This is what I remember. It was perhaps early 2009 (but I cannot be sure), it was at Gwilym Davies' coffee cart at Columbia Road Flower Market and one of the baristas was making coffee, again my memory fades on who it was, but they were talking about coffee to a customer and the importance of flavours and extractions and the palette and Gwilym over heard and said in a loud, happy voice 'but does it have balance!? It must have balance!'.
That is all I remember, that little snippet of information for the person who went onto become, or perhaps already was, the World Barista Champion, in the setting of an outdoor coffee cart in East London.
Balance. It is such a great word and descriptor for everything, because when you have balance, you can probably also say it is perfect.
Then I read the Coffee Boys book '52 guaranteed ways to make a profit'. One of the stand out items in there for me was outline of the five senses; touch, hearing, taste, sound and feel and how this affects, or disaffects, your business. Because if all the five senses are stimulated in the same way, evenly, with balance, then the experience of the guest will be perfect. That is the music is just right for the time of day, the food looks great, the decor is pleasing to the eye, the smells from the kitchen and the coffee machine are stimulating and delicious, the feel of the tables, chairs, the counter top brings pleasure. Everything is balanced.
Then we also talk about the staff who work there, but do not forget the employer or owner too, and having a balanced work/personal lifestyle. Too much work is too much, too little and you go crazy, having some home time, some escape time, but also being stimulated and challenged in the workplace, but not challenged too much. Quite simply having a balanced working environment that fits in with their (your) balanced lifestyle.
I don't think I need to further talk about a balanced diet, but as we all know, a balanced diet is a balanced lifestyle.
We could go on and on about it. But for me it still goes back to that those two small sentences that a World Barista Champion shouted out on a cold Sunday morning and leads into everything that I try and do.
It was also the realisation at that moment, that all we are looking for in a cup of coffee (and therefore life in general), the most simple and perfect description of all when you are trying to describe the way a coffee tastes, or makes you feel is- 'but does it have balance?!"
Incredible really isn't it?
Please enjoy the menu this week, for the next three weeks in the lead up to Christmas we have our Mince Pies back on in both shops. This year each Chef has come up with their own recipe. Chef Khan in Great Titchfield and Chef Flavio in Eastcastle.
Please also remember, we close for renovations from 6 pm on the 23rd December and re-open on the 18th January. Eastcastle street will open for business on December 28, 29, 30 then from January 4th onwards.
Peter Dore-Smith
Director
Kaffeine
Great Titchfield Street Menu
That is all I remember, that little snippet of information for the person who went onto become, or perhaps already was, the World Barista Champion, in the setting of an outdoor coffee cart in East London.
Balance. It is such a great word and descriptor for everything, because when you have balance, you can probably also say it is perfect.
Then I read the Coffee Boys book '52 guaranteed ways to make a profit'. One of the stand out items in there for me was outline of the five senses; touch, hearing, taste, sound and feel and how this affects, or disaffects, your business. Because if all the five senses are stimulated in the same way, evenly, with balance, then the experience of the guest will be perfect. That is the music is just right for the time of day, the food looks great, the decor is pleasing to the eye, the smells from the kitchen and the coffee machine are stimulating and delicious, the feel of the tables, chairs, the counter top brings pleasure. Everything is balanced.
Then we also talk about the staff who work there, but do not forget the employer or owner too, and having a balanced work/personal lifestyle. Too much work is too much, too little and you go crazy, having some home time, some escape time, but also being stimulated and challenged in the workplace, but not challenged too much. Quite simply having a balanced working environment that fits in with their (your) balanced lifestyle.
I don't think I need to further talk about a balanced diet, but as we all know, a balanced diet is a balanced lifestyle.
We could go on and on about it. But for me it still goes back to that those two small sentences that a World Barista Champion shouted out on a cold Sunday morning and leads into everything that I try and do.
It was also the realisation at that moment, that all we are looking for in a cup of coffee (and therefore life in general), the most simple and perfect description of all when you are trying to describe the way a coffee tastes, or makes you feel is- 'but does it have balance?!"
Incredible really isn't it?
Please enjoy the menu this week, for the next three weeks in the lead up to Christmas we have our Mince Pies back on in both shops. This year each Chef has come up with their own recipe. Chef Khan in Great Titchfield and Chef Flavio in Eastcastle.
Please also remember, we close for renovations from 6 pm on the 23rd December and re-open on the 18th January. Eastcastle street will open for business on December 28, 29, 30 then from January 4th onwards.
