Coffee Shops Archives - Page 5 of 6 - The Independent Brighton & Hove Coffee Guide

Pelicano (Sydney Street)

Pelicano’s attention to detail is incredible, from the logo that slowly reveals itself in the cup as you drink, to the decor, the food that’s beautifully displayed, and the wooden boards your drinks are served on, everything adds up to a wonderful experience.

The coffee is the real star though, roasted locally by Pelicano themselves, with their espresso blend boasting dark chocolate notes with a hint of vanilla; whether paired with milk, or black, it is well rounded.

Everything about Pelicano is warm and welcoming, there are only so many ways of saying it’s a lovely experience, but it truly is.

Espresso: £2.00
Americano: £2.40
Flat White: £2.60
Latte: £2.80

Mon – Sat: 9.00am – 7.00pm
Sun: 8.00am – 7.00pm

Website: pelicanohouse.com
Phone Number: 01273 567808
Address: 28 Sydney St, Brighton BN1 4EP

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco Linea PB
Roaster: Pelicano House Roastery
Grinder: Mahlkonig EK43
Founded: 2014

Blend & Brew

In the last year we’ve seen a considerable step up in quality as well as quantity when it comes to the local coffee scene. Not only have we seen a continued push for quality, as more and more speciality shops look at roasting their own beans as well as offering a more well-rounded third wave coffee experience, we have also seen an increase in speciality coffee shops opening across the city.

On top of this, the dust is only now beginning to settle on the expansion of Blend & Brew, on Trafalgar Street in Brighton. Formerly a one-stop pitstop for coffee on the go, this little kiosk-like setup has now hopped across the road to the opposite corner, offering an expansive option of seating as well as food and coffee.

The new design is a step up in style too, as the expansion now allows a grandiose interior, depicted by the flower murals, exposed brickwork and its aesthetically pleasing furnishings.

In a town dominated by lightly roasted offerings, Blend & Brew’s beans are roasted by the owner in his native Italy, bringing more of a traditional Italian style to the south coast. The coffee is rich and smooth, with a slightly smokey edge which works really well with the full body of the espresso.

So, whether you’re in a rush for the train, or just wish to simply sit in the impressive surroundings and enjoy your coffee, Blend & Brew now has you covered.

Espresso: £1.60
Americano: £2.40
Flat White: £2.60
Latte: £2.60

Mon – Fri: 7.00am – 5.00pm
Sat: 9.00am – 5pm
Sun: 9.00am – 4.00am

Address: 45 Trafalgar St, Brighton, BN1 4FT
Email: info@blendbrewbrighton.com
Website: /blendbrewbrightonuk

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco FB40
Roaster: FEIO Napoli Roaster
Grinder: La Marzocco Vulcano
Founded: 2014

Frankie’s Grinder

This rustic feeling café sits at the bottom of Edward Street offering coffee specifically roasted for the shop by Small Batch Coffee Roasters.

Running ristretto shots through their La Marzocco machine, their coffee is rich and sweet, while their enchanting shop is lined with coffee sacks and brick walls. Their sun-trap outside provides quaint wooden tables and chairs to relax as well as a selection of seating indoors as well.

Website: frankievaughans.com
Phone Number: 01273 818 888
Address: 180 Edward Street, Brighton, BN2 0JB

Mon – Fri: 7.30am – 4.30pm

Black Mocha

Black Mocha, unsurprisingly, is the place to go if you have a love of chocolate. Their range of hot chocolate rivals the selection of coffee options at many specialty coffee houses. Almost everything on the menu, both for food and drink, is vegan friendly; the highlight being their vegan hot chocolate.

If tea is more your thing, there is a choice of seventeen loose leaf teas to choose from. And, of course, there is obviously coffee available, both as espresso or hand poured filter.

Unsurprisingly, the coffee itself, from Cast Iron Roasters, has notes of dark chocolate, as well as a hazelnut and caramel quality. It’s hard not to think of chocolate when in Black Mocha, but their coffee is as rich and flavourful as their treats.

The venue itself is light and airy, with white walls and skylights making the most of an intimate environment. Whether upstairs or downstairs, Black Mocha is a quiet haven from the often overwhelming Brighton Lanes.

