FOOD + DRINK
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE !
THERE ’ S NOTHING QUITE LIKE THE COMFORT OF A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE DURING THE AUTUMN , BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE DRINK IN HAND , IS THE RITUAL OF ENJOYING IT IN A WELCOMING SPACE . insideKENT ROUNDS UP SOME OF THE COUNTY ’ S BEST COFFEE HAVENS .
MIT MILCH COFFEE
October : the height of autumn and a month of transition . The hazy days of summer are over and the sparkle of Christmas is still a little way off . When asked to envision our perfect , clichéd autumnal scene , we may think about the crunch of golden leaves underfoot , grinning pumpkins and of course , comforting cups of coffee . Perhaps you visualise it clutched between gloved hands in a lidded cup during a walk around a park , or sitting atop a low coffee table , complete with foam-art in a huge mug . However you envision your autumn cup , its presence makes us love this season all the more . Ask someone 20 years ago to envision their favourite autumn scene and they may not have said the same … falling leaves , yes , but our desire for good coffee has definitely grown to such intense levels since the beginning of the new millennium .
Our necessity for coffee throughout the year ( not just in autumn ) has taken on serious importance , leaving a lot of us feeling that a morning without coffee and its rich , soothing aroma results in our belief that something integral is missing . Until we get that satisfying caffeine hit , we are not truly ready to take on the day . Alongside this , we also consult our inner ‘ coffee snob ’ - gone are the days that instant granules could suffice , as each of us continues to explore and develop our own unique desires when it comes to ordering our perfect cup . Our insatiable thirst for coffee has the world drinking more than one billion cups a day , and with such a thriving industry with so much pressure to produce , issues of fairtrade and labour conditions also play on our minds when choosing where to purchase our java .
So , what is it that ’ s made this ‘ coffeehouse culture ’ heat up so much ? Perhaps it was the 90 ’ s television show Friends and the consumerist decadence of the ‘ Clinton years ’ that helped set the tone for boutique coffee houses and how they should be . The UK was quick to follow suit and adapted our style to fit that cosy , ‘ at home ’ barebrick living room interior , complete with the squashy sofas and low coffee tables of Central Perk .
Whatever influences have shaped the way we appreciate coffee here in Kent , one thing is for certain : the ambience of the venue in which you sip that all-important ‘ steaming cuppa joe ’, should be just as good as the coffee you are tasting .
Blessed with the creativity of coffee entrepreneurs , Kent now provides the ultimate blend of coffee shops and wholesalers , all fit to feed our need for that heartening break which will undoubtedly recharge us . From artsy seaside hangouts to characterful highstreet havens with crooked beams and low ceilings , the towns of Kent have a collection of coffee houses which are sure to bring pleasure and joy , perhaps an accompanying snack , but most importantly , an essential cup of coffee goodness . From regular flat whites to pumpkin spiced lattes - whatever you ’ re drinking , pleasure should always be abundant . Here are insideKENT ’ s top picks :
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