Café Couture LUXURY. TEA. COFFEE. CONFECTIONERY. CAKE. CAFES. ISSUE 1. NOVEMBER 2013
THE COFFEE HOUSE
A
B
MOJO
E
R
CUP: PURVEYOR OF TEAS
A
guide
to
MACBEANS
D
E
BOOKS & BEANS
Scotland’s
independent
E
N
THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN
cafes
and
suppliers.
Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13
“Black as night, sweet as sin.” Neil Gaiman
“If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are depressed, it will cheer you; If you are excited, it will calm you.” — William Gladstone
Welcome. Please enjoy the first issue of Café Couture
“ “Coffee. The favourite drink of the civilized world.” Thomas Jefferson
“Tea! Bless ordinar y ever yday afternoon tea!” — Agatha Christie
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Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13 CONTENTS
THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN
4.5
THE COFFEE HOUSE
6.7
CUP: PURVEYOR OF TEAS
8.9
BOOKS & BEANS 10.11 MOJO
12.13.14
MACBEANS
15.16 Thirsty for more...
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CafĂŠ Couture Issue 1: Nov 13
The Beautiful Mountain PAGE 4
Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13 PRICE: ££ ADDRESS: 11-13 BELMONT ST, ABERDEEN AB10 1JR CONTACT: 01224 645353 SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS CALL FOR VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE & NUT FREE OPTIONS
MONDAY: TUESDAY: WEDNESDAY: THURSDAY FRIDAY: SATURDAY: SUNDAY
HOURS 08:00 ~ 15:30 08:00 - 15:30 08:00 -15;30 08:00 ~ 15:30 & 17:30 ~ 23:00 08:00 ~ 15:30 & 17:30 ~ 23:00 08:00 ~ 15:30 & 17:30 ~ 23:00 10:30 ~ 14.45
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he Beautiful Mountain is an unpretentious alternative to the chic cafe scene in Aberdeen. The place is understated and doesn’t go over the top with interior design. What is there is tasteful, both in the sitting area upstairs and take away downstairs. Despite an apparent simplicity, there is a choice of drinks at The Beautiful Mountain. They offer 20 blends of bagged tea. It isn’t artisan, it’s not local but it’s organic. Still, the quality is high and the variety is good. However, they only offer one blend of coffee. Saying that, the latte is decent and the bean still makes a good strong coffee. All drinks
are available to take away, if you’re in a rush. The Beautiful Mountain’s food is locally sourced. Fresh bread is brought in every morning, fresh cakes are made- even the sandwich fillings are made from scratch. They keep it as fresh, as local and as homemade as they can.
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here is a distinct Spanish influence in lunch menu. Though they offer the standard soup and sandwiches, there are a few unusual options to choose from. Fancy a prawn guacamole sandwich? Or a maybe a prawn taco? They’re only two of many Spanish style dish-
es available. However, the salad’s are the surprising standout on the menu. They’re flavourful and have deliciously zingy dressings. Though, the Spanish influence is not very surprising once you realize the second floor is a tapas bar on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. From 5:30pm until 11pm, the cafe turns into a restaurant for a completely different experience.
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f you want a break from pretentious cafes and like Spanish lunches, The Beautiful Mountain is the place to be in Aberdeen.
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Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13
THE COFFEE HOUSE
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own Gaelic lane, off of Belmont Street, the Coffee House offers an unassuming rural alternative to the regular cafe on offer in Aberdeen. Minimalist in design, The Coffee House pulls the style off well. The warm rustic interior is welcoming and spacious. It’s created with light wood furnishings, checked pillows and a posy on each table. Fairy lights are wound around the ceiling bannisters, adding charm to the room. Local art on the walls and the blackboard Menu on the back wall, written in elegant script, finish the design perfectly.
Tea & Coffee at The Coffee House doesn’t disappoint either. They offer 13 different bagged blends of artisan tea. There are 7 coffee drinks available from one blend, plus a ‘Blend of the Week’ so there is something to suit any palette. The Coffee House is also a licensed premises, serving locally brewed beers from the Highlands. The breakfast menu is small at The Coffee House, so it’s a better place to go for lunch.
