Website: www.fitzbillies.com
Corner of Trumpington and Pembroke Streets
Fare: coffee, pastries, afternoon tea, desserts, sandwiches, dinner
Price: £
Service Tips: one side is the cafe, other side is the bakery counter and table service; all takeaway espresso drinks are 8 oz
Fitzbillies is a must for any student staying anywhere near Trumpington Street, especially if it's early in the morning and you're desperate for a caffeine fix. Fortunately, your nearest coffee shop, aka this one, is fabulous. To be fair, Caffé Nero is a bit less expensive and more spacious, but you have to go to Fitzbillies at least once, and I highly recommend being there between 8:45 and 9AM when the chelsea buns are made available. Rumor has it that you might be able to get one while it's still warm from the oven, although this doesn't always work, and if you get there too early, they may not have them at all. For the uninformed, chelsea buns are like sticky buns, except they have thinner dough, so there are more spirals to fill with cinnamon-y goodness, plus they're packed with currants. The syrup tastes like it might be sweetened with honey. In other words, it's the perfect complement to a cup of coffee, although it is not for the faint of heart.
As far as the coffee goes, their espresso drinks are all pretty well done, and they actually serve iced coffee all year round. Word to the wise: all of their drinks come in one size, but the size is specific to the drink, so if you want a smaller espresso + milk beverage, you should order a cappuccino, and if you want a larger espresso + milk beverage, you should order a latte. That works if you're staying in, but all takeaway drinks appear to be 8 oz. The jury is still out on what exactly a flat white is, at least Fitzbillies-style. Whatever it is, it looks and tastes identical with a cappuccino, so let me know if you discern its true nature.
As food goes, their grilled cheeses make a great takeaway option, and their scones are pretty good. All of their food prices go up pretty quickly if you're staying in, so don't be too surprised if you end up spending an extra pound or two that way. Generally, it will be a little more expensive than some places, but it's a nice spot and the coffee and food rarely disappoint.
Showing posts with label coffee shops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee shops. Show all posts
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Caffe Nero *Needs Revising*
Website: www.caffenero.com
King's Parade / Market Street
Fare: coffee, tea, pastries, desserts, sandwiches, juice, smoothies, hot chocolate
Price: £
Service Tips: leave dishes on table, water is self-serve, whoever takes your order will also ring you up, make sure to ask for milk when you order, sizes are regular (12oz) and grande
Caffé Nero is basically the place where you will live in the morning if you happen to require coffee and like working in coffee shops. As a general rule, we all like the one on King's Parade better -- they're just nicer and seem less stressed, plus the one on Market Street manages to feel really cluttered, even though it's much more spacious. The americanos are cheap (£2.10 for a regular to have in), and if you're a big coffee drinker, they have a frequent buyer stamp card so you can get your tenth coffee free.
If you like to enjoy your coffee shops in peace and quiet, try going in before 10. They start filling up with students and friends who are meeting up around that time, and it can get pretty noisy. Ultimately, unless you're a serious coffee snob, go to Caffé Nero, because they won't mess up your coffee, and it's a million times better than Starbucks.
King's Parade / Market Street
Fare: coffee, tea, pastries, desserts, sandwiches, juice, smoothies, hot chocolate
Price: £
Service Tips: leave dishes on table, water is self-serve, whoever takes your order will also ring you up, make sure to ask for milk when you order, sizes are regular (12oz) and grande
Caffé Nero is basically the place where you will live in the morning if you happen to require coffee and like working in coffee shops. As a general rule, we all like the one on King's Parade better -- they're just nicer and seem less stressed, plus the one on Market Street manages to feel really cluttered, even though it's much more spacious. The americanos are cheap (£2.10 for a regular to have in), and if you're a big coffee drinker, they have a frequent buyer stamp card so you can get your tenth coffee free.
If you like to enjoy your coffee shops in peace and quiet, try going in before 10. They start filling up with students and friends who are meeting up around that time, and it can get pretty noisy. Ultimately, unless you're a serious coffee snob, go to Caffé Nero, because they won't mess up your coffee, and it's a million times better than Starbucks.
Hot Numbers Coffee
Website: www.hotnumberscoffee.co.uk
Dales Brewery, Gwydir Street (just off Mill Rd, south of Parker's Piece)
Fare: house roasted coffees, tea, Fitzbillies pastries, breakfast, sandwiches, bottled drinks, wine & beer
Price Range: £-££
Service Tips: leave dishes at table
Reviewers Tried: 8 oz. cappuccino (Brazil Sertaozinho); iced latte; porridge w/ prunes & honey
This little coffee shop is a bit of a walk, but if you have the time and you love seriously good coffee, Hot Numbers is a gem and well worth the effort. First of all, they're an independent small batch coffee roaster -- music to my ears, anyway. They've incorporated that into quite a nice menu, where you can actually choose from one of three different single origin espressos, served as a 2, 4, 8, or 10 oz. americano or traditional cappuccino. They also offer another roast for "filter" coffees, in this case, not drip coffee, but rather a choice of aeropress, syphon, or pour over. For those who are inclined to have their coffee over ice, that's also an option, and they even shake their iced lattes, which doesn't necessarily accomplish anything special, but the end result looks pretty. You can even get a single origin decaf there, which is a feat in and of itself.
