Tipsy Cake. . . and coffee. Help!

hybernia

I know this isn't really a recipe board as such, but thought there were enough helpful people here anyway to assist with something that's not exactly old style moneysaving, even if part of my post is about something that's really 'old style'. . .

The old style I have in mind is something called Tipsy Cake. Or it used to be, up in the North of England. Years ago, most bakers / confectioners had Tipsy Cake for sale, but it's nowhere to be found now. It's moist and soft and has multi-layered sponge. And other ingredients I don't know, sadly. Around 3 years ago we were in Moffat, in southern Scotland, and there we found a super baker's which sold sections of Tipsy Cake in little Cellophane-wrapped slabs. But when we visited Moffat recently, the baker's had gone, and so too had the Tipsy Cake.

Does anyone happen to know where Tipsy Cake might still be on sale? Or does anyone happen to have a recipe???

Next: coffee. This will sound really silly, but. . . Wherever we go, whether it's a supermarket restaurant like Sainsbury's or a small High Street cafe, the coffee always tastes better than what I make at home. Doesn't matter how expensive a blend I buy and spoon into the coffee maker, it never tastes like the coffee we pay for when we're out and about. (And I'm not talking about Starbucks or places like that, none of which we've ever been into: just 'ordinary' places for a quick cup of coffee.)

I've bought coffee beans and ground them. I've bought freshly ground coffee and stored it in air tight containers in the fridge. I use filtered tap water all the time. But no matter what I do, the result is always the same: it doesn't taste like the coffee we drink when we're out.

So my question is: is there some specific amount per cup that should be measured for putting into a coffee maker? I'm using a standard size dessert spoon, level measure, but am I making it too weak or too strong? Or is it that the type or brand of coffee I'm buying simply isn't the same as the brand generally used by cafes and suchlike?

Sorry if this seems a silly question, but it's driving me mad! :eek:

Advice appreciated -- thanks.

curlytop12

oh,i want some tipsy cake now,too!
have you googled it??

Aarons_mummy

I have googled it and there are a few recipes out there, not sure where you could buy it though sorry!

No idea about the coffee either I'm afraid so a pretty useless post from me

flea72

i dont know anywhere that sells this, but its basically stale sponge dipped in sherry, then layered up with jam in a dish - top with meringue and bake in the oven

F

kazd

I think the thing with the coffee shops is that they make your coffee with expresso style shots and then blend it with the steamed milk. Drip coffee is not quite the same thing.

mrs_marty

Oh now I want tipsy cake I worked in a bakers when I was a teen and loved it Im sure it was a mix of a sponge cake and sponge that had been soaked in jam (alcohol option if you wish) set in a tin then cut finished with a thin marzipan then icing on top?

Just read your post properly that was the bakers I worked in!!!!! Hepburns up Well Street, How small is the world! Still speak to Kev (the baker who made the cakes, I shall email him see if he will give me the recipe)

hybernia

Thanks everyone for the replies -- sorry for not responding sooner but our Internet has been playing up badly and we'll probably switch to carrier pigeons soon as they're quicker. . .

Yes, the recipe everyone seems to recall is how I remember Tipsy Cake -- and yes, mrs marty, what a small world it is! We couldn't remember the name of the baker and it's so sad not to see it there in Moffat any longer. You may well have been in the shop when we visited (on several occasions) -- soon as Spring is definitely here, well, if it ever actually comes, we'll drive back again to Moffat as it's such a lovely little town.

If you hear anything from your bakery contact, that would be appreciated: Tipsy Cake lived up to its name far more than many others.

To kazd: ah. . . now I'm beginning to realise what's going on here: many thanks!

carriebradshaw

I think the bakers we used to buy Tipsy cake from was called Jackie Lunn and most towns in the Scottish borders have one so might be worth a look see if you can find one.The cake itself was made by heatherslaw bakery though HTH

yurimaru

I've found Tipsy Cake at Morgan McVeigh's which is on the A96 Aberdeen-Inverness road, not far from Inverurie, alternatively, if you don't want to travel that far north for some cake, you could try www-realfooddirect-co-uk (I can't post links!) who stock it - looks like the same one as at Morgan McVeighs, made by Heatherslaw Bakery. Not used them myself, although I might try ordering some soon - I love tipsy cake - not had it since I was little! HTH.

Rummer

Tipsy cake is delcious a lot of bakeries in Scotland sell it, never seen a recipe for it, maybe just as well as I would eat it all the time!

durham_girl

Yep in coffee shops they make all coffees using an espresso base. The foamed/steamed milk is then added. Espressos are usually a fairly strong coffee so to try and replicate the taste in a filter maker I would suggest a stronger coffee than normal. For a more authentic taste you could try getting something like an Aerolatte, heating up your milk and giving it a whizz then spooning it on your coffee. You will never get the same taste as a coffee shop, but it might get somewhere a bit nearer.

Or, you could try something like this. It goes on the hob and is suitable for all types except halogen and ceramic. This would make a stronger coffee than a normal filter machine and you could combine with the steamed/foamed milk to make a cappuccino or latte or even have a full cup of strong coffee. They are easy to use and clean - the water goes in the bottom half, the coffee goes into the middle section, everything is screwed together then it goes on the hob. As the water boils it is forced through the coffee and into the top section. You do need to get coffee ground for espresso for one of these, not all purpose coffee.

And breathe! Can you tell I used to sell coffee related equipment?!