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owever, all of their food is made on the premises. When you see the diversity available for lunch, it’s impressive. Homemade soup, quiche,
steak or venison pie and a wide range of home bakes. The jars of cookies and the plates of carefully presented scones are particularly sweet to the eye and the taste buds. A lot of the home bakes are gluten free- more than most cafe’s in the area, which is a refreshing sight to see. Notably, The Coffee House has a function suite on the second floor. Various community events are held there each month including a tango class.
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his little gem is worth a visit if you long for a countryside cuppa and tasty home baking.
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Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13
PRICE: £ - ££ ADDRESS: 1 Gaelic Ln, Aberdeen AB10 1JF CONTACT: 01224 471329 SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS/GLUTEN FREE CALL FOR VEGAN & NUT FREE OPTIONS
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
10:00 10:00 10:00 10:00 10:00 10:00 11:30
am am am am am am am
– – – – – – –
Hours 6:30 pm 6:30 pm 6:30 pm 6:30 pm 6:30 pm 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
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Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13
CUP:PURVEYOR OF TEAS
up: Purveyor of Teas is a chic C tea salon, tucked down Little Belmont Street. In a busy city center, it offers a cozy spot to take a moment and catch up.
Interior design and detail is a large part of Cup. Distinctly feminine in design, the salon’s pastel palette of baby blue, cream and pink decor make it a cute place to visit. In Cup, there is a notable Cath Kidston influence. Each table has a pair of little love birds on it, the salon uses flower patterned crockery and there are elegant prints dotted around the room. The theme of birds is threaded throughout and even the corridor
to the restroom is styled. Fittingly, it’s an Alice in Wonderland theme. Hats are hung all up the back wall, dotted around prints of John Tenniel’s illustrations of the Mad Hatter’s tea party, with various quotes from the party. It’s a quaint little addition to the appealing design of Cup.
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ut, it’s the variety of tea at Cup that is most impressive. With over 30 signature blends, 16 loose teas, 10+ flowering teas and 5 ice teas to choose from, you’re spoiled for choice. That’s not to say Cup isn’t a place for a coffee too. However, with only 6 different drinks to choose from, there isn’t as wide as
selection. If you’re looking for a wide range of coffee’s, this is perhaps not the best place to come to. If you are looking for exotic and artisan tea: Cup should be on your list of places to try.
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he flowering teas are a delight to drink and watch. Served in a clear teapot, there is a small delight in watching the delicate bud unfold in the hot water, the leaves flavour the water and seeing the flower emerge. The tea’s taste is as satisfying as watching the flower appear. It’s a small detail but it adds to the experience.
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Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13
Cup: Purveyor of Teas is a delightful haven for tea lovers in Aberdeen.
PRICE: £-££ ADDRESS: 9 Little Belmont St, Aberdeen, Aberdeen City AB10 1JG CONTACT: 01224 637730 SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIAN & gluten FREE CALL FOR VEGAN & NUT FREE OPTIONS
Monday 8:30 Tuesday 8:30 Wednesday 8:30 Thursday 8:30 Friday 8:30 Saturday 9:00 Sunday 10:00
am am am am am am am
– – – – – – –
HOURS 5:30 pm 5:30 pm 5:30 pm 8:00 pm 5:30 pm 6:00 pm 5:00 pm
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Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13
B O OK S & BE A NS
W
hen is a coffee shop not just a coffee shop? When it’s a second hand bookstore, an internet cafe and a coffee shop all in one. Books and Beans has become a staple in coffee shsop on Belmont Street. It prides itself on being the first independent coffee shop in Aberdeen to sell Fairtrade coffee. After ten
years on Belmont Street, it now together to make a thick, milksells over 30 Fairtrade prodshake like drink. ucts. This includes all its tea, decaf coffee and hot chocolate. f the Cheekycchino doesn’t take your fancy, the Steamowever, if you’re not into boat might. This is steamed Fairtrade, there are plenty milk mixed with a flavour syrup. other options available. Though, if you just want a cup For example, the Cheekycchiof coffee, they’ll do that for no. This unique drink is a mix of you too. They only offer a few chocolate, espresso, milk and different coffee blends and only a flavored syrup, all blended a few coffee drinks but what
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Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13
what they do, they do well. In terms of tea, they don’t offer many artisan or exotic blends. But, they’re all organic. Most blends available are varieties of organic green tea, peppermint or Earl Grey. Books & Beans offer a small breakfast menu and a homemade lunch menu. Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options are available. If you
have kids, there is a very reasonably priced menu for the little ones. The men includes an adorable drink called ‘Fluffy’- a teeny tiny cappuccino with mini marshmallows.
