Monsoon Estates & The Quest For The Most Quaffable Coffee!

ARE YOU A LOVER OF COFFEE? Are you mad for a cup of Joe, batty for a brew, or lost without your mug of hot steaming Java?!

Monsoon Estates is a traditional craft coffee roastery based near Stratford upon Avon, hand roasting small batches of coffee in a relentless quest to find the perfect cup of coffee. "We know it's not possible of course, but it's a journey of discovery and we're always getting closer".

Owners, Mr and Mrs Monsoon, developed their love of 'proper' coffee whilst living in Europe and later Australia. Upon returning to the motherland, they were heartbroken to discover the distinct lack of good coffee! After years of delicious and lovingly barista-made latte's and espressos, Nescafe didn't come CLOSE to cutting the mustard!

Finally, after months of desperate searching - they took matters into their own hands and began roasting coffee beans for personal use! From that moment, word of the couples spectacular brew swept the local area! Hearing the news, a dear friend asked them to bring their precious beans to a charity sale she was organising.

The reception was OFF THE HOOK! Planted was the seed! People couldn't believe their taste buds - the flavour, the texture, the people behind the taste and the texture! It was ALMOST too much for a mortal mind to comprehend. So good was the feedback that the idea of a business was born!

And so, Monsoon Estate erupted into the collective consciousness! Mr Monsoon traversed the globe to Turkey to procure a sensational Toper roasting machine and off they went. Working from home and selling their coffee at local markets was how it began, and the pair caffeinated many a fair and charity event! EVEN PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON was lucky enough to sample the goods!

Fast forward to now, and the pair are too busy for such events! The beans are well and truly spilt, and there's no going back! Since 2012, when the couple received their first Great Taste Award, they have managed to pick up at least one award every year since! This string of yearly awards is testament to their maintained high standards and ever-increasing quantities of beans roasted.

Now YOU TOO can sip on this DELICIOUS, DREAMY and locally roasted delight! Head down to Cogs of Coventry, down at Coventry Market (in the Ikea entrance) and get your lips around a cup of Monsoon Estate! We sell in whatever quantity you desire and, be it bag, jar, boot or suitcase; we'll pop it in any receptacle you wish. Alternatively, we can put it in a lovely Monsoon estate coffee bag.

See you soon!

New To Cogs Coventry - Honest Toil Extra Virgin Olive Oil

From Extra Virgin Olive Oil to beauty products, grains, fruits and herbs - At Cogs Of Coventry, we offer healthy, happy and mostly organic alternatives to conventionally packaged products. Minimising waste while maximising goodness is high on our list - so we delight in a company who share our values.

Now available from our wholefoods stall at Coventry market, we're incredibly proud to introduce Olive Oil aficionado's - Honest Toil. Bringing a taste of Greece to the Midlands; for ethics, value and flavour this company tick all of our boxes!

In this week's blog, we fawn over the wonders of this medicinal oil and introduce you to this truly wonderful family business. We hope you enjoy it!

The magic of olive oil

The powers of Extra Virgin Olive Oil knows no bounds! From myriad culinary delights to skincare, wood treatments and leather restoration - there's a reason the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians hailed it ''liquid gold'', and a gift from the gods.

Exploding with potent antioxidants - 30 distinct types of phenolic compounds to be precise - Extra Virgin Olive oil helps defend the body against DNA-damaging and cell-ageing free radicals.

Emerging data also ties polyphenols and olive oil consumption to the preservation of bone mass - something which can degenerate in old age. This powerhouse of an oil is likewise a valuable source of monounsaturated fats; which are incredibly beneficial to cardiovascular health.

So, combined with its super-duper antioxidant powers - a diet rich in this most advantageous and ancient oil could be the missing link to eternal youth!

Why Extra Virgin reigns supreme

It's worth noting that not all olive oils are made equal. Refined and stripped of essential nutrients and antioxidants, regular olive oil is a mere shadow of its Extra virgin counterpart.

In contrast, the age-old and completely natural extraction process used during Extra Virgin Olive Oil production guarantees the retention of all nutrients and antioxidants the olive fruit bears.

Introducing Honest Toil

Bringing to our tables an untouched, extra virgin olive oil fresh enough to make Zeus weep tears of joy; the Honest Toil team are gods among mortals when it comes to olive production.

This modern-day liquid gold has garnered an enormous following of deli owners, restauranteurs and individuals, all enamoured by its deep, sensual and delicious aroma and delighted by its exquisite flavours!

From the Koroneiki groves to Coventry

Honest Toils tiny orchard of Koroneiki trees lies nestled in the stunning Western Peloponnese region of Greece. Producing a yield of teeny but mighty fruits; their trees bear the olives responsible for the areas remarkably delicious and intoxicating oils.

Hailed from the freshest Messinian mountain olives and pressed only once; their oil maintains every magical and medicinal drop of the 'good stuff', and remains utterly pure until it reaches your plate!

Koroneiki olive trees

Knobbly, gnarled and oozing the majesty and silent wisdom that comes with a certain age - Koroneiki trees are superbly unique and abundant of character. The older they grow, the more fairy-tale fantastic they look! Fruiting until well into their hundreds - these grandmother tree's are a marvel to behold and demand absolute respect. If you're lucky enough to encounter a Koroneiki, hugging one will be the closest you'll get to the talking trees of folklore - we're sure!

The taste

"Initially, there is a charmingly subtle, almost peppery type of spice to the bite which combines with the oil'soil's smooth, silken texture. It leaves with a distinctive and complex aftertaste that belies the simplicity of its transformation from inedible fruit to flavoursome gloop.

…It is a full-of-life flavour.

The rich, and typically ''olive'' colour of the glorious, green juice we produce is indicative of its quality and its freshness. It stands out in a line up of ''off the shelf'shelf' test subjects. It is great for practically any culinary venture, from baking to drizzling to marinades to dipping. Independently, or as an ingredient, Honest Toil Olive Oil packs its own idiosyncratic punch. And the good news doesn't even stop there, for, although we are certainly fond of our flavour, we also know it's important to keep in good health…"

• Honest Toil

Where to get your fill!

Bring your bottle to us - Cogs of Coventry - for a refill. Situated in the bustling and vibrant hall of Coventry market, you can catch us from Tuesday through to Saturday. And if you don't have your bottle, we can loan you one.

You can also take your own bottles to the following London stores for refills:

The Dry Goods Store - 10 Lauderdale Parade, Paddington, W9 1LU - 020 7289 6075. Simply Fresh - 201 - 203 Roman Road, Bethnal Green, E2 OQY - 0208 981 2996. Mrs Lovell's Greengrocers - 28 Highbury Park, Islington, N5 2AA - 0207 3545325. Dig This Nursery - 272 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6AA - 07749491407. Puzzle Organico - 232 Rye Lane, Peckham, London, SE15 4NL - 07749491407