Score 45/100
Not exactly what it says on the tin.

Roast is a very popular and growing chain in and around Belfast, which as far as I know started out on the Lisburn Road. It has recently been refurbished, taking it from its prior student grungyness to a more sleek sophisticated style with an outrageous Fresco on the back wall, which I love to bits.

I feel I have to clear up a very common misconception, Roast do not roast their own coffee; however they do have their own blend prepared and roasted by Belfast based Roaster Bailie’s. Bailie’s know about coffee and produce some of the best commercial roasts I have tasted in NI, so I was quite looking forward to trying their coffee. However I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.

As usual I ordered a Cappucinno, which came in a roughly 9fl oz, round cup. The first thing to hit me was the milk, a thick froth of large bubbles, almost dry in appearance floated on top of the coffee. The temperature was far too high and even though I do prefer cooler drinks, EU laws do not allow drinks to be served above 140C and this far surpassed that limit. I had to wait a few minutes before I was able to take a proper drink only to taste a bitter, underextracted mixture of espresso and burnt milk. A thorough disappointment.

I do not normally complain about coffee that I am served, but as I felt this was particularly bad and as I do like to chat to the Barista before writing something like this, I thought I would mention that I didn’t find my coffee to be particularly nice and that it was a little too hot (trying to be as polite as possible) only to receive an “Oh…” and a blank look in return.

I watched as a wet portafilter was filled with ground coffee from a full doser (the coffee was not ground recently), lightly tamped and fitted into the grouphead. The Barista in question looked as though she was dressed to go clubbing, full makeup, styled hair and a very low cut top that “barely fitted.” I hate to sound harsh or make judgements based on appearance, but after asking where the coffee was from and being told “those bags over there,” it seems that image was being put before skill. It seems to be a growing trend that front of house baristas are required to be attractive women or trendy gay men, which although it adds “style” to the environment does nothing to promote or improve the CORE PRODUCT the establishment is supposed to be selling. My verdict? Terrible coffee and a seemingly unprofessional ethos, would certainly make me think twice before returning.

*Technical Breakdown*

Taste – 3 (Underextracted, bitter)
Texture – 4 (Thin with dry foam)
Temperature – 4 (Too hot)
Technical Ability – 5 (Coffee should be ground when needed and tamped firmly)
Appearance – 2.5 (Macro Foam)
Atmosphere – 4 (Stylish location, with wifi and internet kiosks)

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