Hello from here at the starting line.

It's Day 1 of my journey, and before I get started here's a big thanks to you for joining me here!  Whether you're already a self-confessed 'coffeegeek' or, like me, someone who until now hasn't had much to do with the stuff, I hope you'll enjoy reading of my fun and frustrations whilst learning about coffee.

"What's he going on about? Just pour the boiling water on the brown powder from the jar!" I hear some of you say.  Well the thing is, I bought a home espresso machine a few weeks ago and since then it has become obvious to me that there's a massive coffee thing going on in the world and that I and the majority of people in my country (UK) just don't have a clue about it!  Some of us think we do, because we regularly buy the latest caramel latte from Costa Coffee or Pepperment Mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks.  But when it comes to coffee, well...we're a nation of tea drinkers and proud of it.

That would be ok if it weren't for the fact that the world is also changing, and quickly.  You know filter coffee? You know - the horrible black stuff that sits on the hotplate for hours in cheap cafes?  Well, it turns out that filter coffee is making a comeback - and this time it means business.  "Pah!", you say.  "Never!".  Maybe you're right.  Nobody knows yet.  But the coffegeeks and stockbrokers say it will.  And guess what? Starbucks have started pushing their new filter coffee range.  That says a lot.

At the top of the page are some pictures of coffee brewing devices - some weird and wonderful little tools there, eh?  Here's my plan.  I'm going to be messing about with as many of them as I can, trying to make the perfect coffee.  This is me trying to learn something to the best of my ability.  To be more than a Barista... a Barista Eccezionale if you like.

But let's take a step back... my starting position is Barista Rubbisho!  This is going to involve time, mistakes, and a lot of caffeine buzz!  I don't have all these devices yet.  And learning how to use them isn't as simple as putting water and ground beans in and waiting a few minutes.  These things can make truly awful coffee if it's done wrong, and its a lot easier to do it wrong than to do it right.  But therein lies the 'Coffee Lab' aspect of this blog.  Through a process of education, experiment and experience, hopefully I'll eventually reach my goal.  Or at least somewhere near it.

Wish me luck!