The cafe itself looks like a great place to work, with a couple of large wooden tables meant for group work (if you've been to Fitzbillies, it's like the long table they have on the cafe side, except that Hot Numbers has at least four of those, and they look like they can far more comfortably accommodate a large group). It's nice and sunny with the big front window, and they double as an art gallery, so you can peruse the collection or just enjoy the ambiance of a clean, artsy cafe that knows how to make your coffee right. Plus, they serve Fitzbillies' pastries, so if you want all the goodness without all the crowdedness, Hot Numbers is the place to go.
Dales Brewery, Gwydir Street (just off Mill Rd, south of Parker's Piece)
Fare: house roasted coffees, tea, Fitzbillies pastries, breakfast, sandwiches, bottled drinks, wine & beer
Price Range: £-££
Service Tips: leave dishes at table
Reviewers Tried: 8 oz. cappuccino (Brazil Sertaozinho); iced latte; porridge w/ prunes & honey
This little coffee shop is a bit of a walk, but if you have the time and you love seriously good coffee, Hot Numbers is a gem and well worth the effort. First of all, they're an independent small batch coffee roaster -- music to my ears, anyway. They've incorporated that into quite a nice menu, where you can actually choose from one of three different single origin espressos, served as a 2, 4, 8, or 10 oz. americano or traditional cappuccino. They also offer another roast for "filter" coffees, in this case, not drip coffee, but rather a choice of aeropress, syphon, or pour over. For those who are inclined to have their coffee over ice, that's also an option, and they even shake their iced lattes, which doesn't necessarily accomplish anything special, but the end result looks pretty. You can even get a single origin decaf there, which is a feat in and of itself.
The cafe itself looks like a great place to work, with a couple of large wooden tables meant for group work (if you've been to Fitzbillies, it's like the long table they have on the cafe side, except that Hot Numbers has at least four of those, and they look like they can far more comfortably accommodate a large group). It's nice and sunny with the big front window, and they double as an art gallery, so you can peruse the collection or just enjoy the ambiance of a clean, artsy cafe that knows how to make your coffee right. Plus, they serve Fitzbillies' pastries, so if you want all the goodness without all the crowdedness, Hot Numbers is the place to go.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Coffee Shops: How to Not Sound Like an American AND Get What You Want
As a barista who has worked in a variety of different coffee shops, I am keenly aware of the fact that each coffee shop has a different way of doing things, even though the end products are pretty much the same (leaving out important factors like quality, of course). An americano is still just espresso and hot water, whether you're ordering it at an independent place or a chain. But if you're the sort of person who doesn't feel like making a scene just so you can get your morning fix, here are a few things I've picked up along the way.
1. Drip coffee does not exist.
This is not strictly true, or at least, I don't think it is. They have this thing they call "filter coffee," which is what English friends offer up hesitantly any time an American says "drip coffee." As far as I can tell, however, filter coffee is literally any form of coffee brewing that includes a filter, so that could be anything from an aeropress to a French press and maybe even a real coffee maker. Thus far, the hunt for a coffee maker has felt more like a hunt for snipe, and frankly, I'm not all that committed.
Since I'm rambling, what you're probably more interested in is what you'll get instead, and that would be an americano. Unless you know in advance that you loathe americanos, I think you'll come to enjoy this change. If you think about it, you're giving up what was probably stale, old coffee for two freshly ground, freshly pulled shots of espresso in boiling hot water -- unless you hate the pleasant bitterness of a good crema, there's nothing there that's not to love.
2. The difference between "in" and "out" prices is the VAT (and possibly other factors)
It's not uncommon for someone at home to come in to the shop where I work and ask for a to go cup, even if they're planning to sit down, because they might not finish it and it'll keep their coffee warm longer. But here, when you ask for something to take away, it often means that it falls under different tax rules than if you're staying in. I'm guessing that ordering something to take away if you're planning to sit down is frowned upon, although I haven't really tried it, but do try to be respectful of that distinction when you're ordering. It's usually no more than a few pence, the exception being things like chelsea buns, but then they might be taxed differently so... It's odd, but it's just the way things are.
3. You have to ask for milk.
Most places don't put milk out on the counter, so make sure you ask for it when you're ordering. If you're having it in, they'll probably give you a little pitcher of some sort, and if you're taking it out, they'll put it in for you, so if you're super picky, make sure you specify in advance. Speaking of specifying...
4. Your milk choices are skimmed, semi-skimmed, whole, or soya.
I haven't really interviewed any baristas about this sort of thing, but I've never heard anyone use the word "nonfat" here, and I totally eavesdrop on other people's ordering styles. Wait, scratch that, there was a woman who walked into Caffé Nero once and ordered a "large nonfat latte," but she confirms my theory, because she had to repeat herself three times to be understood.
5. Do read menus, and if you're unsure, ask questions.
Different places have different sizes. Some places only have one size, like Fitzbillies. Some places have odd ways of ordering things, like Hot Numbers. It helps if you read the menu beforehand, but sometimes it's just not that clear.
