One Click Coffee Box 10




It's our first subscription box post of the new year! 


This is the November One Click Coffee box that included goodies from Kiss The Hippo, Machina Coffee and a delicious little chai biscuit from Kake Bakery (demolished in less than 30 seconds)






Kiss The Hippo

"Kiss The Hippo is a speciality coffee brand devoted to creating the ultimate coffee experience. 

We accomplish this through a considered approach to coffee making that places a strong appreciation for quality and sustainability at the forefront. We aim to offer the most refined freshly roasted coffees, served in beautiful spaces as part of a thoroughly memorable service experience

A focus on the environment is central to our work at Kiss The Hippo, which is part of our responsibility to the Earth and to you. It is through our efforts alongside charities and a dedication to innovative and sustainable solutions that we strive to deliver happiness through every sip"



The Beans

Bokasso
Origin - Ethiopia
Location - Wonsho Sidma
Cultivar - Ethiopian Landraces
Process - Washed
Taste Notes - Jasmine, Orange, Blueberries




The Brew 
V60 
18g of Coffee
250ml of Water
3 Minute 30 Seconds Total Brew Time
30ml bloom for 30 seconds, minor agitation 



This brew came out super fruity, think more citrus and berries more than sour, fresh fruits. It was incredibly delicious with every sip. It had some really gorgeous subtle floral notes, which really rounded the coffee together. The taste notes for this coffee are pretty spot on, like a few of Kiss The Hippos coffees I've tried, they really do produce some incredibly roasted coffees.



Find Kiss The Hippo
Website - here
Instagram - here 
Facebook - here




Machina Coffee

"We are an Edinburgh based specialist coffee roastery and equipment business, started through a love of great coffee and a fascination with quality kit.
The creation of Machina was inspired by Edinburgh's artisan coffee scene, which has exploded in the last 10 years along with inspiring visits to San Francisco, LA, Washington, Tokyo and London.

Since 2016 we have been roasting coffee in South Edinburgh. We take a innovative and creative approach to our roasting. Coaxing complex and unique flavours from coffees from the best microlots in the world. The bold and unusual tasting notes on our coffee bags reflect this, along with the amazing diversity of sensory experience that great coffees can deliver."


The Beans 

Los Suspiros 
Origin - Alta Mira, Huehuetenango, Guatemala
Varietal - Caturra and Bourbon 
Process - Fully Washed
Altitude - 1500-1800MASL
Taste Notes - Maple Syrup, Green Apple, Milk Chocolate, Clean




The Brew
Chemex
26g of Coffee
500ml of Water
50ml Bloom for 45 Seconds
7-8 Minute Total Brew Time 




This coffee was incredibly crisp and bright. Super smooth with next to no acidity, super chocolatey and when it cools you get more crisp fruit notes with some subtle acidity.
This coffee was super delicious every way that it was brewed, I loved how like Kiss The Hippo the taste notes were spot on. 




Find Machina 
Website - here
Los Suspiros Coffee - here
Instagram - here
Twitter - here



I really enjoyed this box, I think the coffees really complimented each other. Stay tuned for the next One Click box for some more delicious coffee! 








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Meet The Roasters Workshop at Pallets




Pallets Tea and Coffee House are excited to collaborate on a new event with our house roasters Moon Roast.


Come and experience the full range of specialist single origin coffees from around the world, hand roasted by Moon Roast in Hampshire.

Includes; a talk from the roasters Francis and dan about all things coffee, from growing and production and roasting. 
a cupping session, with different origins of coffee, to show you how to develop your palate. 

Book online now! 

When - 24th January 2020
Time - 6pm-7pm
Where - Pallets Tea and Coffee House

Find our Facebook events page - here

Buy tickets here












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Click here








Peang Thai Coffee

Welcome to the first coffee review on The Coffee Life of 2020 - and it's a super exciting one. 

For Christmas, Dom bought me some super exciting coffee from Buxton Roastery after both listening to the second episode of the Filtered Thoughts podcast 

In the episode Ben and Nat talked about the World Travel Market, where they both worked at the event, contributing in the representation of the Thai Speciality Coffee Market. 
It was a super interesting listen, and of course, I wanted to get my hands on some Thai coffee ASAP.


A huge thank you to the best boss in the world for buying me (well, I'm sure secretly it was for him too) this great coffee. 


