Peruvian Specialty Coffee

Our Peru specialty coffee comes from a 3 hectare farm 1800 metres above sea level in the Huabal district within the Jaén province of Cajamarca, northern Peru. This mountainous region has various climate and soil conditions resulting in diverse, delicious and very complex coffees, just like our Old Mother Nightshade.

Old Mother Nightshade combines washed Caturra and Catimor varietals that we have roasted to a medium darkness. Zingy grapefruit acidity and clean floral, peach and plum notes are balanced perfectly with a hint of black tea that lingers beautifully on the palate. This is then followed by a sweet caramel finish.

Old Mother Nightshade specialty coffee is available in three sizes (250g, 500g or 1kg) and can be purchased as whole beans or ground for Aeropress, cafetiere, espresso, moka pot or V60 to suit your preferred brewing method. To guarantee freshness, all our specialty coffee beans are ground on the day of dispatch and roasted no more than 5 days before an order is placed.

Old Mother Nightshade

A fable from South Holland, Lincolnshire

So the fable goes, the areas in the Lincolnshire fens were once so isolated everyone knew each other as well as family. All except for an old fen woman who was the continuous subject of gossips and rumours. She lived on the very edge of the fens, away from all but the wild animals and deep dark woods. People passing across the fens late in the evening could hear strange howling coming from her cottage. Thus, she was labelled a witch, to be avoided by all and given the name ‘Old Mother Nightshade’.

Everyone was  afraid of her except a foolish boy by the name of John Culpepper. He was madly in love with a lady far beyond his reach, named Rose Taylor, who enjoyed the attention, but it was all a ruse. Soon, his love unrequited, turned his heart sour and he sought after the witch’s help in revenge. He was welcomed by the old woman and, having shared his woes, presented with a box of sweetmeats to give to Rose and told to return by the night of full moon to give a report.

He did all that was asked, returning to the cottage on the brightly moon lit night. As soon as the door closed behind him, he was bound to a chair and told to close his eyes. He dared to take a peek and as he did so, the old woman revealed her true self, a fearsome giant grey wolf. There were reports of blood curdling cries across the fens that night. So, at first light, the men folk went to see what had happened but could find only bones and wolf paw prints.

John Culpepper and the old woman were never seen again.