Coffee at home - Philips Senseo Coffee Maker

For Christmas 2009, my son and his girlfriend (now wife!) bought us a Philips Senseo coffee maker, not least due to our reputation for being partial to a nice coffee every now and then. It was not intended to stop us going out for the occasional (!) cafe coffee, as is our pleasure, but more to give us the opportunity to make a nice coffee at home.

There are times when, working from home, the desire arises for something more than just an instant coffee and, it is at these times that the Senseo coffee maker gets put to use.

With the cappuccino pods, used with the accompanying topping sachets, you can get a very nice cappuccino. When using the normal coffee pods, I tend to use one of the powdered milk products, such as Coffee-mate, which fulfils two purposes.... it produces a reasonable amount of froth and it helps keep the temperature up.

There are several blends of coffee available in the pods, and I am using the Morning Americano at the moment. This has a strong and rich flavour, just the job for a late-morning coffee.

Here's a little sample of what it looks like...

The Range, Rochdale

This one is the nearest coffee shop to my home. In fact, very walkable, and they do a nice panini too, ideal for an easy lunch out.

I'm sure a lot of people visit The Range and don't even know there is a cafe upstairs, much to their loss.

With comfy settees in addition to the usual tables and chairs, it is a great place to meet friends for an informal coffee and a chat (or take the grandchildren for a hot chocolate and a cookie!).

Anyway, coming back to the subject in question...  The cappuccino...

When you order a "large" one, it comes in a LARGE mug. Good so far. Lots of froth on the top with a sprinkle of chocolate powder so looks the part. However, when the froth settles (on stirring, as I take sugar), the mug is only just over half full, and the temperature is a little cool for me, allowing you to drink it straight down, should you choose. As I like to take my time to enjoy a large coffee, it is soon too cool to enjoy.

Don't let that put you off, though, I am rather fussy about my coffees. The cafe is clean, comfortable, with good service and nice sandwiches and cakes. There's plenty to look round in the rest of the store too, including a garden centre section. Well worth a visit. And there are other stores on the retail park as well...

Here's a pic to whet your appetite:

Costa Coffee in a Pizza Hut

When the need for a coffee arose yesterday, the decision was made to go to Pizza Hut. This was nothing to do with the coffee quality, but more to do with my wife's memory of how good the three shot desserts were at our last visit.

I hadn't realised that the coffees served in our local Pizza Hut are under the Costa coffee brand, so was pleasantly surprised as Costa coffees are generally one of my fail-safe brews.

The cappucino was well presented by very helpful and friendly staff (even engaging in coffee conversation, sharing their favourite coffee experience).

Disaster struck when I ordered a dessert, though, as they had (unbelievably!) run out of hot cookie dough. I had to fall back on the toffee apple crumble, which was very nice.

Here's a pic of the coffee in question...

Ye Olde Naked Man Cafe, Settle

On the way to an annual job at Simonstone Hall in Hardraw, the pre-requisite stop at Settle for lunch included a visit to Ye Old Naked Man Cafe.

On the quest for my usual bevvy, I ordered a large cappuccino, together with a hot chicken & bacon salad baguette (a new one on me). The baguette was a great choice and went down extremely well.

The cappuccino was very nicely presented, with a lovely little shortcake biscuit (see photo), and was one of the nicest tasting I have had.

Were there to be any complaints about the cappuccino, I was glad that I did not order a small one, and it was a little short on froth (I like it when the sugar lumps stick in the froth and have to be pushed through. Trivial, I know, but little things like that amuse me).

Overall though, well worth the visit, would definitely recommend it, and that area of the world is a beautiful place to be.

WRVS at North Manchester General Hospital

Sorry, no pictures this time, just a quick post to highlight a particularly good service received today at a little cafe run by the WRVS in North Manchester General Hospital.

Having been there to visit my (very) poorly wife for the last week (now home and on the mend, I'm very pleased to say), one of my little jaunts while she had a knap would be down to the WRVS cafe in the front main entrance area, the source of the largest and nicest cappuccino I could find in the hospital (the vending stations don't quite do it somehow).

At first the mix was a little milky for me. However, when I mentioned this and asked if they could make it a little stronger, they were more than happy to oblige with an extra shot of coffee and even, with a little bit of friendly banter, gave me extra chocolate powder too.

When I explained my reputation for being a cappuccino drinker, and my recent blog, they said I should give them a mention in return for being so accommodating of my fussiness. So here it is.

Here's to those ladies, and the work they do, and the oasis they provided in a particularly difficult week.