Berks Blog
What's brewing at Berks Beans
Some incredible awareness for Andy’s Man Club !
Just over six weeks ago, I received an email from the Pride of Bracknell Forest Awards saying I’d been shortlisted for my work with Andy’s Man Club, and invited to celebrate ‘Our Local Heroes’ at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much (except maybe a nice meal!) but I hoped it would be a great chance to spread more awareness for a charity so close to my heart.
I was completely surprised and humbled to be awarded the John Nike Pride of Bracknell Forest Adult’s Gold Award, recognising my mental health advocacy and voluntary work helping to build peer-to-peer support groups in our borough.
I accepted the award on behalf of all the brave men who walk through our doors — without them, none of this would be possible.
I'm incredibly proud of our amazing Bracknell teams and their selfless support, helping us keep the doors open for #thatoneman. Hearing how much it’s helping men and their families locally is exactly why we do what we do.
A huge thank you to Involve Community Services and the Bracknell Forest Borough Council for their unwavering support finding invaluable resources to make Bracknell AMC a reality x
26 April 2025
'...but what if I don't have a coffee machine?'
No worries at all—we hear this a lot! The good news is, there are loads of ways to enjoy great coffee without any fancy equipment. As long as you’ve got a preferred brewing method, we can provide your coffee as whole beans or ground to suit your setup.
So, what are the options?
Popular methods include espresso machines, filter brewers, cafetières, pour overs, and the ever-reliable AeroPress®.
Today, we’re shining a light on the AeroPress® (inverted method). This versatile little gadget is a favourite—compact enough to tuck into a kitchen drawer, and brilliant for brewing on the go, whether you’re out for a picnic (just bring a flask of hot water!) or brewing beside a camping stove.
Brew Method – Step by Step
- Start by dampening the rubber plunger—this helps it glide smoothly and form a nice, snug seal. Assemble your AeroPress in the upside-down position (plunger on the bottom, chamber on top) and set it on your kitchen scale. Hit the tare button to zero things out.
- Pop a paper filter into the cap and give it a quick rinse with hot water to clear out any papery flavours. Set it aside for now—you’ll need it in a bit.
- Scoop 18g of medium-fine ground coffee into the chamber. Since we’re using the inverted setup, your coffee will sit right on top of the plunger. Tap it flat if needed. Tare the scale again before adding water.
- Pour in 50g of water at around 93°C. Let the coffee sit and bloom for 30 seconds—this gives it time to release built-up gases and enhances the flavour.
- Slowly pour in an extra 150–170g of water. Once it’s all in, give it a gentle stir for about 10 seconds to mix everything evenly.
- Screw the filter cap onto the brewing chamber.
- Leave to brew for around 3 minutes to diffuse the flavours before next step (take longer for your desired taste)
- Now comes the careful part—flip the whole AeroPress® over and set it on top of your cup. Take your time to do this smoothly.
- Begin pressing the plunger with firm, steady pressure. You should feel a bit of resistance—that’s a good sign. Keep pressing until you hear that familiar hiss of air at the end. The whole plunge should take around 25–30 seconds.
- Enjoy x
25 April 2025
Berks Blends...
Now that our website is live, we’re excited to finally share our full range of coffees with you – from single origins and signature blends to our de-caf and low-caf options.
It’s been a fun (and occasionally messy!) journey getting everything just right, but we’re ready for you to explore what we’ve been creating.
Each coffee in our line-up brings something a little different to the table – whether you're after a trusty 'go-to', something bold and vibrant, or a cosy, comforting cup.
Whatever mood you’re in, we’re confident there’s a brew here that’ll hit the spot.
19 April 2025
Cupping our recent roasts
We're buzzing to share our latest range of traceable Arabica beans—including a smooth decaf!
Each one’s been roasted to bring out its best, using carefully crafted profiles.
We follow the Specialty Coffee Association protocols to ensure every batch goes through a proper, controlled tasting.
All our beans score over 80 on the SCA scale, putting them firmly in the specialty-grade category.
Check out the new range in our shop—you’re in for a treat.
16 April 2025
Local support is growing
A huge shoutout to our amazing team of volunteers – you've all done such a fantastic job!
Bracknell Forest Borough covers a wide area, but we're committed to reaching as many people as possible, and your support is making that happen.
Thanks to everyone who's helped us get this far.
With over 270 clubs now across the UK (and still growing!), we’re one step closer to the charity’s goal of having a group within 30 minutes of every man in the country. Let’s keep going!
FIND YOUR NEAREST GROUP
16 April 2025
Special cargo
Heard a whisper today that a fresh crop of India Monsoon Malabar had just landed at our distributor—and they were flying out the door.
No time to waste, so I dropped the top, hit the road, and snagged a bag before they disappeared.
And wow, they're something special.
'Monsooned' is a process applied to coffee beans. The harvested coffee beans are exposed to the monsoon rain and winds for a period of about three to four months, causing the beans to swell and lose the original acidity, resulting in a flavour profile with a practically neutral pH balance.
Scooped up some Guatemala greens too, just to make the trip even sweeter.
20 March 2025
Our new set up has the green light
Over the moon after a great inspection of our new premises!
Now we can fully focus on what we love—supporting the community & roasting speciality coffee.
Best of all, having our own roastery means I can keep volunteering with Andy’s Man Club, meeting people, raising awareness, and keep giving back through every bag we roast."
#ITSOKAYTOTALK