Spider on a bicycle

Station Square Aboyne Aberdeenshire AB34 5HX »Map«

Open every day except Monday Espresso Coffee: Papercup Also: Meals, cakes, alcohol

Coolness: Stately interior, out of the cold with tasty coffee, or sit outside on sunny days

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Spider on a bicycle was recommended by one of our coffee lovers, and is high on our list for a visit soon.

They've not stinted on the gear - with their La Marzocco pride of place - and use Glasgow-based Papercup Coffee which we rate highly.

The shop is on Station Square in a stone building that was once part of the railway and has an airy, elegant feel with the curved ceiling and windows, enhanced by a cheery, classy colour scheme. The decor of recycled timbers and eclectic home-away-from-home furnishings adds to the relaxed ambience.

The wholesome food is generally made on site using ingredients sourced as locally as possible. You'll enjoy a varying menu of creative cakes, salads, soups, mezze style platters, brunches, toasties and more. Vegetarians as well as meat eaters will find joy here!

Dogs are welcome. This is definitely a coffee highlight in the region!

(Photos from Spider on a bicycle's instagram stream)

More: facebook.com/pg/spideronabicycle/

Unorthodox Roasters

129 High St Kinross KY13 8AQ »Map«

Open Wed-Sun Pour over, espresso Coffee: Unorthodox Roasters Also: Beans, light meals, brew kit

Coolness: Big open windows on to historic Kinross town

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Unorthodox Roasters in the town of Kinross - about a 50 minute drive North of Edinburgh - is a roastery and cafe.

Owners Neil Buchan and Chris Bode have their 6kg Giesen roaster proudly sitting up front alongside the customers’ chairs and tables.

They offer V60 pour over and, more recently, have added espresso based drinks to their menu. Their overarching ethos is to ensure customers are getting what they want.

They're aiming to demystify specialty coffee for their customers by fully explaining the taste profiles of their range and encouraging customers to try new things, as well as catering to those who tend toward a traditional taste profile.

It's worth visiting their website to get the gist of their unorthodox ethos, and you can order beans - and now specialty teas - to be delivered by mail if Kinross is not in your neighbourhood. Their range changes but this gives you an indicator:

• Wee Stoater - Chocolate, Hazelnut, Caramel - Brazil/Nicaragua
• Fire Bird - Chestnut, Apricot, Chocolate - Rwanda/Brazil
• Politik - Make. Coffee. Great. Again. - Rwanda
• Clockword Ninja - Brazil nut, Apple, Cocao - Colombia
• Jackpot - Blood orange zest - D.R. Congo

The food menu is evolving and includes avocado on sourdough, smoked salmon bagels, banana loaf, brownies and other cakes. And the cafe is quite roomy with lots of light, a rustic-meets-make-do-hipster decor and plenty of room to sit down and chill out.

Neil and Chris were inspired by a major trip they took through Central and South America - much of which was spent building their appreciation and knowledge of specialty coffee. Prior to this epiphany, neither had a background in coffee but have since been engrossed and have now realised their dream to both roast coffee, and open their coffee shop.

And to finish - this is one of the few places in Kinross and surrounds that's open on a Sunday - for all the walkers, runners and cyclists out there!

More: facebook.com/unorthodoxroasters/

Life Story

53 London St EH3 6LX »Map«

Open every day except Tues & Wed Espresso Coffee: Guests Also: Homewares, jewellery, and lots more

Coolness: Wide array of must-haves for your home and person

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Life Story (4♥) is a Scandi-inspired homewares store, completely at home on Edinburgh's creative Broughton Street. (The address is London Street but the shop faces Broughton Street)

While spending time pouring over all manner of lovely goods is already an enjoyable experience, it is of course enhanced by having a nice coffee - either sit-in or in a take-away cup while you wander about the store.

The Life Story folks are using guests including Edinburgh's Artisan Roast beans (one of their coffee shops is a one minute walk up Broughton Street), The Roasting Shed and Johan & Nystrom and doing a fine job with them. If you'd like to sit down to enjoy your espresso-based coffee, and perhaps a little bit of accompanying gluten free and/or vegan cake from Grams near Haymarket, there's a spot made just for you at the rear of the store near the window that looks on to a leafy patch of green. You'll feel very serene - surrounded by lovely designer furnishings.

