Tag Archives: Coffee

May 23 2011

A real dilemma?

My choice of (legal) drug is caffeine. Days are not great if I don’t have my essential Starbucks in a morning.

You will find me at Castle Marina most mornings; it’s on my way to the office and the staff know what need want. I don’t need a long chat, it’s easy – Grade Cappuccino. Most of the staff know…

And people who say it’s bad for you are wrong – there’s a new study out which suggests it may actually be good for you. It is certainly good for my office – as it makes me a smiley happy person when I arrive!

There are some downsides. I have to tolerate numpties who can’t park for toffee in Sainsbury’s car park. They don’t get the white lines thing – or they believe that straddling is a prize-winning exercise. And they don’t have wi-fi in Starbuck’s because Sainsbury’s reckon it will blow their tills up. Which is clearly utter rubbish. But they are not for reasoning with apparently. More numpties. I’m not sure how I can tolerate these things?

The dilemma is that Costa open this week at the back of Sainsbury’s on the retail park. It’s a brand new shiny store – which has a drive-in facility. It is going to apparently have wi-fi. And you can park outside.

The down-side? – the coffee is not as nice as Starbucks. But … could I adapt to the taste?? A dilemma for the week – I may just venture in for a nosey!

Jun 13 2010

Fairtrade – no longer a fad?

I am not sure that the Fairtrade movement was ever a fad – and if it was perceived as such the principles behind it are certainly not!

Their website proclaims:

Our vision is of a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices so that everyone, through their work, can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood and develop their full potential.

I had not realsied that the organisation had been around for quite so long. You can read the history on their website here. I have a couple of clients who are completely wedded to the principles – one a retailer in the North-West and the other a University. Green & Blacks chocolate was the first branded goods in the UK – and it still tastes good.

I heard Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Foundation, on Radio 4 at the weekend – and her aim plan was to remind people that behind our cup of coffee are people who have picked the beans. She also suggested that the Fairtrade brand has been quite resilient to the recession – once you know about something you can’t un-know it! People haven’t gone back to the cheap food in general terms.

Mark Price, Head of Waitrose has suggested that Fairtrade will one day be as common as expecting a clean supermarket.

It was good to hear of the success of some villages in Rwanda where they now have a Bank! And hairdressers – I smiled, but it is serious, these are things we take for granted.

I do my bit for Fairtrade – Starbucks coffee is all Fairtrade! And I contribute a lot – I am guessing I have bought that Bank… and well on my way to another!

Apr 8 2010

Fun and games on the trains…

I am in danger of just finding things to moan about. But yesterday’s train journey demonstrated everything that is wrong with our public transport. My decision to go by train is a surely a big green tick box – and I was applauded by my MD.

My train table - full with iphone and coffee

I booked on-line which was easy enough. £45 return from Nottingham to Manchester is cheaper than the petrol I would use. The time was reasonably acceptable for ‘not a morning person’.

But the parking at Nottingham Station has gone up to £9 for the day – I am sure a few weeks ago it was £8. A 12.5% hike? But that was the first hike, the second was to collect my ticket. There is no ticket machine near the car park – to get that you have to leave the station and re-enter. Irritating – and exercise I don’t need at 8.30am.

The train was packed – two coaches and lots of grumpy people, myself included. But I had a reserved seat and my ‘seat with a table’ request had been honoured. It wasn’t what I expected though – as only half my laptop would fit. It was technically a table so I can hardly complain.

The seat was smaller than an airplane seat – I am convinced. It was a good job no one sat next to me. I could ride side saddle…

The man behind me didn’t need a mobile, he was surely a Town Crier in a previous life. Imagine Dom Joly – “I’M ON A TRAIN” – you get the picture. Him sneezing out loud was a low point.

Coffee came as we were on final approach – £2.50 including the paper cup. I can confirm it was brown and very hot. But whether it was coffee was debatable. At least I bought one – unlike the folks opposite who had a flask. And a loaf of bread which they proceeded to spread, assemble and demolish. Not pretty, but cheap I guess.

As we pulled into Manchester Picadilly I was sure the feeling would return to my legs pretty soon – it did, after about 30 minutes.

The only upside to the journey was the view of The Peak – which is stunning! But I will be back in the car today…