Postcards from London

admin

As some of you may know, Over Extracted is one of Sydney's most experienced baristas, and has been working in London for a couple of years now. His thread 'Postcards' was great reading, but unfortunately it dropped off when we changed web platform.

He has agreed to continue updating us on things happening in London, with a new "Postcards" thread, which is great, especially in the lead-up to the World Barista Champs in London!

A

over_extracted

Hi Admin and a big hello to everyone in Oz , I will be posting very soon on the updates here in London. Just got back from OS and managed to get stuck in Madrid for over 1 week due to the Volcano in Iceland.... Lots to write about,,,were do I start. see you soon. OE ;D

DoubleRistretto

Hi OE - i've always enjoyed your updates - can't wait for the latest instalment! dR

admin

Hi OE - would be great to give any updates from what's happening with the upcoming World champs in London - either as part of this thread or in Barista News/Comps! cheers A

Koffee_Kosmo

I loved reading Postcards from London through the eyes of Over_Extracted So this is a push and a prod type of post to ask for a postcard KK

over_extracted

Hi all. Thank you for your posts, its been quite busy here in London over the last few weeks, finding some personal time to do things we want some times is a little hard. Thank you A. for having PFL back on again,you know how much I like writing to you guys and informing on the latest coffee/espresso news and gossip from the Uk , I am also glad to be back so I can write about my travel experiences within Europe. Admin, I have saved all the posts from my old Post card thread ,so if anyone wants to read some of the previous posts I will be happy to email them. The big news is the World Barista Championships are in London this year and YES Overextracted has his entry pass to cafe Culture [glow=red,2,300]http://www.caffeculture.com/[/glow]  in his pocket waiting for the day to arrive. The WBC  [glow=red,2,300]http://www.worldbaristachampionship.com/[/glow] will be held within the doors of this ever growing show, the good news is that you guys will be able to see the action live ;D ...Continued next post

over_extracted

As the show will have live streaming [glow=red,2,300]http://www.worldbaristachampionship.com/2010-go-live[/glow] So guys I think this is the best idea other than a double shot flatwhite at 6am ;D. Who will win this year,who knows the quality of the Baristas is extremely good. Please go to the websites, I have placed the links, have a look at how much the show has grown over the last few years,The coffee Industry is still growing at a great pace here in the UK. Not only do we have Cafe Culture here in London, but we also have the anual Bath coffee festival [glow=red,2,300]http://www.bathcoffeefestival.co.uk/[/glow] Not as big as Cafe Culture but the Bath coffee festival (which is on this weekend and due to work I cannot go >:( ) is growing in size year after year. The town of Bath is a great location......continues.....

over_extracted

For this type of event, it has lots of history(the Romans were there long time ago) but its the coble stone streets and the shop facades and the gardens that make this the ideal place. Dont know if any of you have been there,but its a great place. I must say, the coffee high st stores are "picking" up their game with the quality of their coffee, since the FlatWhite was launched a few months ago at StarBucks and  Costa [glow=red,2,300][glow=red,2,300] http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/mar/04/costa-coffee-flat-white[/glow] http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/time-to-wake-up-and-smell-the-flat-white-1776213.html[/glow] This topic is what I will be sharing with you on my return. See You. OE

admin

HI OE - great to hear from you again; have you heard much in the media about the upcoming World Barista Championships? If so, would be great to get an update... cheers A

over_extracted

Hi all. I have not seen or heard anything on Tv,Newspapers ect... Quite sad, as the London baristas want to be noticed . More to come stay tuned... OE

over_extracted

Hi all. While on a Oz web site I run into this. Man, I would love to try the coffee at Mecca. http://www.yourrestaurants.com.au/user/lists/public/?action=view&list_title=yourrestaurants-guide-to-sydney's-best-coffee&profile_list_id=3750 OE ;D