The main act is definitely the large range of goodies that you didn't realise you really need until you see them. It's worth taking your time to have a good poke around in Life Story because the more you look the more you find. Greeting cards, note pads, clips, stationery, shelving, crockery, cutlery, books, cushions, furniture, artworks, lighting, candles, jewellery, waste paper baskets and the list goes on. All of a complimentary clean lines, meets clever design, meets practically useful kind of styling.

More: facebook.com/lifestoryshop

Twelve Triangles Portobello

300 Portobello High St EH15 2AS »Map«

Open every day Espresso Coffee: Steampunk Also: Bakery items

Coolness: Amazing filled doughnuts, pies, cake, breads

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Twelve Triangles Portobello (4♥) is a bakery cafe on Portobello High Street near the corner of Bellfield Street.

Consistent with their sister shop in Leith, they do a great job with North Berwick-based Steampunk coffee. Available in take-away cups, their coffee is jam-packed with the layers of gutsy flavours we've grown to love from Steampunk.

Twelve Triangles have a justly deserved reputation for turning out high quality and creative bakery items. They started off being most famous for their filled doughnuts - before anyone else was really doing them in Edinburgh - with fillings such as maple pecan custard, chocolate peanut butter and apple and cinnamon.

They've gone on to expand their fame for creative, crusty breads (that subscribe to the Real Bread Campaign's 'no artificial additives' ethos), pies ('hand pies' with fillings such as lentil and feta, potato and cheese), focaccia with savoury herbs and toppings and a wide range of pastries, brioches, scones and buns.

This is primarily a shop where you pick up your delectable breads and coffee and wander out again clutching as much as you can carry. There's no sit-down seating provided.

Go visit. If you don't live in the area you'll wish it was your local bakery and coffee shop!

More: facebook.com/twelvetrianglesporty/

Loft Cafe & Bakery

Peffers Place Haddington EH41 3DR »Map«

Mon-Sat Espresso, Chemex Coffee: Artisan Roast Also: Meals, cakes, beans

Coolness: The charming stone building belies the bakery indulgences within!

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The Loft Cafe & Bakery (4♥) is in a large, listed stone building, tucked away from Haddington's High Street in amongst East Lothian Council's buildings and behind the The Plough Tavern.  The locals are certainly enjoying The Loft, so if you have any trouble finding it, just ask someone to point you in the right direction.

The Loft's lead barista Jake does a cracking job at the espresso machine with Edinburgh's Artisan Roast Janszoon beans, their signature Sumatran/Brazilian blend. It's great to see his passion and focus being appreciated by his regulars and visitors alike with well-extracted (and regularly calibrated) shots brought together with expertly stretched milk. At this stage the Loft is one of Scotland's 'coffee oases' - in that you'll need to go a long way in any direction before you'll find coffee as good as The Loft's!

Coffee lovers can also buy take-home bags of Artisan Roast beans and aeropress machines. Jake has hopes to be able to offer more brewing equipment soon, as well as potentially offering filter coffee. Pekoe Teas are on the menu and a range of Coco, Ailey Mae and Chocolate Tree hot chocolates, which we were impressed with.

The food is equally enjoyable with a variety of gourmand preserves, oils, smoked fish, free range eggs and more. Breakfasts on the menu - available until 11.30am - include bacon and egg rolls, scrambled eggs, pancakes and granola. Lunches are wide and varied including mezze plates, toasties, sausage rolls, quiches, ploughman's, pulled pork rolls, smoked fish pate with soda bread, home-made soups and inventive salads.

The hint's in the name of this establishment that breads and cakes are a major feature. They source their ingredients locally including bread from Dunbar Bakery (who use no artificial ingredients) and Khleb Bakery in Pencaitland for stone-baked sourdough breads.  All their own baking and cooking uses Mungoswells flour which is made entirely from wheat grown on their farm in East Lothian. All manner of sweet treats also await you such as brownies, tartlets, traybakes and cake, laid out on the front bench for you to choose from.

As well as the large and spacious upstairs dining area, spread over an L-shaped space and furnished with light timber tables, chairs and the occasional sofa, The Loft also has a sheltered courtyard with outdoor seating. Due to their popularity, owners Charlotte and Anita, have also installed a take-away shop downstairs for coffee, cold drinks, sandwiches and other goodies for those on the move.

More: facebook.com/loftcafebakery/

Quay Commons

92 Commercial St EH6 6LX »Map«

Open every day Espresso Coffee: Williams & Johnson Also: Meals, cake, wine

Coolness:

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Quay Commons (4♥) is a friendly combination of bakery, cafe, restaurant, bar and wine shop located in a historic industrial warehouse a stone's throw from Leith's Custom House and The Shore. You can walk in off Commercial Street through the stone-arch and past bulk bags of fresh veggies or via the rear of the row of warehouses and their large outdoor area - amongst the rail track and water ways of times gone by.