Peter Dore-Smith
Director
Kaffeine
Great Titchfield Street Menu
Breakfast
Seven Seeded toast with butter and preserves 2.00
Cinnamon and Raisin Toast 2.50
Seven Seeded toast with butter and preserves 2.00
Cinnamon and Raisin Toast 2.50
Traditional bircher muesli with Greek yoghurt and rhubarb and raspberry compote 4.00
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses, Greek yoghurt and rhubarb and raspberry compote 4.00
Fruit salad with pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passion fruit 3.90
Ciabatta roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 5.00
Ciabatta roll with avocado, omelette, rocket and tomato salsa 5.00
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach and plum tomatoes 5.00
Breakfast Foccacia - Cotechino sausage, fried egg and gruyere cheese 6.50 (weekends only)
Porridge with condiments - golden syrup, honey, dried fruit, chopped nuts 3.00
Porridge with condiments - golden syrup, honey, dried fruit, chopped nuts 3.00
Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissant 2.00
Pain au chocolat 2.50
Almond croissant 2.80
Baked Treats
Mince Pies - Kaffeines' own mix - only 12 made per day 2.50
Mince Pies - Kaffeines' own mix - only 12 made per day 2.50
Sweet muffin: Dried apricot soaked in sherry and dark chocolate 2.50
Savoury Scones: Roasted red pepper and cream cheese 2.50
Friand: Raspberry and peanut butter (gf) 2.70
Super moist chocolate brownies (gf) 2.80
White chocolate blondies 2.80
Portuguese tarts 2.00
ANZAC cookies 2.00
Double chocolate chip and macadamia cookies 2.50
Raspberry and coconut slice 2.50
Double chocolate chip and macadamia cookies 2.50
Raspberry and coconut slice 2.50
Almond and custard slice 2.80
Banana bread 2.50
Lamingtons 3.50 (last Thurs, Fri and Sat of the month only)
Banana bread 2.50
Lamingtons 3.50 (last Thurs, Fri and Sat of the month only)
Lunch
Soup 4.50
Thai butternut squash with ginger and coconut milk
Soup 4.50
Thai butternut squash with ginger and coconut milk
French retro baguettes 5.30
Ham, cranberry jam, avocado, gruyere cheese, baby spinach
Grilled courgette, roasted red pepper, goat's cheese, coriander pesto, rocket
Foccacias 5.50
Crispy pancetta, roasted artichoke, aioli, camembert cheese, rocket
Roasted aubergine, red onion, cheese fondue, tomato salsa, baby spinach
Salads: 5.50/6.90
Roasted chicken salad with blanched green bean, savoy cabbage, roasted carrot, three mustard sauce and mushroom, chives
Heritage tomatoes salad with buffalo mozzarella, thyme and lemon dressing, rocket
Roasted cauliflower with fresh peas and green pesto
Tart: 4.40 or 8.00 with salads
Leek and mushroom with pecorino cheese
Eastcastle Street Menu
Breakfast
Sourdough Seeded Toast with butter and preserves 2.00
Gluten free bagel with butter and preserves 2.00
Sourdough Seeded Toast with butter and preserves 2.00
Gluten free bagel with butter and preserves 2.00
Traditional bircher muesli with Greek yoghurt and rhubarb and raspberry compote 4.00
Paleo granola with Greek yoghurt and rhubarb and raspberry compote 4.00
Fruit salad with pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes and passion fruit 3.90
Poppy seed brioche with courgette omelette, spinach, gruyere cheese, mushrooms and tomato salsa 5.00
Poppy seed brioche with treacle smoked back bacon, roasted tomatoes, avocado, rocket and aioli 5.00
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach and plum tomatoes 5.00
Croissant with smoked salmon, scrambled egg, tomato, rocket 5.00
Porridge with a selection of condiments (dried fruit, chopped nuts, honey, golden syrup) 3.00
Porridge with a selection of condiments (dried fruit, chopped nuts, honey, golden syrup) 3.00
Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissant 2.00
Pain au chocolat 2.50
Almond croissant 2.80
Baked Treats
Mince Pies - Kaffeines' own mix - only 12 made per day 2.50
Mince Pies - Kaffeines' own mix - only 12 made per day 2.50
Muffins - Blueberry 2.50
Savoury - Courgette, pecorino and honey 2.50
Super moist chocolate brownies (gf) 2.80
Blueberry, banana and nut cake with vanilla icing 2.50
Gluten free and dairy free protein bar 2.80
Blueberry, banana and nut cake with vanilla icing 2.50
Gluten free and dairy free protein bar 2.80
Vanilla, popcorn and caramel tarts 2.90
Banana bread 2.50
ANZACS 2.00
White chocolate, oats and cranberry cookies 2.00
Portuguese tarts 2.00
Raspberry and coconut slice 2.50
ANZACS 2.00
White chocolate, oats and cranberry cookies 2.00
Portuguese tarts 2.00
Raspberry and coconut slice 2.50
Lunch
Soup - Roasted ham in honey & spices and Jerusalem artichokes served with Gruyere cheese bun
Brioche 5.00
Poppy seeds Brioche with Italian roast ham, chilli cream cheese, spinach, tomato and red onion.
Baguettes 5.30
Soup - Roasted ham in honey & spices and Jerusalem artichokes served with Gruyere cheese bun
Brioche 5.00
Poppy seeds Brioche with Italian roast ham, chilli cream cheese, spinach, tomato and red onion.
Baguettes 5.30
Aubergine and mushrooms, Dijon , Gruyere, rocket and thyme red pepper sauce.
Plum tomato, mozzarella, roasted courgette, spinach & basil pesto.
Salads 5.50 / 7.00
Grilled chicken, spinach, cherry tomatoes, white wine crackers, pancetta, scallions & parmesan peppered dressing.
Blanched purple sprout broccoli, baby carrots, red onions, sesame seeds & kale nutmeg sauce.
Roasted mix peppers with spiced olives tapenade, red pesto and sour cream
Savoury Tart 4.40 or 8.00 with salads
Savoury tart with roasted aubergine, sun dried tomatoes, peppers and pecorino cream pastry
