Espresso Blend (Flying Horse Coffee)

We have a few flying horses in London, the pubs. Flying horses and coffee is a new thing in the city that has seen pigs flying over Battersea Power Station in the past. Flying Horse Coffee roasters are therefore both trying to connect with the past and present something new, at least that is how I see their Espresso Blend.

What we are going to end up with in our cups is a mix of coffee from Brazil, Peru, and Guatemala. The notes promised by the roaster are molasses, chocolate and orange. If this reads like a familiar progression of notes as the grind settings decrease to expose more fruity notes then you are in for a surprise, because Espresso Blend seems to be going in the opposite direction.

What Flying Horse deliver in their bags is a fresh take on molasses, which are often a struggle to like. This blend has enough orange in it to make a pleasant experience when the grind setting indicator shows 3. It will take 26 seconds to brew 36 grams of it and you will want to do it again.

Setting 2 is a midpoint, where chocolate is more prominent and molasses begin to fade away. Probably one to skip for grind setting 1 where chocolate and orange play the first fiddle.

Tamping at all grind settings needs to be heavy for the brewing time of 26 seconds at all grind settings.

Overall, this is coffee that will please many. Those who like more fruity notes, will likely prefer it ground at 3 and those wanting a taste of milk chocolate with an infusion of orange will go for grind setting 1.

Bonus points for putting labels with their London address on the bags.

Mixing with Milk

If you like your milky espressos tasting of milk chocolate and oranges, grind at 1.

Where To Buy

Espresso Blend is available online.

Equipment

• Coffee grinder: Sage (Breville) Smart Grinder Pro

• Espresso machine: Sage (Breville) Bambino Plus