Espresso: £2.40
Americano: £2.40
Flat White: £2.60
Latte: £2.80

Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Sat: 8.30am – 6pm
Sun: 10am – 5.30pm

Website: blackmocha.co.uk
Email: hello@blackmocha.co.uk
Phone Number: 01273 690515
Address: 103 Gloucester Rd, Brighton BN1 4AP

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco Linea
Grinders: Victoria Arduino Mythos 1
Roaster: Cast Iron Roasters
Founded: 2006

Brewed

Take a little stroll down Lewes Road and you will come across, arguably, the best filter coffee in Brighton. Since opening three years ago this small shop has made a big impression.

With a focus on filter coffee, you have the option to choose from one of their constantly rotating guest coffees. However, alternatively, Brewed began roasting their own coffee in 2018 and you are now able to taste the fruits of their labour, with a range of single origin coffees hand-picked by the people serving you.

Although their focus is on filter, espresso is also available on their two-group Linea PB, and whether you’re looking to chat extraction rates or grab a latte and run, the Brewed team are always helpful and easy to talk to.

It is not only in the coffee department that Brewed excel, either, as they offer a wealth of tasty breakfast and lunch options on their menu; ranging from a full fry-up to cauliflower fritters, hand-made by their head chef right in front of your eyes.

With an open brew bar and kitchen, this coffee shop breaks down the barrier between baristas and customers, offering a truly third wave coffee experience.

Espresso: £2.00
Americano: £2.00
Flat White: £2.70
Latte: £2.70

Mon – Fri: 8am – 5pm
Sat: 9am – 5pm
Sun: 10am – 4pm

Website: brewedroasters.co.uk
Email: breweduk@gmail.com
Address: 136 Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 3LG

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco Linea PB
Roaster: Brewed Roasters, Guest Rotation
Grinder: Mahlkonig EK43
Founded: 2016

Coffee at 33

What makes a great coffee shop? Is it the ambience, the coffee offering, the barista, the craft or the shop layout? The perfect shop represents different ideals for different customers. Whatever the focus, there’s normally an area that loses emphasis. If you focus on the food offering the coffee can take a hit. If you focus solely on the coffee, customer service has the potential to drop and if you focus on service and ambience then passionate baristas can become disgruntled.

One coffee house that doesn’t struggle with this balance is Coffee at 33. Situated near the top of Trafalgar Street in Brighton, this stripped-back shop is music-free, meaning that whether you’re looking to sit in peace and read, or plan to catch up with friends, the atmosphere is always peaceful and never intrusive.

From locals looking for the perfect pourover to day visitors wanting a takeaway latte, the baristas at 33 are always willing to talk coffee and make time for each and every customer, ensuring they are informed and happy with their coffee. Roasting their own coffee also ensures an expert level of knowledge when it comes to helping you select your ideal brew.

Looking for food? Like everything they do, 33 offer a minimal, carefully selected choice of cakes and sandwiches and, with a rustic interior that’s typified by their coffee sack-covered seating area, this may be your new favourite coffee shop. Take the time and enjoy a great coffee made by some of the city’s most knowledgeable baristas.

Espresso: £1.90
Americano: £2.50
Flat White: £2.80
Latte: £2.80

Mon – Fri: 7.30am – 6pm
Sat: 9am – 6pm
Sun: 10am – 5pm

Email: coffeeat33@hotmail.co.uk
Phone Number: 01273 462460
Address: 33 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 4ED

Espresso Machine: Mavam Under Counter
Roaster: Coffee at 33
Grinder: Mazzer Luigi SRL
Founded: 2014

Glazed

If you’re looking for a laid-back spot to enjoy great coffee, then look no further. Based next to The Level skatepark, this hidden gem is unlike any coffee shop in the city.

Skateboards and prints deck the walls, while eclectic furniture is dotted around the room and, with Donald the dog relaxing on the rug, this feels more like your lounge than a coffee shop.

Talking of lounge vibes, resting on a bench inside is a SNES Mini, perched next to speakers, skateboard trucks and a print of Rick and Morty, it offers the opportunity to kick back and play your favourite old-school game while enjoying a great coffee.

This all culminates to create an incredibly relaxed atmosphere, allowing you time to pick from their selection of single origin guest espressos, which always originate from Africa.

As if that weren’t enough, their variety of delicious vegan doughnuts is the perfect accompaniment to Glazed’s artisan coffee offering; but make sure you act fast, as these tasty treats have a habit of selling out at speed.

