I call it the dance of the barista.
A gentle ballet of slow measuring and shushing steam or a frenetic fandango of tamping, banging and rattling cups.
Once you see it, you know you’ll get a decent cup of java, hot and strong.
I don’t know how all these little cafés survive, even in a densely populated area like Hove, but I’m glad they do for variety is the spice of life for the coffee aficionado.
New on the scene in 2018 is 44 Poets, a tiny coffee shop at the corner of Rutland and Montgomery in the popular Poets Corner area.
Keeping it local
We found 44 Poets through word of mouth.
It’s a welcoming neighbourhood place, serving teas, coffees and light snacks to parents on the school or park run, freelancers and home-workers bored with their own company and locals just dropping in for a hot drink and a chat.
The décor is industrial cool, all plain wood and stainless steel. It’s clean, bright, perfectly located for people-watching and serves exceptional coffee.
Making great coffee
Owner Steven is usually on hand to dispense knowledge as well as a brew, serving a range of specialty coffees from Square Mile Coffee Roasters with an attention to detail that will satisfy the most exacting coffee purist.
They’ve just installed a magnificent beast of a machine from Italy where precision is the name of the game.
Barista skills
Exactly the right amount of coffee is weighed and freshly ground then levelled off with a special gadget that ensures no peaks and troughs interfere with the steady percolation of hot water.
Tamped gently down, the grounds are placed in the machine and the hot water, at exactly the right temperature, is filtered through.
Top quality milk from Northiam Dairy is used to ensure a smooth finish with the now obligatory pattern on the top; hearts, leaves, birds – whatever takes the barista’s fancy.
And they have a full range of non-dairy alternatives.
Specialist brews
If you prefer hand brew or cold brew, the team at 44 Poets are happy to arrange that too and have a different selection of roasts to try which they rotate regularly.
Of course this might all seem a bit pretentious, and hipster.
And if all you want is a great cup of coffee, served with a smile and maybe a tasty snack or two, then 44 Poets is perfect for you as well.
More than just coffee
We’ve dropped by a couple of times since they opened.
They stock enormous pastries from Flour Pot Bakery (Pork Belly can vouch for the almond croissant being delicious) with some vegan and gluten-free alternatives.
I love their lentil based mock sausage roll. They also stock cake from Worthing-based Honeycomb cakes.
If caffeine’s not your thing (sharp intake of breath from Pork Belly) they stock a decadent hot chocolate, intensely rich and satisfying, and a range of herbal teas and gently decaffeinated coffee.
More information about 44 Poets
Their capacity is small, seating about 12 people inside with a few tables outside, but they also provide a takeaway service. See their website for opening hours. Also see Flour Pot Bakery and Honeycomb Cakes website