Cairngorm Coffee New Town

41A Frederick St EH2 1EP »Map«

Open every day Espresso, filter Coffee: Guests Also: Beans and some non-espresso kit Dog-friendly

Coolness: Retro industrial décor meets rustic coziness

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Cairngorm Coffee (5♥) is in the heart of the Georgian New Town, just below street level.

A short set of stone stairs take you down from street level past a table & chairs and into the open fronted shop. We very much liked the decor of simple chunky wood with equally chunky old metal machinery holding up various chairs, tables and benches. To the right side of the entry is a deceptively large seating area that is very cosy.

Cairngorm stock lots of yummy food and drink options such as cold drinks, chocolates and other snacks from a range of gourmet suppliers. They also do light lunches with toasted cheese sandwiches being a particular specialty, soups and pastries.

Owner Robi and his friendly team use guest beans from a range of European specialty coffee roaster which we very much enjoy in our flat whites. Fiercely passionate about great coffee, Cairngorm is well worth dropping into.

More: facebook.com/cairngormcoffee 

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

Papii

101 Hanover St EH2 1DJ »Map«

Open every day Espresso Coffee: Artisan Roast Also: Full meals, beans, Frank Green cups Child-friendly

Coolness: Friendly, cosy with a light and airy feeling

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Papii (5♥) in the New Town has a welcoming crisp white frontage and almost summery feel inside with friendly, friendly staff.

They have a very shiny Kees Van Der Westen Mirage thermo-syphon coffee machine - for those who are fond of this level of geekery - and use local Artisan Roast Janzsoon blend coffee. If you're fond of a big, bolshy espresso-based coffee then you'll love Papii. A flat white here will keep you buzzing for a while, and it's very well made.

They offer wholesome and substantial breakfasts, brunches, soups, sandwiches, pastries, scones and much more. This is one of the New Town's best places to go if you want good coffee and a full cooked breakfast or lunch.

It's relatively small with mostly white tables and chairs of various shapes and sizes and counters against both front windows so you can sit on stools to watch the world go by. They're kid-friendly with baby changing facilities in the loo.

More: Facebook

Castello Coffee - City

7A Castle St EH2 3AH »Map«

Open every day Espresso Coffee: Allpress Espresso & guests Also: Meals, beans, Keepcups Dog-friendly

Coolness: Amazing view of Edinburgh Castle when you sit outside

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Castello Coffee (5♥) is near the corner of Princes Street and Castle Street and is one of Edinburgh's best.

You'll get friendly low-key service, soups, sandwiches, baguettes, snacks and great coffee. Vegetarians will always find good options here.

Even in rainy weather you can sit outside under umbrellas and watch the world go by. There are also tables and chairs inside for chilly times.

Alongside some guests, Castello use Allpress Espresso, a New Zealand outfit that also trades out of London and Sydney. They buy direct from small estates and co-ops so the actual beans change regularly and are seasonal. Castello's baristas will always give you a lovely coffee, and you get variety - perfect.

It's also excellently placed to grab a coffee and picnic and then pop across the road to the Princes Street gardens under the looming Edinburgh Castle.

A great part of Edinburgh's coffee scene.

More: facebook.com/CastelloCoffee 

Fortitude Coffee

3c York Pl EH1 3EB »Map«

Open: Mon-Sat Espresso & filter Coffee: Workshop & lots of guests Also: Beans & some coffee making kit Free wifi Dog-friendly

Coolness: Great selection of coffee guests perfectly prepared

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Fortitude Coffee (5♥) is nestled between the National Portrait Gallery and The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh's New Town. It sits up of the street, accessed via a short flight of stone stairs.

York Place is the Eastern end of Queen Street toward the top of Broughton Street, complying with old Edinburgh's 'three block rule': you can't have the same street name for more than three blocks, even if it is in fact the same street! (This isn't a real rule. We made it up and it seems to be mostly true).

Up a short staircase to the front door, you immediately know that Fortitude love their coffee. They sell v60 and aeropress gadgets as well as bags of beans, ground or whole. Workshop Coffee is their primary coffee with Monmouth also available when we visited and they have regular guests. Espresso-based and filter coffees are lovingly prepared by the owner and barista.

Our flat whites have been delectable - perfectly prepared using London-based Workshop 'Cult of Done' beans and the service friendly, understated and helpful.

The menu includes stromboli, soup, salad, chilli, quiche and cakes along with a selection of loose leaf teas, hot chocolate and gourmet cold drinks.

The decor is open, light and simple and their branding very nice indeed.

More: facebook.com/fortitudecoffee

Artisan Roast Broughton Street

57 Broughton St EH1 3RJ »Map«

Open every day Espresso, Chemex, Kalita Wave, V60, Aeropress Coffee: Artisan Roast Also: Cakes, croissants, beans, some coffee kit Dog-friendly

Coolness: Around ten types of their own coffee beans to take home

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Artisan Roast (5♥) is among Edinburgh's best and have shops in Stockbridge and Bruntsfield as well as Broughton Street (they also have a significant presence in Glasgow).

They were one of the first coffee shops in Edinburgh to do great coffee and pretty much the only roaster until very recently. They supply quite a few shops across Edinburgh with their Janzsoon blend but offer a lot of other choices at their shops.

The vibe in their Broughton street shop is chilled out and down-to-earth. There are high tables and stools in the front section of the shop and softer seating out the back, similar to their Brunstfield shop. They offer cakes and croissants to go with your coffee and a big trade in take-aways for busy locals.

Their coffees are amazing and their baristas tip top. A visit to Edinburgh's coffee scene is not complete unless you've dived in and had a coffee or two at one of Artisan Roast's shops.

Passion, aroma, flavour, milk texture, temperature and cup size - all fantastic.

More: www.artisanroast.co.uk

Soderberg West End

31 Queensferry St EH2 4QS »Map«

Open: Everyday Espresso Coffee: Johan & Nyström Also: Baked items and beans

Coolness: Great variety of fresh loaves, scones, buns and cakes

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Soderberg (3♥) is a bakery shop located in the West End near where the end of Princes Street meets Shandwick Place.

Owned by the same folk who own Peter's Yard, their buns, bread and sandwiches are many, varied and delightful. They offer a range of breakfast buns and scones as well as loaves of bread of different shapes, sizes and textures. And then they top up just before lunch with a range of high quality and fresh sandwich options to suit most folk.

They, like their sister shops, use Swedish roaster Johan & Nyström beans. This is essentially a bakery shop that offers take-away service. There's one table with chairs if you're lucky enough to grab it, otherwise you'll need to get your coffee (and delectable breads) and run.

More: soderberg.uk/our-cafes

Wellington Coffee

33A George St EH2 2HN »Map«

Open every day Espresso Coffee: Square Mile and guests Also: Light meals, beans

Coolness: View to Fife from the outdoor pavement tables (in good weather!)

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Wellington Coffee (5♥), downstairs on the corner of Hanover and George Streets makes great coffee.

They have been using independent coffee roaster Square Mile for some years now - a London outfit - and change their beans with the seasons. They also almost always have a guest coffee to tempt you as well as a 'decaf worth drinking' for those who prefer great coffee without the caffeine.

All the folk behind the machine produce consistently excellent coffee - temperature-perfect and luxuriously smooth.

There are a quite few tables and chairs, some on the pavement and some in the outdoor area below street level. Inside is smaller with a few tables and chairs along with benches at the windows. It's popular so you can expect not to get a seat inside at high peak coffee and lunch times.

Food on offer includes scones, brownies and light lunch-type options.

More: Facebook