Week beginning April 1st - UK Barista Championships Heats

Our own lead barista, Shaun Young, competed on Monday the 1st in the Chester heats of the UK Barista Championships. This was his first time in a competition of this type and he has been working tirelessly with our other baristas and management team and importantly Chef Jared to put together his routine.

If you are unaware, the routine consists of producing four cappuccinos,  four espressos and four of his own signature drinks within a fifteen minute time frame in front of four sensory judges and two technical judges. At stake is a place in the semi finals, the top 20 of the U.K., at the London Coffee Festival at the end of April and the chance to be crowned U.K. Barista champion.

Shaun chose a coffee from our roasters  Square Mile, a single origin from Brazil called Tijuco Preto. Displaying notes of baked apple and hazelnuts, he presented his espresso firstly as de constructed with an infusion of baked apples, cinnamon and spices in a  small sealable jar on a slate tile.

In his home town of Chester, Shaun did very very well indeed and while not winning the heat overall, was awarded best signature drink on the day and he is now ranked number 8 in the U.K. going into the finals and is the highest scoring new comer in the entire competition, which if he retains that title, means he will win a trip to Rwanda courtesy of Union coffee. An excellent, excellent performnance, very well supported by our manager Claire and senior barista and Polish Cup tasting champion, Blazej 'Blaze Stempin.

We are now in the midst of preparations for the finals on the 27th of April, with more practice routines in the evenings, a new coffee, this time from Drop Coffee in Stockholm and a new signature drink.

Watch this space and twitter for more updates.

Please enjoy the menu, as we have enjoyed putting it together for you.

Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 3.50
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 3.50
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.70 (add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.90
Ciabatta roll with courgette omelette, rocket and tomato salsa 4.90
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.90
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 4.00
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Coffee, cherry and walnut toast 2.30
Banana bread 2.40

Porridge - Served with rhubarb and raspberry compote, chopped nuts, muscovado sugar, golden syrup or honey 3.00

Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.80
Pain au chocolat 2.40
Almond croissants 2.80

Baked Treats
Sweet Muffins: Rhubarb, almond and white chocolate 2.20
Savoury Scone: Caramelized red onion and goats cheese 2.20
Chocolate and orange friands 2.20
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.40
White chocolate blondies 2.40
Portuguese tarts 2.00
ANZAC cookies 1.80
Afgan cookies 1.80

Lunch
Soup: carrot, chilli and ginger 4.50

French retro baguettes 4.90
Mozzarella, tomato, basil, aioli, spinach
Smoked salmon, lime cream cheese, cucumber, Thai basil, rocket

Foccacias 5.00
Ham, glazed apricots, brie, spinach
Sumac sweet potato, mature cheddar, red onion jam, rocket

Salads: 5.50/6.50
Spiced corned beef, gherkin, pickled onion, hot mustard dressing, new potatoes
Blood orange, feta, yellow chillies, rosemary, rocket, honey
Edamame with buckthorn and sea purslane dressing

Tart: 4.00 or 7.50 with salad
Chicken, sweet corn and ramson pie