As Newcastle’s coffee culture continues to grow at a phenomenal rate, our curiosity and knowledge grows, too.
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In the beginning of 2018 Weekender commissioned Newcastle food and drink writer Nathalie Craig to find out what local baristas, roasters, coffee lovers and cafe owners thought was the “perfect cup”.
Read more on the perfect cup:
The question was intentionally open-ended - Was it the best cup you ever had? The best cup you make every day? The best coffee memory of your life?
We cast a wide net, as the coffee community is a hugely diverse group of people on both sides of the counter.
The answers reflection the complexity, the knowledge and in some cases, pure emotion, of Newcastle’s coffee culture.
Among our favourites was the response of Bec Bowie, the owner of Estabar: “When I’m having a cup of coffee it’s a license to stop. It’s a moment of stillness while the rest of the world carries on”.
NEW LAMBTON
Gillian Foster, owner, Barista Miss, New Lambton. “I drink a cows milk piccolo around 7 am most mornings, after I have been at work for 2 hours. I only allow myself one coffee a day, this then feels like a little treat and I look forward to it.”
Sal Buttsworth, barista, Little Lane, New Lambton. “It has to be the cold brew. It’s the ultimate summer companion. It caters to any mood whether it be a pick me up, cool me down, or a good excuse to come to Little Lane to escape the office, worksite or kids.”
Graeme Thrift, owner, Corner Lane Espresso, New Lambton. “My most memorable coffee was when I was travelling through Italy in my 20s, driving around in a little Renault Clio. I stopped for gas at an old style servo with “cafe”. Inside an old Italian man with cap motioned for a coffee from his old chrome machine. Not realising being later in the day he would only give me an espresso and that’s what I got with a couple of sugars thrown in. No English was spoken, just cash and a nod. It was so dark, thick and syrupy, but I was buzzing the rest of the day. Definitely got us to Venice quicker. I could never have imagined some 25 years later I would be working our espresso bars with legendary Italian Faema coffee machines and roasting our own coffee. Grazie Millie.”
Nicole Mauro, head barista, Euro Patisserie, New Lambton. “My favourite way to drink coffee is sitting by the beach with my best friend. Catching up on all the goss over a mug of flat white, sunshine and a good view is the best way to start the day. My favourite coffee to make is a cappuccino. Steaming the milk to make it frothy and creamy but smooth and silky. It is the most popular coffee enjoyed by Euro customers.”