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Coffee? It's the new tea
Britain is buzzing! Coffee culture is growing and the so-called ‘Third Wave’ movement – which focuses on producing high-quality coffee to be savoured, appreciated and taken as seriously as wine – has swept through the nation.
There are coffee shops throughout Britain that take coffee-drinking to a new level, many of which have their own in-house roasteries and where customers can try out ‘cupping’, tasting sessions that help you to get more depth from your brew.
Here are 12 GREAT coffee shops in Britain that offer bean-lovers and initiates alike unique caffeine experiences:
Artisan Roast, Glasgow – The downstairs roastery is at the heart of the operation, roasting coffees from around the world. Sit in a church pew or sumptuous Parisian-style cushion seat, and watch the world go by with one of the best brews you can get in Glasgow.
The Caffeine Kid, Cardiff – The Caffeine Kid has been ‘chasing great coffee since 2005’ and has won barista competitions to prove it. He runs a market stall peddling his delicious brews at Roath and Riverside Farmers’ Markets in Cardiff.
Colonna & Small’s, Bath – Staff are passionate about coffee and happy to share their deep knowledge of the beverage; said to be the ‘best coffee in Bath’ by some.
Monmouth Coffee, London – A must for coffee-lovers in London, the queues form outside the Monmouth branches in Covent Garden and Borough Market almost before the birds have woken up, with regulars ready for their fix and soon-to-be-converts ready to start a lifetime habit. The coffee is delicious and served by knowledgeable staff.
Opposite Café, Leeds – The original site was ‘Opposite’ Leeds University, hence the name; there is now also another café in the city’s Victoria Quarter which ‘brings sophistication in coffee-slurping to the North’. Always a pleasure to visit either site, the coffee is great.
Ozone Coffee Roasters, London – Try your hand at ‘cupping’ at this trendy new Shoreditch café who are ‘committed to the pursuit of coffee excellence.’
Prufrock, London – You can try ‘cupping’ at the uber cool Prufrock in Shoreditch and even do a course to try your hand at making fantastic coffee under the guidance of 2009’s World Barista Champion.
Kilimanjaro Coffee, Edinburgh – Edinburgh is full of cosy cafés and Kilimanjaro is a popular choice: rightly so, it serves excellent coffee as well as good food.
Red Roaster, Brighton – Opposite the Royal Pavilion, Red Roaster is a cute independent coffee house with regularly changing coffees from around the world that reflect staff’s commitment to great taste and ethical trading.
Relish Food and Drink, Cornwall – Delicious brews sourced from artisan roasters across the UK, with a beautiful tranquil courtyard in which to enjoy them
Small Batch, Brighton – Several locations around Brighton and Hove stock delicious Small Batch coffee, including both Brighton and Hove stations, and the Myhotel in Brighton, where there is a ‘syphon bar’ offering brews for filter-coffee lovers.
Waterloo Gardens Tea House, Cardiff – Might be called a teahouse, but the coffee is also excellent. And if you like cake, you should go to this cute little place in a quiet part of town.
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