The Smithy

Coffee or the lack of decent coffee in The Dales, some will think whats he on about, theres lots of coffee about, you may even have  a large jar of it at home, pop in a cup add hot water and Bob's your uncle, (well actually Bobs my dad but thats another story).

What i'm talking about is proper espresso based coffee, cappucionios, lattes etc, some folk think they are a con and too expensive, but when you have a porper made one then you know what i'm talking about, I am quite a coffee addict and can become a bit obssesed, when I had a real job working in big cities there are no shortage of the big coffee chains, usually you get a good coffee but not always, I kno the big Starbucks, which takes over every town, but for consitancy of taste and quality they are hard to beat. Now when we moved out to The Dales, no decent coffee, and I have searched high and low. making espresso takes time training and love, some of theses cafe's coffee shops get  a machine in no training no dedicated barista ( The barista is the person who should be in charge and the only one to use the machine, he has been trained and takes pride in his work) they charge a high price for a sub standard product. There is  skill and science involved, from grinding the beans, tamping the coffee, frothing the milk (not boiling it to death)

I am that obsessed I have my own machine at work a little gaggia, which has been faithful for 5 years, but this week the demon  limescale killed him, this was a sad and desperate time.

Things have looked up latley a new place has opened in Skipton, Bean Loved you can tell the difference, only the two guys use the machine, ther is pride and training and love of the coffee and is a consisitant drink, the beans for me could be richer and more flavoursome, but I highly recommend it, good friendly service as well, better than some teenager with angst.

Well I am on the look out for  a new machine, so if I am a little ratty you will know why.

And if you have had  a good or bad coffee experince let me know, I will be naming and shaming more places on here soon

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