Owned by the same folk as restaurant Gardener's Cottage, Quay Commons have chosen hyper local coffee roasters Williams & Johnson - who are a few doors away in Customs Lane.

Quay Commons do a fine job serving espresso-based coffees using W&J's seasonal espresso blend of single origin beans. We're big fans of W&J coffees because they're juicy, interesting and change regularly so drinkers get to explore origins as the seasons change. (We also thought Quay Commons' cups were rather nice).

That said, the food and wine are the main act here with breakfast, lunch, dinner and cakes aplenty. They're passionate foodies with proven form - pun intended - as their sop notch bakery is a big part of their offering. Their breads are cracking in their own right, but also perfect for showcasing some of Scotland's finest produce including cheeses, charcuterie, eggs, smoked fish, roasted veggies, salads and olives. And their cakes, biscuits and puddings are delightful and varied.

These are early days and Quay Commons are working through their dinner menu ideas. You can enjoy sharing platters and hearty meals - including vegetarian-friendly options - at communal tables, accompanied by quality wines. Quay Commons also operates as a wine shop so you can buy a bottle at off-licence prices, pay a corkage fee, and take home any you don't manage to finish.

We definitely need to return to try more of their fantastic menu and see how things continue to evolve. We envy the people who live nearby Quay Commons and can drop in any time!

More: facebook.com/quaycommons/

Lovecrumbs Stockbridge

22 St Stephen's St EH3 5AL »Map«

Wed-Sun Espresso Coffee: Steampunk Also: Cake, homewares

Coolness: Holding their own with their funky designer neighbours

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Lovecrumbs (4♥) has been providing Edinburgh with top notch cakes, coffee and other goodies for some years from their shop in Westport. And now to the delight of Stockbridge locals, they've opened up in St Stephen's Street.

Located down a few steps and nestled amongst the signature elegant and often quirky home wares, fashion, restaurants and hair dressers, Lovecrumbs is holding its own.

The front and rear parts of the shop are primarily dedicated to coffee and cakes with seating, tables and stools. The middle features a range of stylish and useful kitchenalia, textiles, magazines, greeting cards, stationery and other must-haves from long time collaborators Century General Store.

With it's inviting friendliness and scrumptious cakes and coffee, we love this Lovecrumbs!

More: facebook.com/bakery.lovecrumbs/

The Steamie

1024 Argyle Street G38LX, Glasgow »Map«

Open every day Espresso, aeropress, V60, chemex, cold brew Coffee: The Steamie Also: Meals, cakes, beans, kit

Coolness: It's so chilled you could wear your pjs and no-one would lift an eyebrow

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The Steamie (4♥) is cosy coffee shop located on bustling Argyle Street in Finnieston, just West of central Glasgow.

These folks are very partial to coffee and offer a wide choice of brew methods. They use their own small batch roasted coffee - offering quite a range of origins - across espresso, aeropress, V60, cold brew and chemex. You can also buy hand brewing kit, filter papers and vacuum flasks which is mighty handy.

Breakfast, lunches and in-between snacks include granola, toast, bagels, scones, soups and cakes. And their panini fillings range from chorizo and smoked paprika mayo, to hummus and roasted red pepper to brie and caramelised red onion.

Their main food gig, however, is eggs en cocotte - traditional French baked eggs served in an individual dish. You can have them plain or with toppings: mozzarella, brie, sun dried tomato and prosciutto among others.

The decor is comprised of exposed brick, hanging filament bulbs, rough wooden flooring and a mix of recycled wooden tables and chairs of many shapes and sizes. There's no bench between customers and baristas and the space is fairly tightly packed, all contributing to a cosy living room feel but with better coffee.

(For the non-Scottish coffee lovers, a 'steamie' is a public or communal wash house for clothes washing)

More: facebook.com/thesteamiecoffee/

East

354 Duke St G31 1RB Glasgow »Map«

Open every day Espresso Coffee: Good Coffee Cartel and guests Also: Meals, cake

Coolness: Super chilled with super brunch

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East (4♥) is located in Dennistoun - Glasgow's East end - and is the venture of Sean and Niall who were previously at Meadow Road and Artisan Roast.

