Do you find it difficult to find good coffee in Edinburgh?
Are you confused by the coffee in Edinburgh?
Then read on-this the article for you!
Coffee can be a confusing issue for visitors to Edinburgh. This is especially true for those coming from countries where Italian style coffee is what is most common. In this article we hope to explain why the coffee in Edinburgh may be different to what you are accustomed to. We also tell you where you can drink the very best coffee in Edinburgh.
Though a lot of excellent coffee is served in Edinburgh, most of it is of a very different style from Italian espresso coffee. Further, many visitors are shocked by the price of coffee here. While coffee is an essential, everyday item in many countries, for most people in the UK good coffee is a luxury product. This partly explains why coffee is often expensive here.
A coffee revolution
In the past tea was the typical daytime drink in the UK. High quality coffee is something new to this country. In the last 15 years or so the UK has experienced something of a coffee revolution. Initially it was the ‘second wave’ of coffee led by the big chains (Starbucks, Costa etc) which made coffee drinking more common in the UK. More recently, hundreds of specialist cafes, serving ‘third-wave‘, ‘specialty’ or ‘artisan’ coffee have opened up. For example, London had about 50 specialist independent coffee shops in 2010 and more than 500 in 2020. Edinburgh has over 50 specialist coffee shops. These cafes take coffee very seriously, with a focus on high quality coffee beans and precise brewing methods. This wave of coffee comes originally from Australia and New Zealand, not Italy.
For those used to Italian style coffee, third-wave coffee is very different in taste. The roast is generally much lighter and the flavours are far more wide-ranging. Some third wave could even be described as ‘fruity’ or ‘citrusy’ in contrast to to the rich, dark character of Italian coffee. Third wave coffee uses Arabica beans while many Italian coffees contain a combination of Arabica and robusta beans. Generally speaking, this ‘third wave’ style of coffee is best served with milk – the flat white (an espresso based drink made with a double shot of espresso and steamed microfoam milk) being the typical drink.
Despite the recent coffee revolution, bad (or ‘okayish’) coffee is still found in many cafes and restaurants in Edinburgh. In part this is because good barista skills are only found in a select number of cafes – such as the ones recommended here. You certainly cannot expect to be served good coffee at the cafes and restaurants you visit – you need to be selective about where you go.
In this post we suggest a few places where high quality Italian style coffee can be drunk in Edinburgh, as well as our selection of the very best in speciality coffee houses. For a longer list of the best cafes in Edinburgh, have a look at the Scottish Coffee Lovers blog. They also have an app which allows you to see how close you are to good coffee.
The best Italian Style coffee in Edinburgh.
Gaia Deli
32 Crighton Place (Leith Walk), Edinburgh EH7 4NY
This superb family run Sicilian deli on Leith Walk offers the best Italian style coffee in Edinburgh. The place has a warm, friendly atmosphere and their pasta dishes are excellent and good value. The coffee is consistently well made and full of flavour.
Greek Artisan Pastries
23 Bread St, Edinburgh EH3 9AL & 32 Portobello High Street, Edinburgh EH15 1DD.
This charming Greek bakery serves excellent, strong Italian coffee alongside its range of really tasty savoury pies (especially their gravieropita!) and sweet treats (baklava etc). The place is generally busy – full of friendly, talkative customers and staff.
Tapas3
6 Howden St, Edinburgh EH8 9HL
Delightful tapas bar hidden away in the backstreets of the Southside area. As well as Spanish food and drink, Tapas3 serve excellent Italian style coffee.
The very best third wave/ specialty coffee in Edinburgh.
Fortitude
3c York Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3EB &
66 Hamilton Pl, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH3 5AZ.
Fortitude serve some of the best specialist coffee in Edinburgh. Superb attention to detail and craft in their coffee making. In 2019 they opened a second shop – in Stockbridge – which has a beautiful tiled wall.
Machina Espresso
2 Brougham Pl, W Tollcross, Edinburgh EH3 9HW
One of the first places in Edinburgh to serve specialist coffee, Machina Espresso remains one of the best coffee houses in Edinburgh. Located just a few yards from the Meadows, they also sell a wide range of coffee making equipment, such as Aeropress coffee makers (Aeropress is probably the best way to make third-wave coffee at home).
Lowdown
40 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2LE
A stylish basement café on elegant George Street. Superb attention to detail means Lowdown produces consistently excellent coffee. Baking and good savoury options also available.
Other very good third wave/ specialty coffee in Edinburgh
Artisan Roast
57 Broughton St, Edinburgh EH1 3RJ,
138 Bruntsfield Pl, Edinburgh EH10 4ER,
100A Raeburn Pl, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH4 1HH.
One of the pioneers of specialist coffee in Edinburgh. Artisan Roast now has three branches in the city (and one in Glasgow). They continue to serve high quality coffee that is roasted in their own roastery.
Williams & Johnson
Custom Lane, 1 Customs Wharf, Edinburgh EH6 6AL
They offer a selection of different coffees at any one time, all of them well worth tasting. They roast their own beans which are among the best in the city. Their cafe in Leith is right next to the Water of Leith so is an ideal place to start or finish a wander along the Water of Leith Walkway.
Cairngorm
1 Melville Pl, Edinburgh EH3 7PR
41A Frederick St, Edinburgh EH2 1EP.
Their large coffee shop in Melville Place is one of the most elegant places to drink specialist coffee in Edinburgh.
Little Fitzroy
45 Easter Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5PL
Part of a growing number of good cafes and places to eat on Easter Road. High quality coffee from a range of local roasters. Tasty vegan food also served.
Castello
7A Castle St, Edinburgh EH2 3AH
7 Barclay Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 4HP
Consistently voted one of the best specialist coffee houses in Edinburgh. Their Castle Street shop is a cosy place right in the centre of the city. Their Barclay Terrace branch is right next to Bruntsfield Links (why not play some pitch and putt golf after your flat white!).
Cult Espresso
104 Buccleuch St, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9NG
Close to Edinburgh University and the Meadows this urban style coffee house is run by a really enthusiastic group of baristas who are always looking for new and interesting coffees to serve. Generally full of students so finding a seat isn’t always easy.
Good coffee shops close to Alba English
Amarelo
102 Causewayside, Newington, Edinburgh EH9 1PU.
This lovely takeaway offers excellent coffee (their own custom blend by local roasters Forth), fantastic fresh sandwiches, bakery and friendly customer service.
Format Coffee
124 Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh EH8 9NQ.
A stone’s throw from the Meadows this is well worth a visit. They have a interesting variety of coffees on offer, aiming for peak freshness.
By Charlie Ellis
