Society Members travelled to Weedon Bec’s historic Ordnance Depot to visit the Yellow Bourbon Coffee Roasters today.
Much like their smaller coffee shop at 15 Angel Street, this location also boasts a hipster-chic atmosphere but with a more industrial twist. As you enter you are immediately greeted with a hanging sign that politely asks that you don’t bring or use a laptop in the establishment and just enjoy yourself – which personally I’m split on. On one hand I appreciate being able to enjoy a coffee without the cold blue glow of a handful of laptops around me, operated by exhausted students and casual businesspeople on conference calls or drafting spreadsheets. On the other hand, I also appreciate a comfortable working environment away from the home office with coffee on demand and ambient music that I don’t have to stress over to make sure I’ve picked just the right playlist for what I’m doing. I contain multitudes.
Speaking of music, this is clearly something that the YBCR take seriously and have made somewhat of a hallmark of their brand. In both locations they openly encourage you to bring and play your own vinyl records on their pretty impressive sound system, in the Weedon Bec shop they have set aside a purpose-built music appreciate area resplendent with comfy leather Chesterfield sofas, sound baffling boards to reduce audio reflections and large speaks to experience the full range of sound from their record players. If you don’t want to bring your own records, they have a selection of music available for you to browse and listen to at your leisure.
The staff who served us were friendly and polite, and when questioned showed both a knowledge and love of coffee and what roast would be best for whatever your intended use was.
While they occasionally have a guest bean it should come as no surprise that they serve their own product, which is delicious. I’m a particular fan of their Espresso blend which boasts a flavour profile including caramel, orange and cherry. Variety being the spice of life, today however I chose to take home a bag of their Brazil roast featuring chocolate and dried cherry flavours.
The Society enjoyed their time at the shop and will be back in the future.