Kimberley Perk reopened recently for the first time since December and Nub News caught up with owner Alex Bradshaw to discuss their reopening and the special secret behind their new hot chocolate.

The cafe has been a mainstay in Kimberley Park for nearly seven years with Alex, 24, taking the reins 3 years ago.

Kimberley Perk reopened after lockdown restrictions began to lift in March with people being allowed to meet up in the park.

Alex is back with a new grinder for house beans making espresso taste "exceptionally good", there is a new hot chocolate recipe, new baked goods and a wider range of syrups.

Speaking about the new hot chocolate, Alex told Nub News:

"Before it was done with a couple of different chocolate bars and it was quite sweet and after speaking to an Italian customer, Italian hot chocolate is quite thick, so it was about working with this person to see if we could get it thicker without it being sickly sweet.

"We used Belgian chocolate in different percentages, going through cups and cups of hot chocolate, by the end of each day we consumed so much chocolate.

"It took a long time to get it perfect, but we are going to be playing with some white chocolate, pink chocolate, trying new things out."

Today (12th April), is a huge day for many businesses as places begin to reopen, Alex said it is brilliant to see familiar faces once again.

So what makes a good cup of coffee? Alex continued:

"Depends on how you are doing it, fresh beans from bean, ground to cup. If you have a pack of beans that you have just bought from the supermarket they could be sat there for a long time, having beans that have been freshly roasted containing all the CO2 still in there, you get all these oils that come through and that makes a good cup of coffee.

"Fresh beans, roasted within the week and a decent grinder, and then use milk that is local (Roddas), and the use of local water as well, you can go on for days about this stuff there is so much science behind it. Pretty much, have good equipment, have fresh coffee and everything else will work itself out."

Click here to see more from Kimberley Perk.

From today (12th) Alex will also have seating outside of the cafe again, he added:

"There is a convenience to people ordering and taking away but it is also nice to see people enjoy stuff and see their reactions.

"We have people who come every day or every other day, I love getting people together, I have met so many people through doing this and a lot of people who have become lifelong friends, I couldn't have wished for a better job."

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