There is some super interesting information on the Peang Thai website - including why shade grown coffee is the most environmentally friendly and sustainable way to grow coffee 
Website here 

About Peang Thai
Peang Thai coffee is a single origin Arabica coffee, the name Peang Thai which means "Only Thai" originates from "Porpeang" a project initiated by the late King of Thailand, His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, to help promote a better working life for people and improve their livelihood.
We work with the Akha hill tribe coffee farmers in the village of Phahee which sits in the far North of Thailand in the Chiang Rai province.
Our goal is to bring their amazing coffee to the world and ensure they receive a truly fair price for their coffee.
Peang Thai coffee is Direct Trade from the farmers themselves there are no middle men, and never will be. Doing it this way we can pay farmers nearly three times the average fairtrade price for their amazing coffee. 


Look at these beans *heart eye emoji*


Peang Thai Coffee
Shade Grown 
Origin - Phahee Village, Northern Thailand 
Altitude - 1200-1400MASL
Process - Washed and Sundried
Taste Notes - Medium Bodied, Smooth Hazelnut with a Biscuit Finish 



The Brew
V60
18g of Coffee
275ml of Water
3 Minute 30 Minute Total Brew Time
40ml Bloom for 30 Seconds



Taste Notes

This coffee came out INCREDIBLE. Super nutty and bold, with deep syrup-y notes, and had really prominant chocolate biscuit notes, specifically my mind went to the milk chocolate Viennese butter biscuits (maybe I was just super hungry and craving biscuits) but hey, it's what I got.
I tried a lot of recipes, especially with V60 and Chemex, and every time, it was an incredible cup.








If you ever get the chance to try any Peang Thai Coffee, please don't hesitate because damn, it's INCREDIBLE. 

You can also go over to the Pallets Instagram to watch a video of Dom and I brewing up a storm with this coffee - see here 



Find Peang Thai 
Website - here
Instagram - here

Buxton Roastery 
Website - here
Instagram - here






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Support The Coffee Life - Become A Member

As The Coffee Life continues to grow, our small community continues to expand, ideas and projects get bigger and bigger, I'm not complaining, I love it, I love my small space on the internet. 

However something I've always shied away from is how much money I put in month to month to continue The Coffee Life, to continue all of the reviews, subscription boxes, equipment etc, it really does slowly add up. 

So why am I suddenly writing about this?
This is where you come in. 

I've recently set up on a site called Buy Me a Coffee (It's a perfect fit right?!) where you can now support The Coffee Life








There are two options, a one off payment of $3 (the price of a coffee!) or you can choose to become a Coffee Life member! 
For $5 a month (or a discounted price of $50 a year!) you can get exclusive perks such as extra blog posts and YouTube content, made exclusively for Coffee Life members only. Exclusive Coffee Life member merch, and more special discounts. and many other perks.


Even the smallest of support means the absolute world to me. Every like, comment and share, means more than you could ever know. 




Big things are happening on The Coffee Life in 2020. Both on here and within new exciting projects

Support The Coffee Life and become a member here or click on the side-bar (or down by the bottom if you're on mobile!)





Thank You!





Let's Talk About Goals 2020

Last year, I did a blog post all about goals - I wrote about my goals for the purpose of self accountability. If they're written down and public, there are no excuses as to why they shouldn't be done. 

I've already done a whole separate post on the goals I have for The Coffee Life in 2020 (read that here) so I thought I'd also do a small blog post about the personal and other goals I have for 2020.




- Be a badass bitch, don't go letting Lizzo down.
(this is legitimately my first goal I wrote down, I lost myself massively last year, but I'm determined not to let that happen in 2020) 


- Implement the 2 minute rule to everything
I'm quite the procrastinator/lazy person, however when I heard about the 2 minute rule from a self-help YouTuber where if a task can be done in under two minutes, you might as well just do it now, so you don't have to do it later. Seems pretty simple, and a good thing to implement into a lazy persons daily life. 


- Properly commit to fitness and getting my health back.
I'm pretty sure I wrote out this exact goal last year too, however whilst some aspects of my health improved, others drastically went downhill.
I've recently taken up running again, so we'll see how that goes. 
I also want to complete a fitness ebook that I purchased about 3 years ago and have never completed fully, so stay tuned for that. 


- Cut down on the consumption of alcohol.
We're all partial to a glass of wine every now and again, however if I'm out "for a few drinks" I don't just mean a few, I will drink until I literally black out, and there were several occasions in 2019 where I would drink, I'd wander off from whatever group I was with, have a break down/panic attack and then continue drinking like nothing was wrong. I don't want to do that anymore. I hate the fact that people have to come looking for me when I'm drunk and that I essentially become the liability on a night out. 2020 is an alcohol cut down year.
(apart from when I go to Florida and take part in Epcot's drink around the world, that doesn't count)


- Read 30 books
Last year I read around 20, but my list for 2020 is well over 50, so I think 30 is a good set goal for book reading (I've currently read 3 so far so I should smash this goal!)


