Brian Hockenhull, who runs Buckley’s Yard Coffee Shop at 2 New Street, Uppermill, talks about the world of coffee and introduces you to their Coffee of the Month.
ONE OF my continuing gripes these days is how large coffee chains are now getting away with absurd prices simply because they have occupied just about every High Street location, all the petrol stations, hospitals, colleges and now I hear they are venturing into supermarkets as well!
There’s precious little space left for small independents who want to charge a more realistic price – yet throughout Italy, where they have a coffee culture as big as ours, the average price for a Caffe Latte is a reasonable £1.05.
So, everyone JOIN THE REVOLUTION – the price of that coffee you’re drinking in one of those stereotyped coffee chains is only over £2 if you want to pay that much– vote with your feet and stop this nonsense – offer them less, or walk out of the place and never return!
COFFEE OF THE MONTH – ETHIOPIAN HARAR
Ethiopia, which is about the size of England and France combined, is the birthplace of coffee and has a coffee tradition going back thousands of years.
There are more than 15 million people involved in the coffee business over there (about 50% of the population) and most of the coffee is produced by farmers who have smallholding.
The farmers receive only about £1 per kilo for the coffee they produce, and of that there’s only 20p profit… so, for me it’s important I source the beans responsibly to make sure the farmers co-operatives are not just guaranteeing the price to the farmer but also building schools and providing machinery and places to eat.
And I am donating all copper from your coffees to Project Ethopia Harar, which helps rural children across Ethiopia access medical care so they can eat, speak and smile like everyone else. For more information visit http://t.co/iYAxH8LFe
Harar coffee is a classic ‘natural’ coffee from the eastern Harar region and is one of the oldest coffees in the world still produced now; the Ethiopians use it in their coffee ceremonies.
Sun drying the coffee in its fruit cherry lends the coffee some fantastically winey, gamey and blueberry aromas with a full bodied, smooth, chocolaty rich flavours.
Complimented by a fuller roast, Harar coffee on its own really makes a great first cup to help you frame your day, or is wonderful to savour as an after-dinner drink when it works well with a Cognac or Armagnac, complimented by chocolates.
Visit Buckley’s Yard at New Street, Uppermill or phone Brian on 07973 155030 or email buckleysyarduppermill@gmail.com
Find them on Facebook Buckley’s Yard or follow them on Twitter @BuckleysYard
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