Coffee: A Look At My Favourite Book Companion

Hello spooky friends!

Today I’m doing something a little different. Instead of sharing the latest books I’m reading or books I’m excited to read, I want to talk about my favourite book companion – coffee!

This is a sponsored post written by me in partnership with John Watt & Son. All opinions are my own.

Why Coffee?

When it comes to book-related drinks, coffee is one of the most popular drinks for readers of all genres. You only need to look at popular Instagram hashtags like #booksandcoffee (600,000+ posts) #coffeeancurrentlyreading (60,000+ posts) to see how much readers love having a cup of coffee while reading their books. In fact, a few bookstagrammers I spoke to admitted that they usually have a cup of coffee in their photos because it makes a lovely prop too! It’s why book subscription boxes tend to include a bag of coffee along with the usual bookmarks, bookplates, and character-themed candles.

So why do I love coffee? I’ll be honest – I’m not a lifelong coffee drinker. I used to prefer hot chocolates and tea when I was younger and only started drinking coffee regularly a few years ago when I was introduced to a fantastic cup of caramel latte. I loved it! Since then, I’ve tried espresso, cappuccino, café au lait, cold brew, long black, and more. While I like them both hot and cold, I prefer a hot cup of fresh coffee with a dose of almond milk and a dollop of whipped cream to curl up with my latest current book.

Coffee And Books

So with that in mind, I’m pleased to announce my collaboration with John Watt & Son! John Watt & Son is an independent English company that has been producing coffee roasts and tea blends for over 150 years. Since their humble beginnings on Glover’s Row in Carlisle, Cumbria in 1865, they’ve been producing the highest quality blends founded upon closely guarded recipes. Now, they produce over 30 varieties of coffees that are freshly roasted in-house and over 50 varieties of loose-leaf tea blends. They also have coffee shops in Carlisle where you can have a meal with your chosen drink!

What I love about John Watt & Son (other than they make me spoilt for choice for coffee!) is that they strive to source their products as ethically and sustainably as possible. They believe in biodegradable, environmentally friendly products. The goods they purchased have Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade International, and Ethical Tea Partnership accreditations. They also provide food that is source locally to reduce carbon footprint as well as promote products by local businesses.

So which is the best coffee roasts to choose from? I’m going to highlight two blends that will go perfectly with your latest hardback. First, the Washington Poe blend was exclusively created to celebrate the Washington Poe crime thriller series by local Cumbrian author, M.W. Craven. Inspired by the lead character’s love of coffee and fictional visits to their coffee shop in Bank Street, the blend is dark and fruity with a sweet overtone. The tasting notes of grapefruit, dark chocolate, and vanilla reflect the character’s personality. It’s not often that a real-life coffee shop gets mentioned in books, but John Watt & Son has been featured in several books from the series including Born In A Burial Gown and Black Summer. No surprise that this blend goes perfectly with the latest book in the series, Dead Ground as seen below. I’m not usually a fan of fruity coffee but this is definitely a blend I’d love to try!

Secondly, the Fairtrade Mediterranean blend which is a dark roast Colombian coffee. Its roasting technique involves dropping the beans just as the coffee reaches a second crack, which releases natural oils without overpowering the flavour. It’s darker than most espressos, characterised by its oily beans and lack of acidic taste. When brewed, it has a rich, solid flavour with a smooth aftertaste, perfect for espresso-based drinks. Its tasting notes are dark chocolate and black cherry. I love when the coffee has a hint of chocolate in them, it makes them taste even more decadent.

Have I intrigued you enough yet? Well, if you’re not dying to taste these coffee blends I have some good news! You can get 10% off of their products online (not including hampers, subscriptions, or gifts) using the code RBD10 which can be used at checkout. This code is valid until the end of the year so don’t miss out!

Are you a fan of coffee? Let me know your thoughts!

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