A room with a brew: patrons at Prof’s on Alexandra.
A room with a brew: patrons at Prof’s on Alexandra.
When Kate and Allan Wilson designed the tag-line for their new coffee shop, Prof's on Alexandra, it was more about reflecting a personal philosophy, than adding to their growing collection of puns.
Reason for Bean reflects their principles around providing the perfect coffee experience. With both Wilsons having science degrees, a natural approach was to apply laboratory-style techniques and equipment to produce repeatedly good coffee.
The first shot of the day is run through the machine to check the flow characteristics are correct.
"It all starts with the bean," says Kate. "Essenza, a local coffee roaster had already been supplying our café Prof's@Woodlands with quality beans, so it was easy to also supply Prof's on Alexandra."
"The perfect coffee shot has flavoursome aromatic compounds without bitterness. This requires a balance of properties in the grind itself, how it is tamped and the pressure/volume of water being forced through the ground coffee," says Kate.
To ensure consistency in grind, Prof's beans are kept in a temperature regulated grinder.
The end result, possibly the best coffee science can produce.
Each day their baristas calibrate the grinder to ensure that the grind size and volume fit within tight parameters.
Next they tamp the ground coffee into the coffee machine head with an imported spring loaded tamper to ensure that the correct force is applied - irrespective of the barista's physical strength.
They run the shot through the coffee machine, checking that the volume of the pour and timing is just right. They observe the flow of the coffee shot to see if it has the appropriate 'rats-tail' shape as a parallel check on flow characteristics.
Where science meets art at Prof's - that's the syrups for coffee flavours in the lab flasks.
"Once the calibration process is completed the machine is set up, with only minor tweaks required though the day for discerning customers," says Kate.
Customer preferences are wide ranging with everything from quad shot long blacks to what Prof's refers to as 'scared milk', aka a quarter shot cappuccino. Various milks are available to suit dietary and taste preferences - with these also requiring barista skills having quite different frothing characteristics.
Kate Wilson takes a scientific approach to achieving the perfect cup of coffee.
Geography also plays a part in preferences. Prof's@Woodlands knows to order in more speciality milks on holiday weekends to cater for travelling Aucklanders.
Prof's baristas take equal care with milk frothing, ensuring sufficient 'stretch' is introduced for the amount of bubbles required and the milk is then heated and swirled to break down bubble size and increasing 'mouth-feel' or creaminess. They also time the frothing (and check the temperature) so that the milk is not too cool and not burnt.
Kate says Prof's also wanted takeaway cups and lids that felt good to hold, were well-insulated and compostable. Considerable scientific research was undertaken to find a cup that met that criteria, was cost-effective and could carry the Prof's brand. A big order was required and 50,000 cups were subsequently imported through a local supplier.
Prof's' barista Vincent Haaijema says it is gratifying to have the team's skills recognised by customers and see loyalty cards being used to their fullest.
Yes, says Kate, they can be accused of being coffee snobs, but in a competitive café scene they are giving their 'best shot' at developing a clientele which appreciates good coffee, food and ambience. Great coffee can uplift everyone's daily grind, she says.
¦Prof's on Alexandra, Shop 6, 113 Alexandra St, Hamilton CBD. www.profs.co.nz. Open Monday to Friday 7.30am to 3.30pm.
The shop's ambience is warm and eclectic with many of the furnishings chosen, designed and made by Kate and Allan.
A steam punk vibe comes through with a retro record player, walls filled with coffee puns, original coffee shop art, science paraphernalia, plus Victoriana reflecting Prof's@Woodlands heritage.
Prof's on Alexandra has a wide range of cabinet food (available for dine-in or takeaway) which is prepared by their big brother café Prof's@Woodlands. Prof's also supplies catering to the CBD.
