Coffee Bobbins
Coffee Bobbins a coffee shop at the bottom of The Strait leading up Steep Hill.
Coffee Bobbins an award winning coffee shop opened a year ago Easter at the bottom of The Strait.
I must be a glutton for punishment, award winning yes but the award by Good Taste Lincolnshire, compounded by the fact they serve tea pigs and coffee supplied by Lincoln Tea and Coffee.
In their defence Coffee Bobbins may say we are a cake shop, and it is true a display of scrumptious looking cakes, though limited choice and I did not try.
They do though call themselves a coffee shop not a cake shop, and I was there to try their coffee.
When I see a coffee or tea shop displaying tea pigs it immediately tells me they are clueless on tea.
The coffee supplied by Lincoln Tea and Coffee again not a good sign as it is not good coffee. I have tried before at Bailgate Deli. It was not good. When I asked to look at the beans I found to be cheap over-roasted coffee with defective beans and a very unpleasant aroma.
The same Brazilian blend that Lincoln Tea and Coffee claim they supply as an exclusive blend for Bailgate Deli, a speciality coffee shop. Not then exclusive, neither is Bailgate Deli a speciality coffee shop, if it was, it would employ skilled baristas and source better quality coffee beans. Not that Bailgate Deli has ever claimed to be a speciality coffee shop, they are a deli specialising in vegan food.
Lincoln Tea and Coffee claim their beans are fresh. They do not roast, merely buy and bag and on the bags no roast date thus no way of knowing how fresh.
The decor is reasonable, though lacking in ambience.
The entrance very badly designed, forced to push past people blocking the way.
My coffee not good, too hot, chocolate dumped on top.
I asked for a coffee without chocolate. It was not good either, again scalding hot and undrinkable. After one sip I left it.
I asked for water. I am used to Athens, water is always brought without asking or is on the counter.
Toilets are out the back in a yard. Not good if raining.
If as appears, Coffee Bobbins care about their cakes, then why not care about the coffee? I can visit a chain if I want to drink bad coffee, Costa or tax dodging Starbucks or Caffé Nero. And the price not cheap, at £2–80 expect quality coffee.
They also need to employ skilled baristas. Though the best barista would be hard pushed to make a decent cup of coffee with the beans they are using no matter how hard they tried.
There is absolutely no excuse for this. If they have not a clue on coffee, begs the question why open a coffee shop, but if not a clue, then pick up a copy of The North and North Wales Independent Coffee Guide, where will find listed speciality coffee shops and coffee roasteries. A hint, try 200 degrees, or better still Hasbean or Dark Woods.
It is commendable to buy local, but never at the expense of quality. And how local is local, Hasbean and Dark Woods are regional.
Similarly if they are serious about tea cannot get more local than Imperial Tea half way up Steep Hill, which is served in Pimento Tea Rooms.
The one good point was the two girls serving, polite, pleasant, helpful, and in conversation knowledgeable about coffee.
