In Pursuit of a Better Cup of Coffee
The Fat Duck’s former head chef, Ashley Palmer-Watts, turns his expert hand to the home bean scene
Words by Will Halbert
Let’s be honest; we’ve all made some terrible life decisions down the coffee aisle of our local supermarket. We’ve committed some truly heinous crimes in the brewing of our morning coffee, too – sacrificing the myriad pleasures of taste for a negligible gain in time or convenience. We’ve all made do with the ashy, up-and-at-’em expediency of the three-day-old, improperly-sealed bag of ground coffee. I’d wager we’re all too familiar with the milquetoast, quick-hit mediocrity of the instant option, too. In short, we’ve all downed some bloody awful coffee when left to our own, barista-less devices.
Thankfully, Ashley Palmer-Watts and the team at Artisan Coffee have created a selection of six ethically sourced, masterfully blended coffees that don’t demand a barista’s skill or fancy pants machine to prepare (unless you happen to have one, you lucky devil).
Former Head Chef of Berkshire’s fabled The Fat Duck, Ashley’s knack for complexity, consistency and experimentation is (quite rightly) a thing of legend. That he should turn his hand to crafting the kind of bean blends that guarantee a good cup of coffee – regardless of brew method – just seems logical. From V60, to Moka Pot, to French Press, the Artisan team has crafted bespoke recipes to ensure the perfect cup o’ joe for any and all of your favourite coffee-making rituals.
There’s a hefty dose of heart and a refreshingly human element in the mix, too. Not in the clichéd, awkwardly anthropomorphised, I-like-my-coffee-like-I-like-my-men manner of describing coffee, you understand; there’s no tall, dark and handsome talk to be found in Ash’s flavour notes, thankfully. What Artisan Coffee offers instead is a family of relatable flavour profiles that make picking your morning brew a doddle. Want something punchy, upfront, and assertive? The Big Shot’s your man. Fancy something rich and fruity? Check out The Enigma. In need of something a little more complex and stimulating? Wrap your senses around The Genius.
Each of the six blends is the product of Ashley’s rigorous, ready-when-it’s-ready research and development process, and there’s plenty here to satisfy those with a more scientific approach to their go-faster juice – but that all plays second fiddle to Artisan’s true goal. Artisan’s blends, more than anything, are a celebration of coffee as the great conversation starter; they’re a nod to the common ground created by the concepts of flavour, aroma, and personal experience.
By replacing speciality coffee’s typical esoterism for something altogether more inclusive, approachable and, well, fun, Ashley and the team at Artisan Coffee have come away with something that not only keeps those caffeinated conversations alive, but opens them up to a wider audience.
And my word, don’t even get me started on the chocolates.
Check out the full Artisan Coffee range here.