bookshelves and a cosy fireplace. Take some time to look at the hundreds of books they have to offer, grab a read, sit back and relax. It’s a great place for escapism.
he bookstore, on the second floor, is what makes this coffee shop. Once you’ve bought your coffee, you can head upstairs, sink into a plush leather chair, be surrounded by
If you want an escape from the bustle of the city center and want a place to read, Books and Beans is worth a visit.
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PRICE:£-££ ADDRESS: 22 Belmont St, Aberdeen AB10 1JH CONTACT:01224 646438 SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS/GLUTEN FREE/VEGAN CALL FOR NUT FREE OPTIONS
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
7:45 7:45 7:45 7:45 7:45 7:45 9:45
am am am am am am am
– – – – – – –
HOURS 4:30 pm 4:30 pm 4:30 pm 4:30 pm 4:30 pm 4:30 pm 4:00 pm
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Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13
MOJO?
THEY’VE GOT IT.
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ojo embodies it’s namesake. If you’re looking for a quality product and quality service, Mojo won’t disappoint. Situated at the top end of George Street, the small premise packs in a lot of personality. This coffee house puts flair into everything it does. The Mocha leather chairs, blackboard menu and eiffel tower mural on the wall, all give a stylish modern interior. However, the pieste du resistance, is the glass topped coffee table, with coffee beans under the glass. Little dedication plaques are dotted throughout the seating area so watch out for them too. They have friendly service at Mojo. They let their personalities to show through, have fun and work well. It translates to memorable and distinctive
service.
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blends of tea are available at Mojo, but if you have anything, have a coffee. Mojo’s fairtrade, freshly ground coffee is made in front of you and decorated with a some coffee art. If that’s not enough to sweeten you, Mojo has plenty that will. They have Aberdeen’s widest selection of 20 different syrups to add to your drink and here’s where the fun starts. The owner, Amir, has a background in flair bartending. If he’s up for it, he may show you a few tricks as he pours your syrup. It’s a small detail but it adds a lot to the experience at Mojo. (Watch out for the mascot, the Mojo Monkey, who lives on the syrup shelf!) However, if you want something sweet to eat instead, there’s always a range of traybakes & cakes available.
The lunch menu is ample too. As well as soup and 16 different sandwich fillings, Mojo offers a specials menu. This menu serves up all kinds of dishes, so be sure to have a look before you order for something a little different than the norm .They also a breakfast menu (served all day on Sunday), with a handy cooked vegetarian and non vegetarian option. Out of pocket? Don’t worry. Mojo have deals on both menus to suit a budget.
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f there’s anything to fault about this place, it’s that when it’s busy, the place can feel a little bit small. But with the atmosphere in Mojo, created by such personable service, it never feels overwhelmed or cramped. It’s a bustling hive to chat and chill-out in.
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Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13
If you want style and substance in equal measures, Mojo is the place to go.
