Cooper & Co

Making the most of that special coffee and tea you bought this Christmas
December 24, 2018
A question we get asked a lot at this time of year is; “which is the best way to make coffee?”, and like all questions of this nature is almost impossible to answer as it really does depend upon individual taste. In our cafés for instance we make cappuccinos with ½ a shot of coffee through to 2 shots. Milk can be either “dry” or “wet”, super hot or just warm, chocolate topping or none, and that is just one drink.
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Natural v Washed, You What?!
December 18, 2018
In 2015 I visited Araku Valley which lies in the state of Andhra Pradesh in South East India. There I came across this incredible social and environmental “experiment” being organised by the NGO NAANDI. They are endeavouring to keep the culture and traditions of the peoples who live in this area alive by ensuring that the farmers get a sustainable price for their produce. On top of that they are re-building the eco-system through the planting of 1 million trees each year. For more insights take a look at my book “Big ideas for a small world”.
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The Magic of Jersey Milk
December 17, 2018
Milk has changed so much over the decades, full fat, half fat, skimmed and now milk alternatives such as Almond, Coconut and Soya.
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Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
December 06, 2018
Each year we find ourselves on tenterhooks as we await confirmation that the coffee has reached Jersey. Of course this year was no different. Just as the coffee was about to leave Southampton a storm blew up and the boat was cancelled. Nothing particularly unusual there you might think, but you’d be wrong.
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The Problem With Coffee Capsules
November 08, 2018
It’s a decade since a book with the intriguing title “Nudge” was published. Written by Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler it has had a profound influence on Government and business around the world. Just recently the BBC ran a programme titled “Nudge, nudge” to celebrate its publication. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b90xc6
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It's not rocket science!
November 08, 2018
I’ve just been away on a two berth boat travelling the canals of the south of France. As part of the on-board facilities there is a gas stove a kettle and a mesh filter to help make coffee. I took three of our coffees with me, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Cuban, Altura Lavado and a Costa Rica community lot from the Tazazzu region.
- Coffee
- Coffee Blog
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Ethiopia
- South of France
- Travel
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Kenya, one of the world’s great coffee origins
November 08, 2018
Although there is some doubt as to who first brought coffee to Kenya, there is no doubt that it was the British who turned it into an export industry circa 1900 on the back of their considerable expertise in tea.
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Cuban – Altura Lavado Coffee
November 08, 2018
If you were to Google the top 30 coffees in the world, Cuban coffee would barely get a mention which in my view is a travesty. Like Myanmar, this country has suffered years of embargoes on its exports, particularly to the United States.
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The most magical forest on Earth
November 08, 2018
In an age when we get to see and taste so many great coffees it’s rare to come across a coffee that stops you dead in your tracks. As an origin Mexico produces significant quantities of coffee but I have to say that nothing up until now had been that memorable.
- Coffee
- Coffee Blog
- Coffee Origin
- El Triunfo
- Mexico
- Travel
- Travel Blog
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Guatemala – Monte Rosa – “Laurina”
November 08, 2018
Volcan de Fuego erupted on the 3rd June 2018 causing immense devastation in the south west of Guatemala, a major coffee growing region famous for Antigua coffee. As with typhoon Hudhud in south-eastern India a few years back, devastation occurs overnight. Livelihoods as well as life is lost in these immense natural disasters.
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DR Congo – Kawa Kanzururu Co-op coffee
November 08, 2018
I think it is quite miraculous that we are able to source coffee from The Democratic Republic of Congo. Not only is it rewarding to receive, it is also great coffee. One day I hope I'll pay a visit to these amazing producers but for now all I can do is write about the background to a country that has been devastated by war and disease.
- Africa
- Coffee
- Coffee Blog
- Coffee Expert
- Congo
- Travel
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One Moment In Time
November 08, 2018
If it’s ever possible to have a time out in my business, then Saturday morning tends to be that moment. It has been a tradition for many years now that at 9 o’clock I play uninterrupted tennis with my friends and heaven help anyone from work who tries to interrupt this golden hour and a half.
- coffee
- Coffee Blog
- Coffee Stories
- Saturday
- Tennis
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