Pause. King health Birmingham
Another month and another Odyssey Coffee Shop review. This month we will be checking out Pause. in Kings Heath, Birmingham. 5 minutes from the busy Kings Health high street is the beautiful Pause. cafe. An open, bright cafe with lots of natural light and tonnes of character.
Let's take a deep dive into another amazing coffee shop.
Coffee Chat
To get started, let's talk about every cafe's bread and butter: coffee. I had a flat white to start, as I most commonly do, which they used Los Andes by Ithaka in Digbeth, Birmingham. This coffee was delicious and very balanced with taste notes of stewed fruits and rich fruitcake.
The coffee was well-made, with a consistent microfoam and silky milk, but it was not hot enough, which is a matter of personal preference. The latte art was brilliant as well, with great centring and symmetrical waves.
The second drink I had was called the sweet shop, this being a guest-serve drink. This coffee consists of what Pause calls 'Cyro-Milk', to explain. Cyro-milk, or freeze-distilled milk, is frozen milk that has been left to thaw out upside down, allowing the fat, sugars and protein to separate from the water; this results in a thicker, sweeter milk. For this coffee Pause used Cherry Velvet by Sumo Roasters; this Colombian coffee has heavy cherry flavour notes. That special milk and this great coffee combine to create a breathtakingly textured drink with the texture of melted ice cream and the flavour of a sour cherry Haribo candy.
Top - Flat white
Bottem - Guest Serve
Delightful Decor
Walking into this establishment, I could tell that I was going to have a great cup of coffee and a chance to relax. The shop is located on a street corner, allowing both exterior walls to be windows, which gives the space a vast amount of natural light. The bar is well placed in the centre of the room, making it possible for the baristas to chat with the customers.
The colour scheme, which includes royal blue and neutral tones, complements the abundance of natural light. Though lighter colours are notoriously hard to clean, the place seemed to be spotless, with cups and plates cleared quickly.
Pause. is the perfect cafe to sit, excuse the pun, pause and enjoy a cup of coffee with friends or meet fantastic new people.
Amazing people
If I can take anything away from my visit, it is that the staff was truly amazing. I was chatting to them about all things coffee as well as local places. The knowledge they possess was really good; they are clearly people that care about the coffee they serve.
One man working recommended to me the guest serve drink, which was an incredible recommendation; he could describe exactly what he was serving. I will be visiting again just to sit and hang out with these baristas.
In addition to the baristas being so friendly, the one noticed that I had my notebook out that has lots of coffee stickers from various places I have been as well as coffees I have tried, and he gave me a sticker to add to the collection. A proper moment of heart, as Costa may say.
Value for money
The flat white cost £4.50, which is on the expensive side, but given the location and quality, I'm not surprised. The guest-serve drink was more expensive due to the complex creation of the drink and the amazing coffee that goes into it. Having said that, some speciality drinks I've seen have been priced around £10, while Pause's was only £5.95.
Conclusion
Pause. was an impressive little cafe that left a lasting impression and will serve as a reference point for me when reviewing future coffee shops. I love that the coffee was locally roasted and the staff cared so much. If you are ever in the Birmingham area, you must visit this establishment or simply go, as it will change your perception of how coffee should be prepared.
(9.5/10)
Location for Pause. Below
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