So, in recent months, coffee has become a staple part of my diet, so much so that I bought a Nespresso machine, actually this was probably my final transition from oversized child to adult, long gone are the days of hot chocolate, move over marshmallows I only want froth these days.
Well this new love of coffee grew over time and in turn I wanted to learn more about coffee, and thats where Yahi come in! After a cheeky wee Tweet about local coffee/barista training sessions Yahi invited me down to their in-store training - and I had a coffee infused blast!
Yahi
So the place is pretty cool; located in The Great Northern Mall or Europa Bus Centre as most of you may know it, this place is a mix of local produce, a dollop of charm and a very affordable menu, this along with a very friendly staff, super cool brick wallpaper (you had me fooled), an exposed roof and retro iron stools make Yahi a special wee place, one you may not have even heard of, but you really should have!
The menu boasts lunch time treats such as; 'The Hunter' local Sloan's cured bacon and Ballymoloe relish topped with local cheese and a free range egg in between toasted sourdough, Overnight Oats, Award Winning Porridge, Superfood Salads and a range of sandwiches, all making excellent use of local ingredients and all looking amazingly moreish! Yahi definitely pride themselves on using local ingredients, something so important to our economy and they are definitely taking part in EnjoyNI16.
The Coffee Masterclass
So I know in the past they have offered these classes to the public and I hope they continue to do so because the fun I had and the skills I picked up in a two hour session were amazing - now to make things even better we were being trained by the current Irish Aero press Champion Gregory Wincenty-Cichy - cool dude with an even cooler beard!
So the class itself began with an overview of the origins of coffee, the importance of brewing time dependant on the recipe, how the oils mix to stop the bitterness of the coffee bean, and how to actually brew/make the perfect coffee. I'll not lie, I was like a big kid at Christmas using the coffee machine, it was sooo much fun and it has actually convinced me that I want a proper coffee machine at home, maybe for Christmas? Hint, Hint (I actually need to tell Lauren here that this is a hint to buy me a coffee machine for Christmas, she is terrible at picking up on hints) Well below are a few photos of my time using the machine, I loved it!
So as well as learning to make espressos, cappuccinos (my fav) and lattes we also got to do some coffee art - do you ever see those wee hearts, or leafs or flowers on the top of you coffee? well I am now an expert in these (The pictures prove it...)
Gregory showed us all the tips for this, the angle at which to froth the milk, how to make the froth super shinny, the height at which to pour the milk and the hand actions used to create these little art masterpieces - and we got to drink all the coffees too! Here are my attempts below!
So the first image is of a tulip with leaves and this was created by Connor, not me unfortunately but one of Yahi's trainee baristas, the second image is a coffee heart created by Gregory and the third, unbelievably is me trying to replicate this heart...however mine looks more like The Milky Way....drew by Picasso....during his Abstract Period....than a heart, but I promise you it tasted amazing!
So I think we can all agree that I not going to win any Coffee Art Competitions in the near future but the fun and knowledge I picked up made this a really unforgettable day at Yahi - I loved every minute of two hours including about the 8 coffees I had which in turn left me leaving quite hyper on my drive home, windows down singing full blast to Leanne Rhymes - Can't Fight the Moonlight (great song, don't judge me)
Overall I had an amazing time and met a great bunch of people. If any of you would be interested in this drop me a wee Facebook message and I will explore the options. And next time your in Belfast drop into Yahi, get a bite to eat and enjoy a super smooth coffee - you won't regret it!