing of scores using Has Bean Coffee for his competition blend.

We are proud to have worked with john for the last two years developing and roasting competition coffee blends. John and Jess have become amazing friends, and we love working together.

We are particularly proud as John, as he has often not gone for the easy safe options, he has pushed the boundary’s of what is thought should be done and at the same time pushed my boundary’s as a roaster to try things I would have normally written off. I’m sure something that will improve me as a roaster so improve your experience as a customer.

In the finals John scored 687 which is HUGE, he also won best espresso, best cappuccino and best signature drink. Again for the uninitiated he swept everything, but the standard was so high that it was no run away. Well done to every one who competed, but of course to John.

A special well done to Jess, Johns partner trainer, sounding board and rock, Jess has been amazing getting John to be the UK barista champion (that still sounds weird) and deserves all the plaudits she has received since.

An interesting stat that I didn’t really think about until some one said, was we have roasted the coffee for three of the past five UK champions and for a tiny company like ours that’s very pleasing and bewildering. But the main reason for it is that we work with some amazingly talented baristas who are at the top of there craft. We just brown the beans they do the magic, and I’m grateful they let us along for the ride.

So what next? Well, I’m are pleased that the UK’s are out the way, time to let that dust settle and chat with John about our next steps. But we hope we will be kicking on for the WBC.

It also is time for me to start thinking about the Irish championships as we are working with Colin Harmon of Third floor espresso (3fe) again this year, competition season is always hard work but always fun.

But for now look at the video where we found and made John Gordon

Tamper Tantrum Special with John Gordon from Stephen Leighton on Vimeo.

"Written on March 4th, 2010 | Posted in News | 1 Comment »

Brazil Fazenda Terramater

"........its got the most interesting back story, and the most interesting character involved in the sub plot......"

We are in the midst of Brazil heaven, so many delicious Brazil’s are arriving now.

But this one is a little different, its got the most interesting back story, and the most interesting character involved in the sub plot.

you can read (and buy) it here

I don’t think I do it justice in this 5 min Audioboo and I will do an In My Mug on this one some time soon, but with the Brazil’s on the last episode I don’t want to just do another, so maybe Brazil break this week. So look at this as an aperitif, a soupcon of information to prepare you for that main course when its cooked, here is my rambling thoughts on it.

"Written on March 3rd, 2010 | Posted in New Coffees | No Comments »

The Window, Norwich

"...its not in a big flash swish cool city, but its perfect for where it is..."

If you haven’t seen this weeks in my mug, I insist you watch it now one of my favourites I think I’ve recorded.

I insist so much its below WATCH NOW !!!

So the reason for the post is not simply to proclaim that I like a video of myself running between coffee trees, but the location. The location is a new shop called “The Window” and is the tiniest shop I have ever been in. Small but perfectly formed and a growing bread of cosy coffee shops that do great coffee but in tandom force people to make a great community.

As a society I think we talk to each other far less, and we are told from a young age not to talk to strangers. But as a famous Bros song (I Quit) once said “Most of my friends were strangers when I met them” (did I really use a bros song as a quote) so to make new friends at some point you have to speak to a stranger. There is something about sharing a table or a bench that makes you talk to people you would normally not speak to.

This has been shown to work at The Espresso London and at 3FE in Dublin and now there is a new contender of The Window.

Based in Norwich its not in a big flash swish cool city, but its perfect for where it is. Based in 25 Wensum Street, they still manage to do your expected espresso based drinks along with pour-over single estates, bean sales, aeropress and a range of hand made cakes from a local baker, who is also a friend and regular customer.

An amazing space and an amazing shop doing really great things. Pop in and say hi to Hayley if your ever in the area.