The sun came out long enough for us to get the tables and chairs out this afternoon. 
It’s lovely.  You really should pay us a visit. 
Enjoy an Old Brown Java in the morning or a Lancaster Blend in the afternoon. 
Go on, spoil yourself!

Allow me to shed some light on the gorgeous & exclusive range of special French tipples we have on offer in our shop at the moment, as part of the Roaster’s Range of drinks to accompany your coffee. When I say exclusive I mean only available in the UK from Atkinson’s & our importers, so a fairly justifiable use of that over-used word.  We think our customers will really appreciate the authentic nature of these drinks and the extra care taken in true artisan production that ensures such distinctive flavours.

Morise Calvados – Trois Pommes

So called after the region of Normandy where they have been distilling the essence of their apple orchards for countless generations. As near as you’ll get to a single varietal Calvados, this domain uses only three varieties to produce a truly fresh and lively spirit that captures the moment your teeth puncture the skin of the apple!

Cognac: Chateau Beaulon – Folle Blanche 7YO

A rare thing indeed in a world of blended cognacs – a single estate, Chateau Beaulon, single varietal, Folle Blanche, brandy. The resulting liquor is imbued with a finesse and elegance rarely found, gently rounded off for 7 years in Limousin oak, the gentler mouthfeel demands slow appreciation and rewards the palate with a soft unfolding of flavours of toasted almond and a ghost of caraway. Testament to the skill and endeavour of the lone Proprieteur working his 35 hectares of Organic vineyard.

Pineau de Charentes – Chateau Beaulon 5YO

Unfamiliar to us as a sherry quaffing nation but a similar style of delicious aperitif, conjuring up fond memories of sojourns in Cognac country where it is the sophisticated coup de jour, chilled sur la terrasse when the sun’s beating down cracking the flags!

Armagnac – Chateau Millet 5YO Bas Armagnac

Those yet to savour the delights of a deep, dark Armagnac have a real treat in store. Unlike it’s younger brother, Cognac, this less explored region is littered with small producers creating wildly individual masterpieces. A great Armagnac rises up to greet the nose from the glass before it even leaves the counter! Full of dusky age & an antique burr of gnarled walnut it glimmers in the shadows like burnished bronze…

Floc de Gascogne – Chateau de Millet

Our sommelier has been looking for this in the UK since he sipped it in a Gascon farmhouse some 20yrs ago & has finally tracked it down! Same strength as sherry but arrived at by the opposite route. Instead of being a fortified wine it is a diluted spirit. Over a rich basso profundo of Armagnac is transposed a clear, clean grape juice in one harmonious arrangement.

The Steel family recently spent 4 days in Paris researching “certain things” that will inform their decisions in creating their new cafe opening soon in Sun Square.  They hope that the Music Room cafe will become a ‘third space’ for many of their customers and so the design, decoration and furnishing has been a complex job!  The project is being championed by Maitland & Caspar Steel and it has been ‘interesting’ watching some of the differences unfold in certain decisions that their parents may have made differently.  That said, their young minds and artistic personalities have encouraged trains of thought in abundance – sigh – it’s been quite draining.  Opening soon – you MUST pay us a visit.  Keep up with our developments on Twitter  @coffeehopper.

Five generations of continuous trading in the City have resulted in a marvellous accumulation of wonderful Tea & Coffee artefacts at the old shop on China St. In the window the famous small roaster, an Uno dating from 1945 still wafts its delicious aroma out into the streets of Lancaster today. Everything from scoops to scales have been lovingly mended and cared for over the years and are still very much in use on a daily basis.

Atkinson’s play their role in the wider global community by Ethically Sourcing the very highest quality of both Tea & Coffee and provide a specialist resource centre at their Academy for those who want to learn more.

Many things have changed since Thomas Atkinson opened the first Grasshopper Tea Warehouse way back in 1837, but reassuringly some things remain very much the same – such as a good cup of Tea or Coffee. Stepping back in time into Atkinson’s shop reminds us that some things, such as quality, never go out of style.