http://www.cafe-the-richelme.com/
The highlight of my day. To be walking around Aix en Provence and stumble on their very own local roastery, which is actually the only proper roastery in I would say, the south of France.
Walking in I was hit with the sight of their huge red roaster where roasting takes place daily, it is not just for display. There was a roast cooling while I was there, ready to be bagged. The smell put me into euphoria. After two weeks of France and no good coffee I felt as though I was in heaven, but which bean to choose. Their range covered Australie, Harrar, Kenya, Caracoli, Maragogype, Moka, Costa Rica, Mysore, Antilles, Papuo Neuvelle Guinia, Vienmos, Porto Rico, Kalossi, Amerique Madagascar, Colombie, Italian, the list goes on. AND the most amazing thing was that you could order a coffee to be made from any of these beans, or maybe you would prefer a blend. I was kicking myself for just having an espresso at a Pattiserie, but it didn’t matter, I still had to try at least two beans, and not caring how much I would be buzzing, I ordered two of my favourites in espresso – Harrar and Kenya.
Looking around I noticed that there was not much food offered, only 2 small sweets, here it was all about the coffee which is how it should be in such a speciality roaster. I sat down on the bench outside and took in the space around me. The piazza was full of people walking around, enjoying a drink in the many cafes and just taking in the sun. My first espresso was brought out. Kenya. I was so happy to taste the citrusy tones very commonly apparent in beans from this area. It was smooth and really brought a smile to my face after giving up coffee for my time in France as most cafes or brassieres serve coffee from electric ‘push a button’ machines which is watery, burnt and just terrible. I finished it, sat and relaxed. It was a beautiful setting and somewhere one could spend hours just relaxing, especally with a good book. After about 10 minutes I was asked if I was ready for my second, and within 30 seconds it was on my bench. I took a sip of the Harrar and found it a tad too hot, especially for an espresso but once it cooled I could taste its smoothness and big body, quite a difference from the Kenyan bean.
Sitting on my stool I looked back into the cafe and noticed a whole wall full of flavoured products such as flavoured sugars, flavoured cocao, flavoured coffee and jams. I really wish we had such items in Sydney as I think they could really add to cooking, for example, you could make a dark chocolate with orange fondant, or maybe a coffee with a hint of cinnamon sugar. It would make it so much easier to combine some flavours which are very hard to dissolve into liquids.
On a closer investigation I discovered they also have a enormous loose leaf tea selection which is displayed beautifully in glass jars on the counter but also in tin jars on the shelves behind. The staff are more than happy to help explain the flavours and let you have a smell. I did want to buy some tea to take home, but after picking up some jam, cocao and wanting to get at least two different types of beans, I thought I might leave it for this time as I know my bags were already stuffed and I still had 2/3 of my trip to go.
Back to the beans……I was really torn as to which ones to get. Do I go with the Australian beans just to try? I was so close to getting them but then thought that since I can get them at home, I would get some varieties I did not have the chance to try in espresso and have not had before. After consulting one of the waitresses, who lucky for me was Canadian so spoke english she told me the two most popular beans were the Antilles and the Moka so I decided to get them. Now it has been 1 week since I bought them and I was thinking that maybe I should use them in cooking so I can taste the flavour while they are fresh by crushing them and sprinkling over ice cream or in a chocolate truffle maybe.
By this stage I was still on cloud nine and wish I could have stayed to drink coffee all afternoon, but firstly I had to go and meet some friends and secondly I would not have slept at all that night. When i left I was buzzing so much as I hadn’t so much coffee in such a short period of time for a couple of weeks, it was lucky I used some of that energy during a 4 hour hike.
If you enjoy coffee or just want a nice place to sit and take in the city, I reccomend you make a visit here, you will not be dissapointed, and I bet you will leave with a few products in hand.
