Posted Sat Aug 16, 2008, 9:47am Subject: Coffee in Birmingham
I've seen a few posts on here on coffee shops in Birmingham (UK). I live near to London, but come up to Birmingham quite often to see family and friends, as I used to live here. The worst thing about it is that it seems to be a coffee wilderness. I'm used to places in London like Fernandez & Wells, or Sacred, which were also quite difficult to find out about in the first place, though at least I had the Timeout Guide which has good recommendations. But as far as Birmingham goes, I have searched quite hard for information on good coffee shops, but haven't found much. And the stuff that I've found hasn't been the best advice. I've noticed a couple of recommendations on here, but considering that one was Strada (a chain restaurant) I'm not convinced how discerning those are. So, I thought I'd start this thread to see if anyone had any good advice of where to go.
To start off, on the internet I just found Coffee Lounge, which looks promising. I'm going to check it out tomorrow, but any comments from your experience would be great.
Keepitsimple Senior Member Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 208 Location: UK Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Reneka Techno Grinder: Mazzer Mini-e
Posted Sat Aug 16, 2008, 12:19pm Subject: Re: Coffee in Birmingham
Flammick Said:
.... I've noticed a couple of recommendations on here, but considering that one was Strada (a chain restaurant) I'm not convinced how discerning those are. So, I thought I'd start this thread to see if anyone had any good advice of where to go.
To start off, on the internet I just found Coffee Lounge, which looks promising. I'm going to check it out tomorrow, but any comments from your experience would be great.
Oh, they're quite discerning, considering the very limited geographical area that was asked about for recommendations. There are much better places elsewhere in the city though.
cshadforth Senior Member Joined: 8 Jul 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Perth, WA Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: Isomac Millenium Grinder: Compak K3
Posted Tue Aug 19, 2008, 8:24am Subject: Re: Coffee in Birmingham
I am visiting the UK from Australia and am interested in any responses to this thred as I am staying near to Birmingham and would love to know where to go for coffee, so far I have to keep jumping on trains to London to go to cafes/espresso bars there to find a good coffee...
Any suggestions to 'better places' would be appreciated.
Not been to either for a little while now, as neither is near my normal footfall, but St. Paul's Square is an interesting area to vsit anyway. Both are within easy walking distance of stations etc., and if you drive, you can park on the street fairly easily around the St Paul's square area. Coventry street is trickier for on-street parking, but there's a large multi-storey opposite Selfridges just round the corner.
Both were originally recommended to me in the first place.
ILUVCOFFEE22 Senior Member Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Birmingham Expertise: Pro Barista
Posted Fri Aug 29, 2008, 7:44am Subject: Re: Coffee in Birmingham
I may be able to help with some recommendations,
I can certainly recommend Saint Caffe, i've been searching for a good coffee shop in birmingham for years and this piece of jem popped up out of no where!
i was recommended by a friend who works in the square and thought id try the place out. The latte was the best ive tried in birmingham, it even had latte art in it (something i find quite rare here!) then on my next visit i had an espresso, probably the only place that served me a glass of water alongside my espresso and the staff were extremely friendly/helpful when i was asking them about their blend.
i have yet to try eastside cafe but thats on my list of places : )
theres a place in shirley called The Coffee Roaster, i heard some great reviews on this place but i was bitterly dissappointed. i was served a latte out of a pint glass (im not exaggerating either) and my friend found 2 small pieces of hair in his macchiato... which they gave us the wrong drink because we ended up with an "upside down cappuccino" for some odd reason. although, the little lady behind the counter was nice.
I've also been to Caffe Gusto, originally i thought they were probably the best around in birmingham when they first opened, but i haven't been back for a long time since i witnessed something awful! I saw the girl wipe the counter with a cloth and dust the old grinds from the surface back into the coffee chamber, while i was still standing at the counter!! totally disrespectful to the art of coffee!!! : (
last but not least... coffee lounge... i don't even know where to begin with this place! the "baristas" that serves coffee here obviously doesn't like/drink coffee or else they wouldn't serve coffee the way they did. if you do have to go here, you're better off getting water... a bottled water that is and maybe using their free internet too : )
if anyone else knows of any other coffee shops that would be fantastic!!!
Keepitsimple Senior Member Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 208 Location: UK Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Reneka Techno Grinder: Mazzer Mini-e
Posted Fri Aug 29, 2008, 4:40pm Subject: Re: Coffee in Birmingham
I'd like to like the Coffee Roaster, as it's not too far from where I live, and the guy does at least roast on the premises. Don't know anyone else who does since Second City Coffee at Five-ways closed - and that's been a long long time ago.
I did try some of The Coffee Roaster's beans at home. The espresso he made me at the time was disappointing, but I was prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt. The standard espresso blend he sells was far to highly roasted and oily for me. It's fairly well up with the best as far as price is concerned too.
Sad about Coffee Lounge isn't it ? I think the OP was going to try it, but never reported back.
If you haven't tried Bebo, don't.
Let us know what you think of Eastside, though Saint Caffe is the best I've been to.
I went to Bebo, i was a wary at first as the first thing i noticed was an unwiped steam-wand which must've built up all the milk throughout the day. Its sad really bc it "could've" been a nice place to go to.
oh there is also a place called Hudson's coffee on colmore row. An old little place, quite tradiional serving mainly different blends of filter coffees.
Also i found out that Saint Caffe no longer opens on weekends well the staff said for the time being anyway : (
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