Sweetshop (Square Mile Coffee Roasters)

Is Sweetshop a candy lover’s paradise? Depends on which blend we are talking about and how you brew it. Being a seasonal espresso blend, you can expect different formulations to be made available under that name, but they do maintain the same profile of sweetness with noticeable, but not alarming acidity and playfulness.

I tried two versions of Sweetshop: one available in May and the other available in August.

The May blend promised citrus and blackcurrant notes, but it was difficult to get at them using my default grinder.

When you attempt to brew espresso using May Sweetshop ground at settings greater than 1 water will flow through the portafilter without paying any attention to coffee no matter how heavily you tamp it. Simply go for grind setting 1 and stay there. Tamp hard.

If it seems like May Sweetshop is hard work that’s because it is, but when you get it to brew for at least 24 seconds what you get is a pleasant concoction of sweet and slightly acidic notes that promise a fruity summer.

A better grinder capable of finer grinds would do it justice. There is an alternative though. The May Sweetshop is a delicious filter coffee for hot summer days, works like a dream brewed over ice.

The August Sweetshop blend offers a much better espresso brewing experience. What you get at grind setting 2 is a pleasant fruity cherry syrup, while grind setting 1 results in a rich texture of powdered chocolate, hazelnuts and fruit.

MIXING WITH MILK

While May Sweetshop is not really a good match for milk, August Sweetshop ground at 1 will be milk’s best friend.

WHERE TO BUY

You can buy it from many coffee shops or directly from the Square Mile Coffee Roaster’s website (they also have a separate EU shop, make sure you place your order there if you are based in the EU).

EQUIPMENT

• Coffee grinder: Sage (Breville) Smart Grinder Pro

• Espresso machine: Sage (Breville) Bambino Plus