FEATURE: Flat Caps
By Nicola Owen on July 26, 2012 in Food
Cunningly concealed under the facade of an indie emporium just off Northumberland Street, Flat Caps one of those puzzlingly unsignposted, fabulously pleasing places to stumble across, a bit like your own private Narnia with free wireless or a lo-fi Room of Requirement for bean junkies with the gift shop of the Hellmouth to navigate first.
Despite some post-Twilight, black-arts-lite merch and predictable designer Druidalia there is some genuinely nice silver, gem set jewellery in Elula. My third eye was particularly taken by a pendant which purifies your past lives which I suppose is quite handy after a few millennia of failing to attain nirvana for whatever reason. However I gave the steely brush off to temptation and told my inner stroppy Georgian scullery maid to zip it while I crossed myself, kissed my garlic necklace for protection and descended into the underworld intent on steam cleaning my chakras with a boost of finest Colombian.
Flat Caps reminds me of off the beaten track Moroccan cafes half buried in the cool earth like forgotten treasure. Benches with brightly coloured silk cushions line the walls while the cold drip press looks like something rescued from an Umayyad alchemist’s laboratory. The focus here is all on the quality of the product and the knowledge and skill required to manipulate it into its finest form.
Freshly made panini as well as sweet things and fruit studded scones make up the mouth watering in house menu along with specially selected guest coffees, teas and cold drinks. If you’re not sure what to plump for just ask straight up for something that suits your mood. Questions are welcomed, these people are dedicated professionals. I tried an aeropress Pumphreys 1750 blend: black, no sugar, no dairy adornments. Soft and mellow without leaving that claggy, bitter-burned aftertaste it was a caffe lungo of effortless elegance. Goes well with Devil’s food chocolate cake and so moorish I ended up taking home a little stash for my venerable Gaggia. If you don’t have the means to grind your beans just tell Joe and he’ll expertly mash your hit into the appropriate fineness for you.
At a competitive fiver for time out, an artisan coffee and a wodge of cake Flat Caps deserves your full attention for all the right reasons. Rather brilliantly if you download the Loyalli app to your smartphone your eighth drink will come to you free of charge. My humble recommendation is to throw off the cluttered chuck-a-cup culture of the evil super chains and rest your bones a while in this hush-hush haven. Just don’t, for the love of Azrael, tell every man and his dog I told you about it.
*whippet not obligatory
You can follow @FlatCapJoe on twitter, likey on Facebook or get more info at flatcapscoffee.com. Register for the gratis Loyalli app at Loyalli.com if you heart a well deserved freebie.
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Feature: Flat Caps Coffee (@FlatCapJoe) – Discover Newcastle's latest cave of caffeinated creativity | http://t.co/7m7h7rcC
Feature: Flat Caps Coffee (@FlatCapJoe) – Discover Newcastle's latest cave of caffeinated creativity | http://t.co/7m7h7rcC
Feature: Flat Caps Coffee (@FlatCapJoe) – Discover Newcastle's latest cave of caffeinated creativity | http://t.co/7m7h7rcC
Feature: Flat Caps Coffee (@FlatCapJoe) – Discover Newcastle's latest cave of caffeinated creativity | http://t.co/7m7h7rcC
Feature: Flat Caps Coffee (@FlatCapJoe) – Discover Newcastle's latest cave of caffeinated creativity | http://t.co/7m7h7rcC
Feature: Flat Caps Coffee (@FlatCapJoe) – Discover Newcastle's latest cave of caffeinated creativity | http://t.co/7m7h7rcC
Feature: Flat Caps Coffee (@FlatCapJoe) – Discover Newcastle's latest cave of caffeinated creativity | http://t.co/7m7h7rcC
@Loyalli gets a mention – Flat Caps Coffee (@FlatCapJoe) – Discover Newcastle's latest cave of caffeinated creativity | http://t.co/cRxSEwCv
@Loyalli gets a mention – Flat Caps Coffee (@FlatCapJoe) – Discover Newcastle's latest cave of caffeinated creativity | http://t.co/cRxSEwCv