PRICE: £ - ££ ADDRESS: 281 George St, Aberdeen, Aberdeen City AB25 1ED CONTACT: 01224 652360 SUITABLE FOR: Vegetrians CONTACT FOR: Vegan & gluten free options & nut free options
Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday:
08:00 AM 08:00 AM 08:00 AM 08:00 AM 08:00 AM 08:00 AM 10:00 AM
-
HOURS 18:00 PM 18:00 PM 18:00 PM 18:00 PM 18:00 PM 18:00 PM 16:00 PM
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Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13 A WORD WITH... THE OWNER - AMIR
#1. Which three words best describe Mojo? A: Fun, professional and good quality. #2. Why did you make the change from flair bartending to running a coffee shop? A: I wanted to stop working at night time, as bartenders are based around evenings and nights- but I wanted a job where you could keep the rapport with the customer and actually interact with people coming in. I took the idea of interacting with customers, providing that service and putting it into a coffee shop. #3. What skills have you brought over from bartending with you? A: As a bartender, the whole idea is to make a drink and present it with style. That’s what flair means. So, it’s taking that concept and applying it to making a coffee. When you walk into our coffee shop instead of someone making you a bog standard coffee, not worrying about the presentation and not worrying about the way they do it- I’ve incorporated that element where there’s a bit of theatre, a bit of entertainment and it gives the customer something to watch while you’re making their coffee. I’m working on the presentation and making the product look good too- you eat and drink with your eyes also. #4 What’s the most unique thing about Mojo? A: It’s the fun aspect. It has to be a fun experience for the people working here, because that in itself connects with the customer and it’s reciprocated. I want people to have a fun experience coming in. A lot of people do good customer service but they do it by the book and follow a certain procedure. We like to connect more with our customers and treat every one of our customers as a person so we can understand their personality and take it from there. #5 Future plans for Mojo? A: If everything goes well is to go for another venue. We’re sticking to Aberdeen, I believe there is still room for one more Mojo in Aberdeen. Then, maybe, start expanding outwards into the suburbs but keeping it local. It’s all about keeping it local for Mojo.
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Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13 Price: £-££ Address: 2 Little Belmont St, City Centre, Aberdeen AB10 1JG Phone:01224 624757
MACBEANS MASTERS OF THE MODERN BLEND
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here is no other place like Macbeans in Aberdeen. If you’re looking for high quality coffee and tea to buy, this store is the place to get it. As well as being a tea & coffee store, they supply to some of the local cafes around Aberdeen. MacBeans has an amazing variety of tea and coffee on sale. They import loose leaf blends of tea and they have coffee from all over the world- even seasonal beans are available. Blends made of beans from Brazil, India and Indonesia are staples in the shop. MacBeans roast, grind and blend their coffee on site. It gives the shop the freedom to create unique blends. MacBeans also has, occasionally, exclusive blends. These special batches are not available anywhere else in the
UK to buy. MacBeans has something for any taste- from breakfast blends to green teas infused with cherry.
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uch a variety can make it difficult to know where to start, even for a coffee connoisseur. But don’t be put off by it. The staff at MacBeans are very knowledgeable. Don’t know what you want? Tell the staff what you like and they will recommend accordingly. They’ll help you find a starting point. Similarly, if you know what you want, they’ll suggest other blends you may like. Even if you know what you want, the blend of the month is always worth a try. MacBeans put a lot of time and effort into choosing the blend of the month. They can trace the coffee
back, show you it’s background and where it’s come from- in order to let you know where your money is going. So, instead of the money falling into a faceless companies profit figure, it goes to the communities of coffee growers and will benefit them. It’s a refreshing and rewarding approach.
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acBeans is an encompassing and impressive store. The variety, care and knowledge at MacBeans make it a leader in the tea and coffee market in Aberdeen. It is definitely worth a visit. For an extended feature on MacBeans, including this month’s blend of the month and an interview with owner Ian Cukrowski, visit our blog at cafe-couture-online.tumblr. com or see the iPad edition of this issue.
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CafĂŠ Couture Issue 1: Nov 13 THIRSTY FOR MORE... The best of the rest. Kilau Coffee 59 High St,
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Café Couture Issue 1: Nov 13
“Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea! How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea.” Sydney Smith
“Coffee is a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to your older self.” — Ter r y Pratchett
For more, go to cafe-couture-online. tumblr.com Available on iPad.
“Tea is one of the main stays of civilization in this countr y.” George Or well
“Adventure in life is good; consistency in coffee even better.” — Justina Chen
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