6. "Macchiato" probably doesn't mean what you think it means. (Inconceivable!)
Okay, so maybe you do actually know this, but traditionally, macchiatos are just espresso with a dollop of foam. Technically, it comes from the Italian for "marked," so Starbucks gets away with using the term because, as anyone knows if they've ordered an iced caramel macchiato, the shots are poured on top, and it creates a distinctive color difference between the top and the bottom. The bottom line: if you're expecting at least 8 ounces of beverage when you order a macchiato, you're going to be disappointed. If, however, you like trying new espresso drinks, there's also the espresso con panna, which is even more fun: espresso with whipped cream on top.
7. At most (all?) places, the staff bus your table.
This one was probably the oddest part for me, being used to Panera culture, but it's expected that you leave your dishes on the table when you're done. They're used to it. They're paid better. I still feel weird about it, but maybe that's just my absurd sensitivity.
Hopefully that helps, and hopefully I haven't just stressed you out by making you think about your coffee experience far more than you usually do. I promise, it's really not stressful, and it can be quite novel, at least until it becomes old hat. If you do feel more comfortable going to Starbucks, then that's cool, but I would recommend trying out the other options while you're here, and if you do go to Starbucks, see if they don't have different specialty drinks from the ones available at home. I once got a dark chocolate raspberry frappuccino in Brasil that was heavenly and definitely not an option in the States.
1. Drip coffee does not exist.
This is not strictly true, or at least, I don't think it is. They have this thing they call "filter coffee," which is what English friends offer up hesitantly any time an American says "drip coffee." As far as I can tell, however, filter coffee is literally any form of coffee brewing that includes a filter, so that could be anything from an aeropress to a French press and maybe even a real coffee maker. Thus far, the hunt for a coffee maker has felt more like a hunt for snipe, and frankly, I'm not all that committed.
Since I'm rambling, what you're probably more interested in is what you'll get instead, and that would be an americano. Unless you know in advance that you loathe americanos, I think you'll come to enjoy this change. If you think about it, you're giving up what was probably stale, old coffee for two freshly ground, freshly pulled shots of espresso in boiling hot water -- unless you hate the pleasant bitterness of a good crema, there's nothing there that's not to love.
2. The difference between "in" and "out" prices is the VAT (and possibly other factors)
It's not uncommon for someone at home to come in to the shop where I work and ask for a to go cup, even if they're planning to sit down, because they might not finish it and it'll keep their coffee warm longer. But here, when you ask for something to take away, it often means that it falls under different tax rules than if you're staying in. I'm guessing that ordering something to take away if you're planning to sit down is frowned upon, although I haven't really tried it, but do try to be respectful of that distinction when you're ordering. It's usually no more than a few pence, the exception being things like chelsea buns, but then they might be taxed differently so... It's odd, but it's just the way things are.
3. You have to ask for milk.
Most places don't put milk out on the counter, so make sure you ask for it when you're ordering. If you're having it in, they'll probably give you a little pitcher of some sort, and if you're taking it out, they'll put it in for you, so if you're super picky, make sure you specify in advance. Speaking of specifying...
4. Your milk choices are skimmed, semi-skimmed, whole, or soya.
I haven't really interviewed any baristas about this sort of thing, but I've never heard anyone use the word "nonfat" here, and I totally eavesdrop on other people's ordering styles. Wait, scratch that, there was a woman who walked into Caffé Nero once and ordered a "large nonfat latte," but she confirms my theory, because she had to repeat herself three times to be understood.
5. Do read menus, and if you're unsure, ask questions.
Different places have different sizes. Some places only have one size, like Fitzbillies. Some places have odd ways of ordering things, like Hot Numbers. It helps if you read the menu beforehand, but sometimes it's just not that clear.
6. "Macchiato" probably doesn't mean what you think it means. (Inconceivable!)
Okay, so maybe you do actually know this, but traditionally, macchiatos are just espresso with a dollop of foam. Technically, it comes from the Italian for "marked," so Starbucks gets away with using the term because, as anyone knows if they've ordered an iced caramel macchiato, the shots are poured on top, and it creates a distinctive color difference between the top and the bottom. The bottom line: if you're expecting at least 8 ounces of beverage when you order a macchiato, you're going to be disappointed. If, however, you like trying new espresso drinks, there's also the espresso con panna, which is even more fun: espresso with whipped cream on top.
7. At most (all?) places, the staff bus your table.
This one was probably the oddest part for me, being used to Panera culture, but it's expected that you leave your dishes on the table when you're done. They're used to it. They're paid better. I still feel weird about it, but maybe that's just my absurd sensitivity.
Hopefully that helps, and hopefully I haven't just stressed you out by making you think about your coffee experience far more than you usually do. I promise, it's really not stressful, and it can be quite novel, at least until it becomes old hat. If you do feel more comfortable going to Starbucks, then that's cool, but I would recommend trying out the other options while you're here, and if you do go to Starbucks, see if they don't have different specialty drinks from the ones available at home. I once got a dark chocolate raspberry frappuccino in Brasil that was heavenly and definitely not an option in the States.
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