Espresso: £2.00
Americano: £2.00
Flat White: £2.50
Latte: £2.70

Mon – Sat: 8am – 7pm
Sun: 9am – 5pm

Website:glazedcoffee.co.uk
Phone Number: 0781 789 1945
Address: 25 Ditchling Road, Brighton, BN1 4SB

Machine: La Marzocco Linea PB
Grinder: Sanremo SR50
Roaster: Rotating Guest Espresso
Founded: 2016

Ground Coffee House (Kemptown)

Refurbishing an establishment can be a risk, but Ground have pulled one off with aplomb. It’s managed to retain a minimalist feel whilst becoming more open and inviting. Ground has a balance in all they seem to do, from their design to their coffee.

When you see somewhere offering coffee by the excellent Pharmacie Coffee Roasters you are usually in for a treat. We’re pleased to say that Ground can get the best out of the beans. The long black we tried had bright and fresh citrus notes of our long black slowly gave way to a deeper, rich berry flavour as it cooled.

Kemptown, like London Road, is one of areas of Brighton that is starting to carve itself out as a bit of a coffee destination. The walk up to Ground is definitely one worth taking if you find yourself with a free afternoon and want to taste some of the best coffee Brighton has to offer.

Espresso: £2.00
Americano: £2.30
Flat White: £2.60
Latte: £2.60

Mon – Fri: 7.30am – 4.30pm
Sat – Sun: 8.30am – 4.30pm

Website:groundcoffeehouses.com
Address: 34-36 St George’s Rd, Brighton, BN2 1ED
Phone Number: 01273 696441

Espresso Machine: Simonelli Aurelia T3
Roaster: Pharmacie Coffee Roasters
Grinder: Mahlkonig K30, Mahlkonig EK43
Founded: 2009

Ground Coffee House (Seven Dials)

Since launching Ground Coffee House in 2009, the Kemptown coffee shop has become a community staple, serving high-quality coffee to locals ever since. Their Seven Dials store, opened in 2017, certainly continues this tradition.

Set just off from the bustling traffic, Ground is a peaceful spot to sit and relax or grab a quick coffee on the go. With homely seating upstairs and down, there is more than enough space to while away the hours with friends, or just spend some time alone catching up on work, or reading a good book.

There’s also a rustic room out the back, with a textured stone wall on show, wooden crates for tables and exposed concrete flooring, offering the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat from their wholesome breakfast menu.

With single origin beans from Pharmacie Coffee Roasters, you also have the option to choose from an espresso-based drinks menu or a hand brew filter coffee, which includes a V60, drip decanter, and Aeropress. With a dedicated and friendly team of baristas, this cosy spot continues to add to Brighton’s thriving coffee scene.

Espresso: £2.00
Americano: £2.30
Flat White: £2.60
Latte: £2.60

Mon – Fri: 8am – 4pm
Sat – Sun: 9am – 3pm

Website: groundcoffeehouses.com
Phone Number: 01273 696 441
Address: 19 Chatham Place, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3TN

Espresso Machine: Simonelli Aurelia T3
Grinders: Mahlkonig EK43 & Mahlkonig K30
Roaster: Pharmacie Coffee Roasters
Founded: 2009

Redroaster

More and more coffee shops appear to be opening across Brighton & Hove every day, but Redroaster were one of the first, all the way back in 2000. Situated at the bottom of St James’s Street, Redroaster is Brighton’s original artisan coffee shop. The only organic roasters in the south have been roasting single origin speciality coffee in the city since they began.

The location is visually stunning, the high ceilings and marble topped counters combining with the vibrant green foliage to create an incredibly tranquil space. An intelligent design, and a helping hand by World Interiors Designer of the Year Hana Hakim, allows this famous café to transform into the restaurant Lucky Khao. The cafe showcases their Sanctuary blend which is the roastery’s most popular blend and always feature a second seasonal espresso picked by head roaster Rob Ross.

With an open planned layout inside, sun-facing seating outdoors and organic coffee on offer, Redroaster is certainly a Brighton institution.

Espresso: £2.50
Americano: £2.50
Flat White: £2.80
Latte: £2.80

Mon – Sun: 7am – 5pm

Address: 1D St James’s Street, Brighton, BN2 1RE
Phone Number: 01273 686 668
Website:redroaster.co.uk

Machine: Kees Van Der Western
Grinder: Victoria Arduino Mythos 1
Roaster: Redroster
Founded: 2000