VELLUTO NERO

Perfect as is for strong coffee lovers. Alternatively, as recommended in another review, I use it for mixing with coffees that are lovely but, for me, need a bit of oomph, such as Mocha Parfait.

I discovered Velluto Nero 40 years ago when I asked a waitress at Patisserie Valerie, a few doors down on Old Compton St., what blend they used. Back then PV always had plates of cakes on the tables to tempt the patrons - unthinkable nowadays for hygiene reasons. They also had a peerless pastry chef who cooked on site the finest plain croissants I've ever tasted. They had the very, very, faintest, fugitive citrus bouquet - pomelo? I never did discover. This sadly all came to an end when PV was bought out by an unscrupulous group that wanted to roll out a chain of 'PVs' on the back of a respected name in the early 2000's. The production went off site and PV tragically became known as the 'home of the cardboard croissant'. And worse still - Illy coffee! Thank goodness Algerian Coffee Stores has stayed a family business.

:)

I tried this blend a few months ago & loved it, it is another of my regular orders now.

The only coffee we drink!