over_extracted

Hi all. Flat White.... Aka, flattie, Flatious Whiteous(Latin ;D) A milk based coffee served in a demitasse/porcelain cup, consisting of 25- 30mls of espresso coffee topped with heated textured milk to within 1/2+- cm from the rim. The finished product should be a milky style of berverage with a slight head of creamy velvet texture. Well this is Overextracted definition of a Flat White coffee, I would guess we all have our own. The British have adopted our own Flat White to their hearts, we can now have one at StarBucks, Cafe Nero, Costa and many small independent coffee shops. Our own Flat White has so far increased sales at chain stores,  making it a permanent featured berverage. Baristas in these venues need training, but I have encountered the occasional store were the Barista has his milk texturing technique mastered and the finished product was very well made. This, can only get better, I have been here nearly 4 years now and have seen BIG CHANGES in Barista skill levels. With time and comitment these skills will benefit customers and cafe owners, as better quality products will be made. SO... Who Invented the Flat White  ??? ??? Little is known as to the origin of the Flat White coffee, But one thing is true,  it either Originated in Australia or New Zealand. I remember back in the late 80's and early 90's customers would order a Flat White, in those days there were at least 3 different ways of making it. But i guess they were the days our flourishing and world renowned coffee Industry was being born. I remember in my Kings Queens and coffee beans article (found here) [glow=red,2,300]http://espressomundo.blogspot.com/ [/glow] . I did mention that we were going to rebolutionaze the coffee industry, and that the Australian barista was the best export we ever gave the Uk. We can all prove that now, as we are starting to see our efforts and inovation pay off,  We as a coffee community have brought to the coffee industry in foreing countries, fresh ideas and a helping hand in developing their own community. I am very happy, and all of you should be as well, in being part of this exciting development. OE

askthecoffeeguy

many thanks for you update OE now its time to revolutionise the australian coffee market by putting speciality coffee on the map in a way that says wake p and take notice! I would love to get to the UK and share in a piece of the action! Oh well... maybe next year... Pat

over_extracted

Hi Pat You are right bang on it mate. We Australian's I believe have one of the most advanced coffee cultures on the planet. There is no doubt that we love our coffee ,we show it, not only by our professionalism but most important by our inovation. I would love to see more specialist coffee on the market, but more than that, more specialist coffee shops. I would assume that Mecca in Sydney is on the right track,  by what I read. We need to take the market one step further- forward, we can do that, and show the world. As we can all see by what I wrote on my last post regarding Flat White coffee, when we do something unique, because we have such a high reputation the world takes notice. OE

over_extracted

Hi all. Well the scientific community keeps on breaking new studies, with articles like this here at the BBC. [glow=red,2,300]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/10350373.stm[/glow] Hope this makes for a good weekend reading. More to come, Cafe culture and the WBC countdown next week. OE

admin

hi mate - thanks for this; always great to get your updates! cheers A

over_extracted

Hi all Please find the list of competitors for this years WBC on this link. [glow=red,2,300]http://www.caffeculture.com/page.cfm/Link=207/t=m/goSection=36[/glow] Lets hope Australia shinnes this year, the competition is hot,but we can do it.. OE

over_extracted

Hi all. Well today Friday 25th June 2010 will be a day for myself to remember. Not only did I have a fantastic day at this years Cafe Culture but also had the pleasure of viewing the world Barista Championship for 2010 held at London's Olympia exhibition center. The results were. Michael Phillips, USA 706 points Raul Rodas, Guatemala 691 points Our own... Scottie Callaghan, Australia 659.5 points Scott had a fantastic event, and had a big following. More info at the WBC website, but be careful, the results have a typo ;D OE

over_extracted

The event was fantastic, with live steaming of the hot action seen all over the event on HD Tv. The event had a celebrity feel, with music and color lights on show , while the competitors were in action. There were over 200 exhibitors this year, making this show one of the largest in the EU. During the end of the show,I happen to meet up with Paul Bassett and Charles Stephens from Espresso company Australia. It was a great encounter, I have not seen these 2 for over 5 years and there was too much to catch up on and not enough time. There was a large group of  Australians present to back Scottie on, we got a few group photos taken and sang the Australian Anthem to finish of the day and show the great Oz spirit. In one sentence, the day was fantastic, the next WBC will be held in Colombia, I better start saving the penny's, if Colombia will be anything like London, I want to be there.. OE ;D ;D

blanyon

Scottie actually came third (typo on the wbc website) I had the same info yesterday. I have seen Scottie with a third placed trophy so it must be true ;D.