With attentive, relaxed friendliness, the East team are dishing out espresso-based, seasonally changing coffees from Glasgow's Good Coffee Cartel and aiming to offer loads of guests on filter in the near term. (It's early days but we'll check back).

We enjoyed a cracking breakfast of pancakes (that happened to be gluten free) with lush toppings - bacon, toasted banana, orange zest butter and maple peanut butter - yum! And there were other choices including berry compote and ginger pear. Poached eggs and toast come with sides such as avocado, spinach, chilli jam, salted peas. bacon and dill sauce plus there are bagels and cakes of varying kinds.

The shop is long and narrow with tables and chairs for around 15 customers and all the cooking and preparation is done behind the counter. At the back there's a little Libby Walker mini-shop with prints, mugs, homewares and textiles on sale.

More: facebook.com/EASTcoffeecompany/

Leo's Beanery

23A Howe St EH3 6TF »Map«

Open every day Espresso Coffee: Rounton Coffee Also: Meals, cakes and beans

Coolness: New Town nooks and crannies meets great food

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Leo's Beanery (4♥) is in the beautiful Georgian New Town and a lovely spot.

Out front you'll find some inviting tables and chairs before stepping into the deceptively large interior. Leo's has a friendly, elegant but cosy feel and are very customer-focused. 

We've sampled Leo's coffee for years and they continue to be a joy. They're using Yorkshire-based Rounton Roasters, which they make with care and serve at the perfect temperature, warm but not scalding which allows the rounded milk texture to support great flavour.

As well as their coffee, they take their food seriously with lots of yummy, locally sourced fresh options - small or big breakfasts as well as a good choice of lunches, snacks and cakes. There really is something for everyone.

This one's a charmer and one to put on the regular visiting list.

More: Leo's Beanery Facebook

Lovecrumbs Westport

155 West Port EH3 9DP »Map«

Open every day Espresso Coffee: Steampunk & guests Also: Cakes and tarts to order

Coolness: Amazing array of cakes in a relaxed bohemian setting

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Lovecrumbs (4♥) is a relaxed and spacious cafe located just up the hill from the Grassmarket as you head toward Lothian Road.

They have a long established relationship with North Berwick's Steampunk coffee who provide high quality, seasonally changing roasts. Steampunk buy in small quantities of fully traceable green beans from Nordic Approach and Falcon Specialty and roast, bag and ship them weekly to shops and customers directly. At Lovecrumbs you'll enjoy a frequently changing single origin menu of well made espresso based coffees.

Lovecrumbs is famous for their cakes and tarts - check out hellolovecrumbs on Instagram to see some of their beautiful creations. They also have little a Century General Store pop up in situ - showcasing a selection of carefully curated homewares and stylish must-haves such as crockery, stationery, Frank Green cups and enamelware.

The cafe is a large light room filled with eclectic wooden furniture some of which has been repurposed - for example an upright piano that is now a coffee bench. The floor is painted dark grey, the poles and ceilings distressed and 'antiqued' and decorative cornices crisp white. Those so inclined you can sit in the display window to enjoy their refreshments, others may wish to sit up to one of the many tables or on a couch.

The clientèle is equally mixed and all are welcomed by friendly staff.

More: lovecrumbs.co.uk

Pacamara Food & Drink

302 Perth Rd DD2 1AU Dundee »Map«

Every day Espresso, aeropress Coffee: Has Bean & guests Also: Meals, beans, cakes

Coolness: To boldly go where very little specialty coffee exists!

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Pacamara Food & Drink (4♥) is located just west of Dundee's city centre, close-ish to Dundee University.

To say Pacamara is out on a limb as purveyors of specialty coffee in the region, is an under-statement. They are a lonely beacon and we'll be very pleased if we can help drive more coffee lovers their way! We schlepped around Dundee at some length to learn this, saving you the palette-ache.

Espresso-based coffee lovers will be treated to a cracking Has Bean Jailbreak blend, comprised of equal parts Bolivian, Brazilian and Colombian. And Pacamara offer aeropress using guest beans of an equally high standard which you can also buy in retail bags. They stock some coffee making kit too, including the must-have aeropress.

Equal attention is paid to the food at Pacamara (as per the full title of their shop) and breakfast and lunch are available every day - dinner Wednesday to Sunday. Homemade bbq baked beans, brioche french toast and cooked breakfasts will get you off to the right start and their brunches Friday to Sunday are extra-special. They change regularly, but menu items such as 'Nutella and banana stuffed brioche french toast with strawberries, blue berries, mascarpone and maple syrup', 'wild garlic pesto scrambled eggs' and 'duck confit hash with poached egg' give you an indication. Lunches and dinners are equally creative and use high-quality ingredients.