- Keep motivation high everyday.
I'm still a newbie at figuring out how to make myself motivated everyday, of course I'll have days where I'll point blank refuse to do anything remotely productive, but if I can motivate myself, I'll take it.



I have a few other more "number" based goals which I'm just going to stick in here too.


Reach 2000 followers on Instagram
(if ya want you can follow me here)

Connected to the first - post on Instagram more, once a day at minimum

Hit at least 500 subscribers on YouTube 
(yes I will be starting YouTube very soon - follow along here)







Here's to smashing 2020, and making this year amazing. 






Support me on Ko-fi




People Who Have Inspired Me In The Coffee Industry In 2019

2019 saw HUGE growth in the coffee industry. And with huge growth comes more people, and 2019 I have come across and met so many incredible people who have inspired me to keep doing what I'm doing. 
The coffee community is incredible, everyone is always so supportive of one another, and as a coffee blogger it's truly been incredible to connect not just with coffee companies but with so many people within.



So here is a list of everyone who has inspired me in the coffee industry in 2019.
(the reality is, this list is an endless one)




- Izzy Austen (AKA CaffeineGalore) 

I'm sure that most of you wont be shocked that I'm starting out the list with Izzy, I rave about her when I can, given any opportunity to tell anyone how great she is. 
I owe a lot to Iz, 2019 saw us both go to Amsterdam for Amsterdam Coffee Festival, as well as bumping into each other at London, Birmingham, Brighton and Bristol. I had an amazing experience working at Goodwood Revival and do you know who encouraged me and told me to take those shifts? Non other that Izzy. 
She's an incredible girl, with so much passion for everything she does, she has so much knowledge and thrive for life and I'm so thankful for her in my life. Never stop being you. 

Find Izzy 
Instagram
Website 


- Esther Hope

Esther and I first started to talk mid 2019, and I got the pleasure to meet her at Bristol Coffee Festival. Now you know those people that just radiate sunshine? Those people who have a smile so infectious that you cant help but smile. That's Esther. She is so full of life, so positive, so smiley, and has the most hilarious stories about her endeavours. If I could, I'd have her come and live closer to me, just so we could be best friends and talk all the time. 
Esther has brought me inspiration through her pure strength, and motivation for doing good. 

Find Esther
Instagram  




- Dom Ide

Now, when I (finally) met Dom late last year, I was in a bit of a rough patch, I was giving up in the coffee industry, I wanted to quit and just get "a regular job." Dom changed that, he has given me a space to be the creative, annoying coffee lover I am. He's given me a safe space to be everyday where I don't have to worry about being in a toxic environment, he's allowed me to open up, he's seen me laugh, cry, drunk and mid breakdown, he's seen it all (it's a wonder how I haven't been fired) - Dom has brought back my love and inspiration for coffee. Allowing me into his plans for the coffee industry, and allowing me into his little world of New Forest Coffee. 
I owe Dom so much, and I try (when I remember) to tell him how great he is everyday. 

Find Dom 
Instagram

Pallets Instagram 



- Dan Beaver 

Ah, Mr Beaver - the creator of the brilliant Beavers Cup, and all around absolute lovely guy. 
Being the go to guy for anything Moonroast, I may be slightly biased here, but Dan is just one of those people who you meet and just get great, kind and all around lovely vibes from. 
Thank you for being such a big part of my coffee journey throughout 2019.

Find Dan
Instagram



- Polly-Anna Ward

The creator of One Click, and all around lovely human is Polly-Anna. Her motivation each month to create the One Click boxes with new roasters, as well as going off and doing other incredible things. 
She has a zest for life which I admire so much (and her and her girlfriend are cuteness GOALS)

Find Polly-Anna 
Instgram
One Click Website




- Josh Williams

Josh is another one of those people that radiates sunshine, I have a lot to be thankful about Josh this year (and not just because his daughter is an actual angel), he's become someone who I can always turn to when I need too, and likewise in reverse. He has become one of my closest friends in the coffee industry despite the distance between us and the fact we only see each other a small number of times throughout the year. 

Find Josh 

Instagram 




- Grant Poole-Adams 

Grant and I started to communicate in 2019, and even did a small collaboration with The Coffee Life/ Coffee with GPA. Grant creates some incredible YouTube videos, and is one of the big motivations for me to start my own channel. His knowledge about coffee is incredible, and I find myself never missing a video of his, ever!
He has so many incredible and unique ideas and I can't wait to see what 2020 holds for him.

Find Grant
Instagram
YouTube