On 24th March we held our first annual “East Anglia’s Best Barista” competition as The Nest with the aim of uniting baristas from across the region and crowning the highest scoring barista across two different practises as “East Anglia’s Best Barista”. The winner would receive a Gaggia Ruby espresso machine and on-demand grinder package worth £1650 donated by Evoca Group who were machine sponsor for the event. The prize for the runner up was a £100 Coffee-Hit gift card donated by Brita. The set up the baristas used consisted of a sparkling white two group La Guista espresso machine from Gaggia ..read more

The team were out in London yesterday to visit the London Coffee Festival , the industry leading show for all things coffee! Making sure we are keeping up to date with all things new in the coffee world, it was great to chat to industry colleagues from all over the country and taste a variety of delicious coffee blends. With plenty of advice on how to make sure our customers are receiving the absolute best of the best from us, as well as some tips for next year’s East Anglia’s Best Barista Competition, we left feeling excited to continue to strive towards coffee bean perfection! (And with a ch ..read more

As the popularity of coffee continues to rise, the UK coffee shop industry is set to see some exciting changes in 2023. Here are a few trends that are expected to shape the industry in the coming year: Sustainability will be a key focus: Consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of their purchases, and coffee shops are taking notice. Expect to see more establishments using eco-friendly practices, such as compostable cups and utensils, and sourcing their beans from sustainable sources. Specialty drinks will continue to dominate: From cold brew to pour-overs, the demand for ..read more

Are you East Anglia’s best barista? Would you like a chance to win a professional Gaggia home espresso setup worth £1650! All you have to do is demonstrate your knowledge of coffee and show off your barista skills by sending us video of yourself making the drinks below. Double Espresso Latte Flat White Black Americano or Long Black Macchiato or Cortado Cappuccino Alternative Milk Latte (Oat, Soya, Almond etc) If your Cafe only uses alternative milk please use a second alternative milk. Click Here to open the application form. Good luck! Rules and Scoring: All entries must be submitted by F ..read more

Decaffeinated coffee has had a long standing, bad reputation in the coffee industry. Concerns about its relation to ill health and the mediocre rating given by coffee snobs and connoisseurs alike means that Decaff has been an outcast for many years. However, its popularity is on the rise and companies are finding it harder to ignore. Many people are favouring a decaffeinated option to ensure a better quality of sleep and to reduce anxiety and stress. More awareness of the effect food and drink has on the body and the idea of clean eating has given decaf the push it needed. I thought I would lo ..read more

THE GUIDE TO A CLEAN MACHINE! Today we talk about cleaning our espresso machines… Not a fun topic I know, however, this is something that is so important and often overlooked. Not only does a clean machine mean great tasting coffee, but it also improves the look of the counter space too making a café more inviting. There are some very simple steps we can take, by doing this each time a drink is made it can reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning at the end of the day. After every drink: Wipe the steam arm every time after you steam milk- reduces the risk of cross-contamination, keeps the ..read more

Can coffee go off? Coffee doesn’t go “bad” in a similar way to e.g. sour cream! Unless kept in a humid environment. Coffee loses its taste and aroma over time naturally and fresh coffee from beans is best when making a brew. But when stored properly (see this blog), you will have plenty of time to use it up before it goes “bad” or losing it’s optimum taste. Can coffee cause IBS? Caffeine could be a trigger that can cause a flare-up in symptoms. Some people with IBS could also sensitive to dairy products, so adding milk to your morning cup may also be increasing your IBS symptoms. Does coffee h ..read more

We’ve spoken a lot on these blogs about where your coffee comes from, how it’s made etc. But we’ve not yet spoken about your favourite drinks and their origins. Well, it’s time for us to look at a short origin story for each of your favourite drinks!   Cappuccino– The cappuccino first appeared in a Viennese coffee house. In 1805 it was described as coffee with milk and cream, in some places they would add spices too. The name came about as the drink would look the same colour as the Capuchin monks’ robes. In Italian, cappuccio, means ‘hood’. Although the name originated from Vienna, it wa ..read more