over_extracted

So Sorry guys. Scottie did come third ;D. Thats the last time I copy some names, in order to get to bed quicker.. ;D ;D ;D ;D

over_extracted

Hi all. Please take a look at this fine video, it really shows how much improvement has been achieved in the London coffee Culture. Happy Viewing. Check the length of the line, for coffee at  the Monmouth coffee store  ! ;D OE

admin

Hi OE - curious to know whether the Barista champs got any press in the mainstream media over there? acheers

over_extracted

Hi A Well you know there was hardly any media support for the event, mind you when I was there I did see a camera crew from a local station but I dont think it made it to the news. Yes I am very dissapointed as baristas get paid a penny here compared to our Autralian friends back home. Only last night I was having a conversation with a company director who himself mention the penny wages in the service industry. I have spoken about this matter in the previous PFL thread before it went missing. Everyone knows I have a lot to say in regards to this matter. On a lighter note. Please find London's first aphrodisiac coffee. mmmmm late nights just roll on!!! http://www.metro.co.uk/news/838303-first-aphrodisiac-coffee-hits-the-uk  ;D ;D ;D :P :P :P :P :P :P Whent to flat white again last week , dont know why I bother, the coffee is still luke warm and the cups are getting smaller, it is looking a little tired in need of some TLC. Costa has launched the Flat White coffee as we all know, well you know what, it takes 3 days course to learn how to make it at the costa academy.... Well were does the Flat White come from, were was it invented, I ask my self this question as no one here knows, well they are all poms... ;D I remember when a Flat white was a long black with milk 8) as ordered back in the early 90's. Then we started the milk and then the art,. I dont want to start a Trans Tasman war here but , were was in invented... ??? ??? ??? Better go early start. OE ;D

over_extracted

Hi all. In all my years I have never seen this happen, ohh yes I have had incidents with short circuits with machines, but never never this. Have a look for yourself. [glow=red,2,300]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1311946/Sainsburys-coffee-explosion-injures-7-caf.html?ito=feeds-newsxml[/glow] One for the weekend. OE ;D

DoubleRistretto

wow, that's amazing!

over_extracted

Hi Everyone. Please enjoy Costa Coffee First ever Tv Ad. Went live last night, see it here. http://www.costa.co.uk/whats_new/new_in_store.aspx Check ou the guy hanging from the ceiling at the end. Lets see what Starbucks replies with...Let the Brew begin... ;D OE

over_extracted

Hi Guys Going to Paris on Saturday for the day, I thought it would be a great idea to google Paris Cafes. Not really...... Check out what comes up, the choice is yours ;D ;D ;D. Give the link bellow a few seconds after it loads, you will see what I mean...LOL http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&biw=1024&bih=402&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=paris+cafes&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=cafes&hnear=Paris,+France&ei=A720TOurAsjN4AaonaygDQ&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CDQQtgMwAA OE

admin

Damn OE - makes me jealous - reminds me of the days when I was in London and could say 'I'll just pop over to Paris for the day'... So what's your problem anyone - that's only approx one cafe every 25 seconds! A 

lars

so many cafes, but so little (good) coffee... from memory OE a good espresso is surprisingly hard to find in Paris L :o

over_extracted

Hi guys Yea!!! cannot wait to get to Paris, sorry to brag...Blah...Blah...Blah... I(^0^)I Just a quick read from StarBucks everyone, I know ,I know how we all feel back home about this corporation, but at leat they are trying, cannot wait for them to one day get rid of those monster milk jugs...yuk!! Nice approach they have decided to take, in order to give their coffee that artisan touch.. Read on... http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2010/10/14/2010-10-14_new_yorkers_dont_mind_waiting_longer_for_their_starbucks.html Good night OE