604402 Tue Mar 17 05:44:11 -0700 2009 8 42 U.K./Ireland 0 4512197 Has the coffee revolution that is spreading through London like wildfire reached the capital of the North. So far I have enjoyed good espresso at Anthony's Piazza but have found nothing to compare to a Taste of Bitter Love or a Monmouth. Is there any note worthy coffee in Leeds? Tue Mar 17 05:44:11 -0700 2009 19800 loobcom 1 4512411 In my experience, no. I did have a place recommended close to Malmaison but it was disappointing. Your choice boils down to the consistent mediocrity of a major chain (Nero et al), 1960s Italians who make bitter robusta with a 3 second pour and tell you thats how Italians like it, or a cafe for ladies who lunch with foam that could support a two storey building. Tue Mar 17 07:11:13 -0700 2009 4512197 236726 mr_gimlet 2 4512574 No, no, no. There has to be more than that. The hunt is on! What do you think of the coffee at Hayley and Clifford on Street Lane? Tue Mar 17 08:01:58 -0700 2009 4512411 19800 loobcom 1 5082105 Hi all, only just joined so will take care of photo etc later. Just want to say, am a real coffee fanatic, love Monmouth in London, and can't wait to check out some of the places I heard about more recently, such as Dose.. For Leeds, there is finally a decent place to get coffee. It's a small hexagonal kiosk in the Victoria Quarter, just behind the Harvey Nichols cafe (if you were walking down from the main entrance to the Victoria Quarter). The espresso changes seasonally and comes from the famous Square Mile roastery in London. The range of filter coffees come from the equally prestigious Hasbeen. Milk is organic, the baristas are well trained (to my knowledge the people who set this up came 2nd in the UK barista championships last time they competed) and are mostly passionate about coffee. It opened in July 2009, so they are still getting some things sorted (the cafe will officially be called 'Opposite 2', but there is no sign up yet) - however, look for the small hexagonal kiosk selling coffee (NOT the other one which sells bagels) as directed, and you won't go wrong. Best coffee I've had outside of London, without question. Anyone else been there? Tue Oct 06 05:29:31 -0700 2009 4512197 1114258 Layman1 2 5134148 this is great news. square mile is the only uk roaster i know to trust. they are doing quality in line with the midwest and pacific northwest roasters. i'm pleasantly surprised opposite has decided to go with square mile since the coffee they serve at their uni location is quite poor. i will be checking their new spot out this week, do they sell beans as well? Tue Oct 27 07:35:29 -0700 2009 5082105 1119557 hurricanejosh 2 5136589 Yes the kiosk you are talking about is definitely the best and only stella coffee in Leeds. Having said that, I have also had good experiences lately at both Bowery Visual Arts and the Cross Keys. Wed Oct 28 01:52:31 -0700 2009 5082105 19800 loobcom 2 5140312 Couldn't agree more. Their coffee is superb and the baristas take it seriously. Possibly the best ristretto I've had in UK. They had no retail expresso ground coffee to sell me when I was there but were happy to grind some for me, put in a sealed bag and charge a really fair price. At last! Somewhere decent in Leeds to have a really good coffee. Thu Oct 29 09:45:00 -0700 2009 5082105 1120126 notbrazil 3 5140770 "They had no retail expresso ground coffee to sell me when I was there but were happy to grind some for me" I would say that if they had their espresso pre-ground it wouldn't have been a good sign. Far better to grind to order, and if you can't do that at home, best to use a shop that grinds the beans for you. Ground coffee goes stale quite quickly and if it is pre-ground in a shop you never know how long it has been ground for. Thu Oct 29 11:56:30 -0700 2009 5140312 64584 PhilD 4 5195778 Hello, me again, and delighted to see the responses and that others are also discovering the joys of Opposite 2 :) A few responses to the things above; HurricaneJosh: Have you tried Coffee by the Monmouth St. Coffee Co? Or Union Roasters? Monmouth may do mail order delivery, not sure about that, but Union definitely have a website from which you can have wholebean (or ground to order coffee delivered). Finally there is Hasbeen (also delivering via a website), whose coffee I have tried and found to be excellent. Opposite2 now sell bags of Square Mile whole bean espresso, which can be ground to order (I used some in an Aeropress, which was pretty good!). Also, they sell bags of Hasbeen coffee (wholebean/ground to order); I found the Sumatran one to be outstanding, and in fact none of them are less than good! So how many of you are going there on a regular basis? I've probably seen you there and not even known you were fellow Chow-people! :p Fri Nov 20 01:29:09 -0800 2009 5140770 1114258 Layman1