A few weeks back I started my dream job as a Barista in Y Shed, a local independent coffee shop. It’s been quite a journey to get here….. My love of coffee started 10 years ago, after the birth of my eldest Son. It was the social aspect of ‘meeting for a coffee’ with other
Read more
I’m delighted to have found a new local coffee shop! Y Shed (Y = ‘the’ in Welsh) opened at Gowerton Golf Range (Victoria Road, Swansea, SA4 3AB) in December. It’s the brainchild of Sophie Spence, a former Ireland women’s rugby union international, who’s ended up in Swansea via Newcastle and Dublin. With her playing career
Read more
The Espresso Martini was created in 1983 by Dick Bradsell at Fred’s Club, London. Legend has it that a young model requested a cocktail that would “wake me up, and then f*** me up”!!! So he created a cocktail containing coffee! A traditional Espresso Martini contains vodka. To create this cocktail simply combine 40ml vodka,
Read more
With Christmas just a week away, here are some gift ideas for the coffee lovers in your life. First up is Christmas coffee itself! Lots of coffee roasters prepare Christmas blends for the festive season. A couple that I’m currently sampling are from ‘Union Coffees Christmas Blend’ (this coffee has notes of cranberry, clementine and
Read more
Many people call me a coffee snob! And I’m fine with that! If by that they mean that I am fussy about the coffee I drink, well they are quite right! I don’t drink bad wine, so why should coffee be any different! I’m proud to be a coffee snob! It means I appreciate the
Read more
At the end of the school Summer holidays, we took a city break to Barcelona! A last chance for some sunshine, before the long winter stretch ahead! I chose Barcelona as it seemed to have something for all of us. I was travelling with my two Son’s (aged 3 and 9) and my Mum who
Read more
The Affogato is an Italian coffee based dessert, with the standard recipe being a scoop of cold vanilla gelato topped with a shot of hot, dark roast espresso. ‘Affogato’ is Italian for “drowned”, with is apt as you are drowning your ice cream with coffee! This is an effortless recipe, which is simple yet fulfilling!
Read more
If like me you love your coffee, but are finding it too warm to drink your coffee hot, I may have found some solutions for you! Surprisingly there are a number of ways to enjoy you coffee cold. There are two broad categories, the first being ‘iced coffees’ where the coffee is brewed with hot
Read more
Probably one of the coolest places I’ve ever had a coffee served to me from is ‘The Thirsty Elephant’. This is a unique VW coffee van serving speciality coffee from my friends at Coaltown Coffee. I visited ‘The Thirsty Elephant’ whilst it was set up alongside Pontyclun train station. It is situated here, just outside
Read more
I’ve recently returned from a short family break to Dubai. A much needed fix of Winter sunshine, although it seems a lifetime ago following the ‘Beast from the East’ parts 1 & 2! We stayed at Atlantis, the Palm which was a perfect destination with the kids. They loved the Aquaventure Water Park, Lost Chambers
Read more