For this month's instalment of Life Behind Bars we spoke to Jake Jenkinson: assistant manager of Effy, Heathcoat Street's cosy haven for coffee.
Tell us something interesting about your café...
Our two espresso machines are handmade in Seattle and only a handful of them can be found in the UK. We are also a self-taught viennoiserie bakery, making seasonal croissants every morning. The building we are in used to be the house of John Heathcoat, an inventor born in 1783.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Our customers are phenomenal. From our regulars to our first-timers, it is always a delight to serve them coffee that we think is outstanding, and represents the best that producers all over the world have to offer. We are very proud of our innovations in coffee brewing, too. For a little while, we were making guest espresso using a basket that was literally one of a kind. Even since then we’ve moved on to new methods so that we can offer the best product possible.
What’s the worst?
The street is a wind tunnel. We love our outside seating, but the wind does sometimes skim our beautiful latte art off the top like a crisp pint of Stella. Temperature regulation in the bakery can be tricky sometimes, too. The summers represent a challenge for working with butter and dough, but we’re improving our equipment all the time to keep the standard of pastry really high.
What’s your most expensive drink?
A £15 pour over coffee. The bean is a rare, low-yield Geisha varietal from Panama which is roasted in Paris. It has a very distinct and balanced flavour which you won’t often find in other shops.
Describe your cafe in three words:
Burgundy, cosy, yum.
What's your favorite personal tipple?
Flat white, on the cooler side.
Who’s the most famous person you’ve had drinking here?
Bob Mortimer.
What’s the best thing a customer has ever said to you?
Every time someone asks if the pastries on display are real, it warms our hearts (they are).
How would you persuade someone who's never been to your cafe to visit?
An ever-rotating list of coffees prepared with love and care by wonderful staff, served alongside delicious hand-made pastry baked fresh every morning that won’t break the bank.
Find Effy at 20A Heathcoat St, Nottingham NG1 3AA
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