Third Wave UK

Great interview Chris! Good job.

2009-02-18T23:22:00.000Z

Great interview Chris! Good job.

Ceecee, I love you to pieces but you're a freak :p...

2009-01-22T10:21:00.000Z

Ceecee, I love you to pieces but you're a freak :p

Yeah. I dunno if it's going to be a regular thing ...

2008-12-11T22:32:00.000Z

Yeah. I dunno if it's going to be a regular thing or not, but like I said, the Winter blend is lovely. A real pity it doesn't work well with the milk. It does, however, work really well as a filter. Apparently won some Good Food award recently. Don't have any details, but I'll have a look and see if I can find something about it.

Oh, and when's the Square Mile winter blend coming out? I'm looking at getting some for a Christmas cheer thing my parents are having.

Cheers,
Seamus.

I had no idea Union had started naming blends afte...

2008-12-11T11:44:00.000Z

I had no idea Union had started naming blends after the seasons too.

I always thought they just did Revelation and the others.

Well put Stu. I think that education and debate ar...

2008-11-05T00:45:00.000Z

Well put Stu. I think that education and debate are the most important things in the growing UK industry. But then again, I suppose it takes us all to really create the industry, those who focus on the perfect shot, and those who focus on teaching the public about what a real coffee is.

I'm worried now :s lol

2008-11-03T22:47:00.000Z

I'm worried now :s lol

ahhh sounds like Steve has got his big guns out, I...

2008-11-03T20:07:00.000Z

ahhh sounds like Steve has got his big guns out, I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of these, as I cupped the same coffees and a few more VERY recently!

Chris, Common Grind

Awwww Thanks man :)

2008-11-03T09:31:00.000Z

Awwww Thanks man :)

The COE was amazing. But I'll get to that tonight ...

2008-11-03T09:17:00.000Z

The COE was amazing. But I'll get to that tonight :p

I'm a bit jealous Seamus of the hasbean roasts!

2008-11-03T07:54:00.000Z

I'm a bit jealous Seamus of the hasbean roasts!

There seem to be two camps here. Those who's goal ...

2008-10-31T00:50:00.000Z

There seem to be two camps here. Those who's goal in pulling shots is for the purpose of making money and those who's motivation is purely intrinsic. The term 'god shot' is owned by people subscribing to the latter. A god shot in it's definition is an out this world, out of the blue espresso, a fleeting coincidence of brewing when all the espresso variables are cosmically aligned. It's also, and no one has touched on this, a completely personal perception. One man's god shot is another mans swill (well not swill but you catch my drift). The god shot in my opinion can only be a personal quest.

The role of a barista is to sell coffee is it not? Unfortunately a barista can't give every customer their god shot but they can give them a dam good cup of coffee and experience. (ooh I felt like I’d become a Starbucks drinker when I said ‘experience’….shudder)

Stuartlee/Mentness

Ha haa. I know what its like fella, sometimes thin...

2008-10-28T17:40:00.000Z

Ha haa. I know what its like fella, sometimes things just get on top of us bloggers!! ha ha!!

Chris

and i'd counterpoint that negative comments about ...

2008-10-19T10:28:00.000+01:00

and i'd counterpoint that negative comments about major competitors can often do as much harm as good.It's easy to sound pretentious and/or bitter when talking to people who for the last 10 years have been told that the product they pay 2.50 for improves their life!
Have faith in your products ability to convince a customer rather than stating this is better and they are s**t?

I'm the same, the god shot phrase doesn't sell it ...

2008-10-12T23:01:00.000+01:00

I'm the same, the god shot phrase doesn't sell it for me. For all the time I'm progressing, my idea of a god shot is different. The coffee I'm pouring now is probably what, a year and a half ago, I would call a god shot, but it is no set thing.

I don't let anyone believe that Starbucks is good, it almost became fashionable for awhile not to bash the chains, but I think it has to be done, people have to realise that they are shit coffee, the fast food of the coffee world!

Chris. Common Grind

I'd agree with James that it's a balance, and it's...

2008-10-10T23:40:00.000+01:00

I'd agree with James that it's a balance, and it's one I think is a little out in this country. We allow people (up north anyway) to believe that Starbucks is the best you can get, and I think that teaching people what a good shot is should come before teaching ourselves what a truely great shot is. I just think the balance needs redressing a little.

Cheers,
Seamus.

I think there is a difference between striving for...

2008-10-10T20:14:00.000+01:00

I think there is a difference between striving for the god shot on every shot you produce and striving for the skills to be able to do it. I think constantly striving for it is missing the point of being a barista, there is more to it than that!

I've never been a fan of the term Godshot, but I a...

2008-10-10T16:19:00.000+01:00

I've never been a fan of the term Godshot, but I am all for the concept. One thing that keeps me honest about coffee is its elusive nature and the difficulty in nailling it consistently.

To not chase it is to settle, to accept a certain standard. Now while I am always wanting to improve what I am doing it doesn't mean I am not proud or excited about what I am doing right now. I am all for spreading the word, sharing great coffee but I'd hate to take my foot of the accelerator that is driving me forwards.

I guess it is about balancing satisfaction and acceptable dissatisfaction. (Not sure if that makes any sense though)

lol. Nice to see you Stuart. Seen the blog, but tr...

2008-10-06T20:42:00.000+01:00

lol. Nice to see you Stuart. Seen the blog, but tragically it's one of the ones I've yet to force into my daily routine. I will sort that out post-haste. Thanks for the support, and don't worry, I'm really looking forward to the Jam :)

Cheers,
Seamus.

Hey Chris/Dane.Nice blog boysTogether we shall tak...

2008-10-06T16:02:00.000+01:00

Hey Chris/Dane.

Nice blog boys

Together we shall take over the world from Newcastle mwha ha ha(evil laugh)

I don't know if you spotted my blog: www.mentness.wordpress.com

Keep up the good work chaps and I'll see you at the JAM in November.

P.s.I quite enjoyed the North east premier coffee blog comment on your vid.

lol im not a total write off yet, lol give it one ...

2008-10-05T08:48:00.000+01:00

lol im not a total write off yet, lol give it one or two more days

I didn't really look, but I've had amt before, and...

2008-10-04T20:24:00.000+01:00

I didn't really look, but I've had amt before, and it wasn't that bad at all, but this time, i would have taken it back if i didn't have a train to catch!

For a city the size of Manchester there sure is a ...

2008-10-04T16:21:00.000+01:00

For a city the size of Manchester there sure is a vacuum...

I travel frequently to Manchester and Stockport and am yet to find a truly great coffee!

An honest open review - well done lads.

2008-09-20T11:26:00.000+01:00

An honest open review - well done lads.

Its really good to hear people get their claws int...

2008-09-09T18:36:00.000+01:00

Its really good to hear people get their claws into Starbucks for the right reasons! The coffees are terrible, dirty crockery is insane to get in a chain, and the wi-fi thing bothers me as well. Nero also charge a hell of a lot for free wi-fi, most pub chains don't though!

Chris, Common Grind

Cheers Seamus, yeh I'll have my card back by then!...

2008-09-08T22:10:00.000+01:00

Cheers Seamus, yeh I'll have my card back by then! Was just thinking, I'm going to leave willies to you, I just remembered something lol.