Stopped here for on our way up north last week. I ordered a latte and was amazed when it was served with a latte art rosetta on top (I was half expecting to get a coffee made with the usual indifference that one can get at service stations and topped with the usual big bubbles). I decided to sit where I could watch the barista at work. Before making each coffee he flushed the grouphead with hot water; beans were freshly ground straight into the portafilter; coffee levelled and tamped with a proper tamper and not the plastic plunger thingy on the side of many grinders; milk heated without the use of a temp gauge (impressed me anyway!); jug tapped on surface; lovely velvety microfoam achieved; latte art skilfully poured and presented with pride. Delicious! Despite the queue, the same level of care was applied to each cup made - and judging by customers’ smiles it was appreciated.
Before posting I did a search in this forum to see if Newport Pagnell was listed and discovered that one of the semi-finalists in the UKBC 2009 was Alex Redgate of Welcome Break, Northbound Newport Pagnell Services, in the Primo Lounge. Must have been him! The boy deserves a pay rise - I must contact their customer services.