AAAhhahhahah!
Fantastic!
I'm in Leeds for 3 days of research. I've brought up my Chemex and some luvverly fresh roast, presuming that I wasn't going to find owt worth the mention whilst up here.
Then... suddenly... walking through the Victoria quarter... I saw a sign. On a stall. Advertising SO coffee - can't remember if it was advertising SO filter, or SO espresso. I think the latter; but anyhows, enough to make me think 'hmm, this may not be your usual bogshite.' And... gosh... they had a Synesso behind the counter... Unlike the stall just down the way, which SEEMED to be advertising their own fresh-roast, put through a fully auto
So I hovered. And had a look at the menu. And the first thing that struck me was - cor, a place that's brave enough to offer filter! Not because they don't know what they're doing, and filter only requires stale-ground plus a filter machine; but because filter can be decent too! And... WHAT?! A menu of SO coffees, available for fresh-ground filter?! That's something you don't see every day! Well, tbh, it's something you don't see AT ALL in Cambridge.
Then I thought I'd really take a punt, and ask if he knew what was in the espresso blend. And he did!!! Couuntry of origin, farm name, crop year, and balance of the blend
And then he pulled out a little label with 'Square Mile Winter Espresso Blend' on it, and I thought 'double ahhh! F***ing hell! Absolute bonus!"
HOWEVAH. Having put quite a bit of SQMWEB through my home machines, I opted for the El Salvador La Ilusion; cheaper than priced, as it's a no-longer-CoE bean. He didn't need to mention that, so fair play to him for charging what he should've done! Delighted to see a place offering BOTH HB and SQM n all
And the cup was a corker
Darker and stronger than I'd usually brew - he said he aims for 2.5mins with 20-25g for a cup. That's not far off what I've got into the habit of using for a 3-5 cup Chemex. Which is - obv - quite a lot more coffee
Oh, and it was only after I'd ordered that I saw the '2nd place in NE England / Midlands UK Barista Championships heat'
All in all, a really really nice surprise, and an absolute bonus of an experience
Lovely bloke behind the counter n all
I'm not VERY based in Leeds over the next 3 days, but I reckon I'll try to give him another shot