Gentlemen Baristas | Fez | Costa Rica
Established in 2014 Gentlemen baristas opened their first shop on Union St, London. Since then they have evolved into a multi-venue coffee roaster and firmly established themselves as one of the industry leaders of speciality coffee in London and the UK for that matter. Their endearing values and ethics are a slight twist on others in the game which makes them a popular spot for newcomers to the coffee scene as well as tourists
Their story starts over three hundred years ago when the London coffee house cemented itself as the quintessential melting pot of political, philosophical and creative debate. They were the stomping ground of the rich and famous but also the leading thinkers of the day. A coffee house back then was a place for enlightenment, the coffee being the stimulus that sparked many discoveries. The coffee house was also a place that anybody could frequent - unlike the elitist clubs of the time. This furthered the range of backgrounds and points of view that ignited insightful conversation.
The Gentlemen baristas were determined to reinvent these age-old traditions of serving a superb cup of coffee in creative and inspiring surroundings and providing a meeting point and thinking space for London’s modern-day visionaries.
Of course, the tastes of a 17th-century poet will probably not satisfy the discerning palate of the 21st-century hipster; their first and primary aim has always been to showcase at its best the great wealth and variety of coffee available today. Their tagline; Manners are key - resonate throughout the business. From the branding to the sourcing to the point of service. They go to the core of their identity; they are upright and correct and strive to evoke the best of a period gone by.
As coffee roasters, the green beans Gentlemen baristas roast are carefully and responsibly sourced. They source from all over the world; ensuring all of their green beans are high scoring and consistently excellent. Their process for selecting and roasting beans ensure that whichever final form the coffee may take when it reaches the cup, it is the best it possibly can be.
Making coffee can be a perplexing process; It is sensitive to minute changes in temperature and humidity. This is something that coffee carries with it from the minute it’s picked at origin through to the moment it is sipped in a coffee cup. The delicious flavours of speciality coffee is a testament to the meticulous processes that come with it. Gentlemen Baristas are one of the few roasters who don’t just sell their coffee and wave it goodbye, they ensure that whoever is using their coffee it is as well prepared as possible to get the best out of it.
They work closely with clients to provide the right set up for their desired coffee offering from the sourcing of equipment and installation to calibrating the grinders, training staff and regular audits to ensure consistency.
The Coffee
Costa Rican coffee is one of my favourites. Having not having a great deal of experience with it during my time in Australia it wasn’t until I actually visited Costa Rica that I realised why the country was at the forefront of speciality coffee. The abundance of water and perfect coffee growing land alongside a fairly stable economy and a large number of micro mills mean that not only is Costa Rican coffee super traceable it is also well produced. The Fez from Gentlemen Baristas originates from the San Francisco community which is located in San Francisco de León Cortes. The community has grown from 12 producer families in 2014, to 40 producers in 2017. Each of these 40 producer families contributed to this lot of community coffee in the 2016/2017 harvest. The families cultivate caturra and catuai varieties at altitudes ranging between 1700 to 1950 MASL in the privileged district of Llano Bonito. The production capacity of the community has grown to 250 bags.
The people of this community are characterised by a passion for coffee and the desire to consistently produce high quality, sustainable product. They are proud to be participants in the Coope Tarrazú Community Coffees program. Each of the producing families depends on coffee as a livelihood and are committed to working together through all stages of the coffee process to ensure the coffee that is harvested is of excellent quality.
The Review
The Fez from Gentlemen Baristas has all the attributes of a world-class coffee. Costa Rican naturals aren’t your everyday coffee and have been known to knock the socks off people. The fruity aroma jumps out of the bag when it’s first open. The complex fragrance builds as the coffee is ground, aromas of berries during brewing.
The initial sips of the coffee are complex but the coffee starts slow. It doesn’t give up its colours straight away and gradually works around the palate with a pleasant mouthfeel. Notes of berries and grapes.
The coffee does have a notable acidity, that only really becomes apparent as the coffee cools slightly and halfway through the sip. It reminded me of breakfast grapefruit with a sprinkle of sugar. A flash of booze toward the end of each sip - typical of natural coffees.
As the coffee cools right down to room temperature the acidy develops even more and becomes the primary sensation. It has the right balance of sweetness and acidity it reminded me of a lemon meringue pie, which has to be my top 5 desserts. It creates a wonderful drinking experience. Another really notable aspect of the coffee was the complexity of the aftertaste. The flavour profile kept changing quite a while after I had finished the coffee, gradually becoming more acidic.
Great as a pour-over or in a cafetiere. Naturals always have body too so it doesn’t go missing for those who are partial to adding dairy.