Best Coffee Shops in Edinburgh

If you’ve got a holiday booked, are looking for a new local haunt or want to travel the world in search of the best cup of coffee, then our new coffee shops series will help you on your way to a great brew, no matter where you are. Our first stop is Edinburgh, where there is a vast selection of unique, independent, speciality coffee shops. As a vibrant and bustling capital city, the people of Edinburgh need some great caffeine sources to keep them fuelled throughout the day. We take a look at six of our favourite coffee spots in Edinburgh, and what they each have to offer!

Cult Espresso

The self-confessed “coffee nerds” of Cult Espresso on Buccleuch Street are serious about their speciality coffee. While the true passion for coffee is evident here, there is also a great sense of fun in this coffee shop. Using coffee beans from Round Hill Roastery in East Somerset, Cult Espresso also feature seasonal guest coffees from roasteries throughout the UK and across Europe. As well as brewing espresso, Cult Espresso offer AeroPress brewing, so head there if you would like to see what AeroPress can do!

Cairngorm Coffee

With not one, but two coffee shops in central Edinburgh, Cairngorm Coffee is passionate about introducing people to quality sips. Here, experienced baristas serve up top quality coffee, and are always exploring and experimenting to discover the best espresso recipe. Serving their own roast, a variety of beans from around the world are available, each roasted weekly in the Cairngorms. Bags of their speciality coffee are available on their website and instore, so you can try it at home as well. Depending on the coffee on offer that week, sometimes the AeroPress will be used to brew up a fresh sip, if the roast will work well with this method.

Zebra Coffee Co

A cosy bar and eatery found in the historic old town of Edinburgh, close to The Mound, Zebra Coffee Co is home to some delicious brews and divine baked goods. Offering a selection of breakfast, brunch and lunch light bites, this is the perfect spot to refuel before exploring the historic sites of the city. Coffee aside, the biggest draw of this coffee shop is the assortment of freshly baked brownies that tempt you in from the window. Often using locally roasted coffee beans for their brews, you’ll also find some delightful latte art in the cups made at Zebra!

Urban Angel

It can be hard to find a café that puts as much passion and care into their coffee as they do their food, but at Urban Angel, the fresh coffee and bites are great quality, temptingly delicious and work harmoniously together. Enjoy all-day brunch, super smoothies or a sweet treat from the inhouse pastry chefs and bakers – as well as a quality brew, of course! Urban Angel’s coffee is sourced carefully, using beans chosen from a range of roasteries, which are freshly ground throughout the day. As well as batch brew filter coffee, Urban Angel offers everything you’d expect from a quality coffee shop, from espresso and americano to latte and mocha! 

Fortitude Coffee

Despite being one of the smallest coffee shops in Edinburgh, Fortitude Coffee proves that quality over quantity is definitely the way to go, with fewer seats meaning that more time can be dedicated to each customer. Every cup of coffee will be brewed individually, tailored to the customer’s desires, with their single origin, light roasted beans ground fresh to order. Roasted to express a hint of sweetness, this coffee can work wonderfully black, or with a splash of milk.

Artisan Roast

Firmly part of the coffee scene in Scotland, Artisan Roast has three coffee shops in Edinburgh, as well as their lab and roastery within the city. At their roastery, the expert team take coffee beans and unlock their full flavour potential, while ensuring that the quality remains. Over at The Lab, the coffee is tested, graded and cupped to ensure that only the best brews reach their customers. Artisan Roast has coffee shops in Stockbridge, at Bruntsfield Place and on Broughton Street. At each of their locations, they offer a range of brewing methods and speciality coffee types, as well as a selection of tasty treats. AeroPress lovers will certainly want to visit the Artisan Roast Broughton Street, as 2017 World AeroPress Championship winner, Panda, is a barista at this location.

There are many more incredible coffee shops in Edinburgh, but if you prefer to make your own brew when out and about, then why not try our newly launched travel coffee maker, the AeroPress Go!