16 FOOD AND DRINK
THERE ARE MORE places to drink
coffee than there were 15 years ago.
This has partly been driven by the
rise of specialty coffee which offers
something different to the large
chains. As a result it is easier to find
high quality coffee in Edinburgh.
However, there is still a degree of
inconsistency. Too many places
remain rather ‘barista-dependent’, by
which I mean that the quality of the
coffee served can vary markedly
depending on who is pulling the
shots. It is no coincidence that the
very best places in Edinburgh tend to
be small with tight barista teams. In
contrast, a number of places which
have expanded have struggled to
maintain consistency.
In this list, I focus primarily on the
quality and consistency of what is
served in the cup. There are multiple
reasons to visit coffee places - a place
to study/work, a good view from thewindow, ambience or location. Here
I focus on the coffee that trickles
down through the portafilter. While
you can get great coffee at many
other places not on this list, these are
the ones which offer consistent
excellence. An encouraging aspect is
that several of the places on this list
are relatively new, indicating that
Edinburgh’s coffee scene is a
developing one, with new flavours
constantly seeping in.44 44 1 44 2 44 3 44 4 44 44 444444 44 44 44 44 4444 1044 44 44 44 44 44 4444 12 1344 44 44 44 44 44 44 4415 44 16 1744 44 44 44 44 44 44 4419 44 2044 44 44 44 44 44 4444 2244 44 23 44 44 44 444444 44 44 44 44 44 44 44444444444444444444444469111418214485 724BEST COFFEE PLACES IN EDINBURGH By Charlie Ellis
ACROSS
6 CHILLTALON (anagram)
(6, 4)
9 Worldwide disease (8)
10 Picturehouse (6)
11 Farmyard birds (5)
12 Put up for office (9)
14 Newspaper piece (7)
16 Mischievous sprite (7)
18 Bad breath (9)
20 School numbers subject (5)
21 Rush forward (6)
22 Religious choral work (8)
24 Final sum (5, 5)6 ACROSS is an Edinburgh featureDOWN
1 Garment’s arm (6)
2 Completely still (10)
3 Timid, reserved (3)
4 Military bloc (8)
5 To do with printed letters
(13)
6 Musical performance (7)
7 Megalith (8, 5)
8 Trousers accessory (4)
13 Bench judge (10)
15 Type, sort (8)
17 Word-for-word (7)
19 Heavy metal (4)
20 Change shape (6)
23 Printing fluid (3)So where are the very best
coffee places in Edinburgh?
CROSSWORD By Aldhelm
SOLUTION6 Calton Hill, 9 Pandemic, 10 Cinema, 11 Geese, 12 Nominated, 14 Article, 16 Gremlin, Across:18 Halitosis, 20 Maths, 21 Charge, 22 Oratorio, 24 Grand total.1 Sleeve, 2 Motionless, 3 Shy, 4 Alliance, 5 Typographical, 6 Concert, 7 Standing stone, Down:8 Belt, 13 Magistrate, 15 Category, 17 Literal, 19 Lead, 20 Mutate, 23 Ink.Source
This cool little place, slightly tucked
away, offers what specialty coffee
aims for. Namely, an interesting
variety of beans used but a very high
degree of consistency in terms of
quality. The highly knowledgeable
baristas generally let the coffee speak
for itself but are more than happy to
engage in coffee chat. The coffees
served here have almost red
wine-like characteristics, oozing with
deep but well balanced flavours.
4 Spittal Street, EH3 9DX
Beatnik
Beatnik has quickly established itself
as one of the city’s interesting coffee
spots. Here the substance matches the
style. It may be a cool, aesthetically
engaging place to hang out but there
is clearly a determined focus on the
coffee itself. The Beatnik team have
succeeded in creating something a
little bit different here, with coffees
from a wider than normal range of
countries so that regulars can often
experience interesting new flavours.
2 Brougham Place, EH3 9HW
Cult Espresso
This converted passageway at the
Eastern edge of the Meadows is a cave
for coffee connoisseurs. Because it’s a
long been part of Edinburgh’s coffee
scene, Cult can sometimes be a little
bit overlooked. Familiarity has
perhaps bred some degree of
indifference. What comes through to
the customers is the sheer delight that
the baristas have in producing the
best brews. The coffees here are full
bodied and brimming with flavour.104 Buccleuch Street, EH8 9NGLowdown
Slap in the middle of the tourist area,
Lowdown on George Street offers
something very distinct from the
chains around it. It is consistently
highly rated by others in the
specialty coffee scene. It’s not hard to
see why. The coffees are not only
particularly well made but the beans
they use have intriguing flavour
profiles. Those who are looking for
bold and distinct specialty coffee will
find it here.40 George Street, EH2 2LELittle Fitzroy
The vibe is immediately attractive
and the quality of what they serve
lives up to it. Whatever beans they
use, their coffees are beautifully
dialled in. I’ve had nothing other
than truly excellent coffees here.
Every shot of coffee here is, as they
put it, ‘dosed, weighed, measured,
distributed, condensed, pre-infused,
extracted, timed, and for good
measure - weighed again’. This care
and attention produces great results.46 Easter Rd, EH7 5PJWilliams & Johnson
Williams & Johnson have, since 2016,
been key players in specialty coffee in
the city, with their beans used in a
number of places across Edinburgh.
The minimalist aesthetic of their spot
at the rear of Custom House on the
Leith Shore is very much typical of
the specialty coffee scene. What is
very apparent about the place is a
seriousness about the coffee they
serve; it’s not just a cool place to hang
out and tap away at a laptop.Customs Wharf, EH6 6ALOrigin
The newest is Origin, in the former
Brew Lab premises which have been
nicely refreshed. The coffee has gone
up a couple of notches. Under the
new management, coffee is very
much the focus. Origin is highly
rated, evidenced by London venues
in Shoreditch and the British Library.
Proximity to Old College means that
business is always going to be brisk,
but there is plenty here for the real
coffee connoisseur to appreciate.6-8 South College Street, EH8 9AA