Many of us have returned to our ordinary work routines now, meaning we’re having to adapt to some unfamiliarly early starts.
We rely on coffee to carry us through the morning commute at the crack of dawn, but now life is slowly returning to “normal”, there’s no time to create those Instagram-worthy iced coffees that kept you ticking over during long days in lockdown.
Thankfully, there are several coffee companies that provide delicious ice-cold coffee to sip on-the-go – offering you the perfect way to kickstart your morning in the hot weather.
Here’s a few that come highly recommended…
Jimmy’s
A classic iced coffee company is Jimmy’s: An independent, family-owned brand with an awesome range of ready-to-drink iced coffees who are proud to use only ethically sourced ingredients, Rainforest Alliance Certified Arabica coffee and 100% recyclable packaging.
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Jimmy’s boast a huge range of drinks, from canned double shot flat whites to their classic original blend cartoned ice coffee. For the dairy free and vegans amongst us, there’s also a new oat flat white which has an aromatic vanilla flavour whilst still packing in a caffeine boost!
There’s even sparkling soda in a glass bottle, Jimmy’s Coffee Cola, which can substitute as a different kind of an early morning pick-up.
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Jimmy’s iced coffees are extremely accessible and affordable, stocked in most large supermarkets and available online.
Bottleshot Brew
Fresh, female-led and feisty, Bottleshot Brew is the brand to support if you want to taste authentic, New Orleans-inspired cold brew coffee in a can.
A premium, ethically-minded company committed to producing high-quality alternative to hot coffee, Bottleshot put each can through an 18-hour extraction process to ensure it contains intense flavour.
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Currently, they have two cans of coffee available: the Black 100% Arabica beans and the Oat Milk – both of which are packed with two shots of espresso.
All their drinks are 100% plant based with no added sugar and are served in some of the best coffee shops around the world – as well as on the high-street in major retailers.
Minor Figures have four types of Nitro Cold Brew vegan coffees:
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Black — Cascading coffee. Mocha — Cascading coffee, Oat Milk and cocoa. Latte — Cascading coffee and Oat Milk. Chai Latte — Cascading Chai Latte, spiced tea + Oat Milk.
Their packaging is extremely on-brand, too – giving commuters a cracking option for an eco-friendly can of coffee.
Union Coffee
Now here’s something a little different for those still WFH but have had a surge in their workload: Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate from Union Coffee.
Arriving in packaging reminiscent of boxed wine; this hand roasted cold coffee is poured via a tap!
It can be served over ice, blended with milk, or even shaken into an espresso martini.
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The three-litre box has 40 servings of pure, strong coffee so this is definitely going to keep your eyes open for the days scheduled Zoom calls…
You can purchase a box on their website. Once opened, it ca be kept in the fridge for up to four weeks.
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‘Hairy men’ needed to play soldiers in returning major fantasy TV series
Thomas Melia
A huge TV series has issued an urgent casting call for, very specifically, ‘hairy men’ to play soldiers.
The exact show hasn’t been named in the casting call, but it’s definitely a major returning fantasy, and is reportedly House of the Dragon, the hit Game of Thrones spin-off.
This big on demand show is set to start filming in just two months’ time, meaning anyone considering shouldn’t wait to apply.
There are a list of key characteristics candidates should have if hoping for this role, including a great work ethic and a professional attitude, something all Mancs like to think we have.
The job description states that no prior acting experience is required, one of the only other things you need to be good at is waking up early (well that’s me out).
Most importantly, headhunters are looking for individuals to take on that have one big factor in common… lots of hair.
On the official website where you can submit your headshots and photos, you will find a mood board filled with ranging hairstyles that fit the desired look the show is going for.
Most of the pictures on the site range from long curly locks to big bushy beards – it’s a shame Santa will be back in the North Pole by now.
All candidates must have grown-out hair, ‘overgrown scruff to longer beards’, this means no short, back and sides, or any ‘modern fades’ as stated by the casting team.
If the rumours are true and this turns out to be a shoot for House Of The Dragon, it would be great to see even more Northern talent feature in this show.
It wasn’t too long ago that fans and Mancs alike realised that actor Olivia Cooke, who plays Lady Alicent Hightower, was a local lass herself, born not too far away in Oldham.
One final and important note is that anyone who is likely to apply must make sure they’re 18+ and have a right to work in the UK.
Filming will take place across North Wales and the South East from March onwards, with rate of pay roughly £140-£300+ per day (depending on hours worked).
To apply for a chance to feature in the returning major fantasy series, you can do so by visiting the site HERE.
Greater Manchester set to be battered by ‘impactful’ heavy rain and wind this week
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester is set to be battered by some heavy rain and wind this week, according to the Met Office.
While things have seemed surprisingly more settled for the time of year over the last week or so, with clearer skies and chilly winter mornings being fairly commonplace, all that will change very soon, as the Met Office has forecasted that the UK is set to be battered by some ‘impactful’ heavy rain and strong winds as the week goes on.
Low pressure systems will bring a more ‘unsettled’ spell of weather, with a severe weather warning for wind issued for certain parts of the UK.
Today is expected to be filled with grey skies and light rain here in Greater Manchester, with cloud covering much of the rest of the country, and other outbreaks of rain elsewhere, whereas on Wednesday, the focus of rain will shift to southern England instead.
The weather looks set to turn more unsettled during the forthcoming week 🌧️ 🌬️
Thursday is where it’s set to take the biggest downturn though, as a front bringing heavy rain moves eastwards through the day, and it’s us here in North West England that are expected to see the highest accumulations too, with 20-30mm could falling over the hills, and some hill snow even possible over the Scottish mountains too.
A deep area of low pressure will also have ‘deepened rapidly’ by Thursday, bringing ‘strengthening winds’ to western parts of the UK along with it overnight, followed by more heavy rainfall.
Greater Manchester is set to be battered by ‘impactful’ heavy rain and wind this week / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“A very deep area of low pressure will bring a very unsettled, potentially disruptive, spell of weather to the UK through Friday and into Saturday,” explained Chris Almond, who is the Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist.
“Winds will begin to strengthen on Thursday night, with the peak gusts forecast through Friday in Northern Ireland and western Scotland. The wind will also be accompanied by heavy rain bringing some unpleasant conditions to end the week.
“We have issued a Yellow weather warning for wind, and with several days before the impactful weather, the forecast details are likely to be fine-tuned during the week, so stay tuned to your local forecast and keep up to date with Met Office warnings.”