Mustard Coffee Shop Norwich

Having spent Christmas with family in Norfolk, I found myself stuck in a turkey sandwich and sales shopping limbo. My particular shopping trip yesterday took me deep into the relatively unfamiliar Norwich Lanes where I happened to stumble upon the recently reopened Mustard Coffee Shop. In an effort to revive me in anticipation of another bout of shopping, I stepped inside and had a browse. The thing that instantly struck me when I arrived was that there was literally nothing about Mustard that was ordinary. From the (second to none) customer service, to the way it has wholeheartedly embraced its impressive heritage.

Mustard Coffee is built on the site of the first ever Collmans shop. This is hinted at in the colour and general feel of the shop. The motif runs tastefully throughout the decor without becoming the focal point.

For this particular shop, the focal point is very much the coffee. Mustard quickly establishes itself as something completely different. It has broken out of the mould of the more commercial coffee shops immediately and left them behind. After chatting to the lady behind the counter, she suggested that I try a flat white coffee. As a coffee novice, for me the coffee spectrum stops at a macchiato and goes right the way through to a latte. Little did I know that there is an amazing little gem in between, simply referred to as the flat white. Now, apologies to the coffee connoisseurs out there for teaching you to suck eggs, but a flat white is as strong as a macchiato only with more milk. When the coffee arrived, I can honestly say that it was the best I’d ever tasted. It was punchy and full of flavour yet as smooth as silk. The quality literally blew my socks off. It was literally exactly what I wanted and the tip top customer service made sure I had a cup of what I needed!

I also ordered a piece of freshly made (on site) cheesecake which was, again, utterly divine. My friend ordered a slice of Millionaire Shortbread and a flat white and was equally as impressed. Everything that I tasted or was on display appeared to ooze with freshness as the specials board oozed homely comforts and wintery lovliness. All the food is cooked to order, however which way you like it.

As I said, nothing about this place is ordinary. The owners display art on the walls from local artists. The back wall is covered with a mural depicting the whole ‘coffee story' from bean to cup. This fascinating process is brought to life with a wealth of colour and vibrancy. This leads me nicely onto my next point. Mustard roast their own coffee on site which, I’m told, is in itself, quite some achievement. I was so taken with the coffee that I bought a bag to take home with me.

The experimentation and innovation does not stop there. Mustard pays homage to a wealth of different brewing techniques both old and new. Behind the counter is a ‘brew bar’ where you can select an alternative brewing method for those who prefer something a little different. Or, quite simply, for those who fancy a nosey into different methods of brewing etc.

Anybody would be hard pushed to find fault with Mustard. In fact, you’d have your work cut out finding something that Mustard does not excel in. If I was absolutely forced to part with the tiniest bit of criticism, it would be that the two take away scotch eggs that I left clutching didn’t make the journey home. No sooner had I left the car park had I succumbed to temptation and they were gone :-)

Ch-eggars Ahoy!!!

Anyone who has strutted down any busy high street, whether it be in London or Leeds, Dundee or Doncaster, will be reasonably familiar with the workings of the charity beggar. They're easily identified by their (often brightly coloured) t-shirt, inappropriate banter and forlorn face.

Now before I go on to angrily tap at the keys of my lap top and write what, effectively, is a 'how to avoid a ch-eggar in three simple steps' survival guide, I should add that this is not a slur on charity work in general. I think that people do amazing things in the name of charridy and I respect that a great deal. I just think that there are better ways to do good than giving your bank details to a man or woman holding a clip board in one hand, pen in the other and only thoughts of what he or she will do with the commission in his or her head. Regardless of how much it temporarily massages your otherwise clear conscience.

Gone are the days when you could just say 'sorry but i'm busy'. Come out with that particular put off and the determined ch-eggar will have your copy of the direct debit agreement in your hand sooner than you can say 'but i'm skint'.

So here it is, a little guide to help you when next accosted, as you inevitably will be, by a ch-eggar.

1. The Shimmy - Always keep an eye at least 20 meters ahead of you. That way you're alerted to what is lurking in the viscinity. When the ch-eggar approaches, do a bootscooting stylee grapevine (knew line dancing classes would come in handy at some point) to avoid falling into the path of the ch-eggar.
2. The Look - my personal favourite - When approached by a ch-eggar, look him or her straight in the eye. Do not succumb to the desperation in their eyes. Do not feel bad that they'll probably have to work a little bit harder to make some pennies for their gap year. Look them straight in the eye with a look that screams, 'approach me and i'll explode. Thought Gordy was bad when Sue put him in front of Gillian of Rochdale and it spoilt his day? He hasn't got a patch on me'. If you're a nice person, this will feel a little alien at first. So make up for it by doing your bit. Do the race for life. Take a bag of unwanted clothes to Oxfam. But, whatever you do, do not allow the look to slip until you're well clear of ch-eggar territory.
3. The Excuse - Simply jog up and down on the spot for approximately 3 to 5 seconds and say 'sorry mate, ate something dodge about ten minutes ago, do you know where the nearest public toilets are?'.

So there you have it. It's pretty simple. I invite you all to try these techniques. If in doubt, go about your day to day life in and around any city centre sporting, 'the look' and shoehorn any particular eventuality into it.

Good luck!