the explorer becomes a student, part 1

Today I ate lunch at Mackie Kitchen with L: I had a garden salad with pineapple followed by linguine with crab meat and asparagus in cream sauce and ended with an iced mint mocha (yum!). She had potato and leek soup followed by linguine with grilled shrimps in tomato sauce and ended with an iced caramel macchiato (yum!). Both HKD$69 +10%.

As much as the food was filling, the drinks were yummy, the atmosphere was relaxing and accommodating (thanks for putting up with us for... Many hours...) and as much as I highly recommend this restaurant, this post today is about the first of two coffee classes I had.

Coffee Assembly was one of the first cafes I wanted to go to since I started this blog. Unfortunately, due to timing restraints, different opening days and it being so hidden, I was never able to go! But today was my lucky day because the lesson I had took place there.

The lesson was interesting, fun and very informative. We got to use different types of equipment to make coffee, learnt about the processing of coffee beans and I got to ask all my questions. My favourite part was learning how to foam milk properly to create latte art! Apart from scorching my fingers quite a bit, I realised what I was doing wrong and my screeching milk soon became silent! Although I may be able to make socially acceptable (for someone with kind of low standards) espresso coffee now, I know that I still have miles to go and I will keep practicing.

Our teacher, Felix. Also the owner of Coffee Assembly and Cafe Corridor (I knew I recognised him from somewhere). He was very patient, knowledgeable and experienced with coffee.

Coffee Assembly provides three levels of classes, I attended the third level that introduced and delved further into Italian coffee (espresso, cappuccino etc). If you are interested, I would recommend calling in early as spaces fill up quickly (I called during January to get slotted in for February). Prices vary per class, and despite what you might think is expensive - you should not put a price on education!

Here's a website for more information.

If you want to visit Coffee Assembly (which I hope to soon!), they only open from Thursday to Sunday as the remaining days are used for lessons.

address: Cockloft, No.6 Elgin Street, SOHO, Central.
中環蘇豪伊利近街6號閣樓
phone: 2858 8153