More: Pacamara's facebook page

Hula Juice Bar & Gallery

Grassmarket EH1 2JU »Map«

Open every day Espresso Coffee: Artisan Roast Also: Meals, beans, some coffee kit

Coolness: Healthy, tasty food in an iconic location of the Old Town

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Hula Juice Bar & Gallery (4♥) is one of the few places that does great coffee in Edinburgh's Old Town. The location on the Grassmarket is also special given the building and surrounds date from the 1600s and before.

Hula Juice Bar & Gallery offers a great choice of healthy food, smoothies and juices for breakfasts and lunches. Options include soups, wraps, bagels, salads and cakes. They are also very happy to provide a take-away service for all items on their menu.

The staff are friendly and do their jobs well. You can sit outside when the sun is shining but there's plenty of space inside as well, a stone's throw from Edinburgh Castle.

The coffee is very good and expertly prepared. rich, robust and soft luscious milk - using long time partner Edinburgh's Artisan Roast beans. Good food and coffee combined with this beautifully historic old part of town, what more can you ask!

More: hulajuicebar.co.uk

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Wilson Street Pantry

6 Wilson St G1 1SS, Glasgow »Map«

Open every day Espresso Coffee: Papercup Also: Meals and cakes

Coolness: Relaxed bistro vibe in city centre

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Wilson Street Pantry (4♥) in Glasgow's Merchant City is a smart, modern cafe serving up local roaster Papercup's coffee.

These folk are friendly and take their coffee seriously, offering well-made espresso-based drinks in stylish surrounds.

On the menu are breakfast choices including granola, toast, french toast and eggs a bunch of ways. For lunch your options include dips, soups, tarts, sandwiches and salads, many of which are built on high quality produce and antipasti from blue cheese, apple and walnut, to salami, chorizo and prosciutto to hot and cold smoked salmon.

The decor has an elegant, bistro feel - complete with black and white floor tiles and wooden tables and chairs - and has tables and chairs outside for the sunnier days.

The Merchant City area of Glasgow is a favourite with grand stone buildings of a bygone era and plenty of shops, boutiques and cafes to explore. All in all, this one's a great spot to relax mid-shop for both eats and coffees.

More: facebook.com/wilsonstreetpantry/

The Little Green Van

Cnr Portobello Promenade & Bellfield St EH15 2BR »Map«

Open Fri-Sun Espresso Coffee: Artisan Roast Also: Light meals, cakes

Coolness: Other than the very cute van, panoramic beach views

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The Little Green Van (4♥) looks directly on to Portobello beach and is on the promenade, at the foot of Bellfield street.

The friendly owners of the easily recognisable Citroen HY van offer well made Artisan Roast coffee right on the beach front.

Also on offer are tasty hot sandwiches, soups, pastries, icecreams and tea or hot chocolate - all made to an equally high quality.

Portobello beach is lovely spot to visit for a walk along the promenade and is frequented by many a parent and dog owner.

The Little Green Van is part of the experience and offers some of the best coffee in the area.

Kelvin Pocket

72 S Woodside Rd G4 9HG Glasgow »Map«

Open every day Espresso Coffee: Climpson & Sons Also: Meals, cakes, beans, fresh juice

Coolness: Spacious and laid back on the River Kelvin

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The Kelvin Pocket (4♥) provides breakfast, lunch and cakes and is situated at the bottom of the Kelvinbridge stairs, adjacent the Kelvinbridge Underground.

These folks ply coffee from the well-established and highly regarded East London company Climpson & Sons - available to sit in, takeaway or take home with various beans to choose from.

As the name describes, the cafe is tucked in a little pocket, a little sun trap in the afternoon with outdoor seating. There's plenty of seating inside and outside the cafe with a lovely laid back spacious feel and nothing is ever to much for the fantastic staff.

Inside the counter displays an amazing array of ever-changing cakes with some popular ones making a reappearance from time to time. The food menu changes daily, keeps in season and is sourced locally. This ranges from soaked oats and berries, smoked salmon bagels, various filled fresh sandwiches, soups and salads all made on site.

More: facebook.com/kelvinpocket/

Post written by Leanne Graham
- Instagram @glw.coffee.snob & peaceandjam1