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Food & Drink / News

The best coffee in Leeds: bean to any of these gems?

Food & Drink

The art of caffeine is a fine one. Get it right and you’ll heighten your alertness and stay on top form until at least mid afternoon. Get it wrong and you’ll either be fighting the lunchtime crash or lying awake regretting that fatal post dinner cappuccino . 

But however you prefer to consume it, coffee drinking is only becoming more popular. And with hundreds of venues to choose from in Leeds city centre alone, finding the perfect cup can be a challenge. Lucky for you, we’ve lined up some of our favourites to help you get the fix you need without the faff.

Laynes Espresso

You’ll find the ultimate gurus of the Leeds coffee scene over at Laynes on New Station Street, where expert baristas are on a mission to brew the city’s best. With a diverse range of roasters keeping the bean stocks full, this is the place to enjoy everything from a traditional espresso to a powerful piccolo. Enjoy.

Laynes Espresso, 16 New Station Street, Leeds LS1 5DL

North Star 

Once Leeds’ first micro-roaster, today North Star supplies venues across the UK with its extensive range of delicious beans sourced fairly from all over the world. Head down to its Leeds Dock cafe to sit in with a carefully brewed cup, grab a pick-me-up to takeaway, or tuck into one of the venue’s yummy brunch and lunch options.

North Star Coffee Shop, Unit 32 The Boulevard, Leeds LS10 1PZ

If… Up North 

North Star makes another appearance at this three-venue gem, which uses its neighbour’s beans to brew up delicious speciality coffees all day long for the lovely people of Leeds. Pop into the Call Lane cafe to make it a lazy brunch, stop by the Vicar Lane branch for a takeaway bake with your brew, or find the workspace on York Place and enjoy lunch at your laptop.

If…, 43 Call Lane, Leeds LS1 7BT; 14 Vicar Ln, Leeds LS2 7JF and 18 York Pl, Leeds LS1 2EX

La Bottega Milanese

Bottega Milanese is a surefire favourite for traditional Italian goodness, serving up brews and more from its airy Bond Street store. Using its custom (Yorkshire roasted) coffee, and offering a range of light bites from cannoli to panini, you can count on Bottega for a continental caffeine experience.

La Bottega Milanese, 2 Bond Court, Leeds LS1 2JZ

Mrs Athas

A family run coffee shop with a focus on top quality ingredients, delicious food and expertly brewed tea and coffee, Mrs Athas is a haven of incredible flavour and cosy charm. Serving up an extensive range of bean blends from near and far – plus an array of speciality teas, freshly baked cakes and meals until mid-afternoon – this place is constantly bustling and ready to welcome you in for an hour, or four.

Mrs Athas, 18 Central Rd, Leeds LS1 6DE

Café 164

With an enduring focus on top quality blends, great food and a relaxed, welcoming environment, Café 164 at Munro House is a mainstay of the Leeds coffee scene. Pop by to browse the exhibition space, then refuel with the brilliant house blend – ground in a Mythos 1 and made on a La Marzocco Linea PB, with each shot weighed and presented to perfection. Feeling peckish? Grab one of this place’s iconic ciabattas or focaccias and enjoy.

Café 164, Munro House, Duke Street, Leeds LS9 8AG

Miles and Co

New on the block and housed in the original part of Kirkgate Market, Miles & Co is owned and run by baristas. Named after Lee, the owner’s Grandfather, this cute coffee shop offers an ever-changing selection of sweet treats, cheese toasties and bagels – and with an online shop featuring a range of produce, you can pick up some interesting coffee beans to take home too.

Miles and Co, Kirkgate Market, Leeds LS2 7HJ

Rabbit Hole

Self-proclaimed event coffee pop-up heroes, Rabbit Hole, have permanent sites in Oakwood and Leeds’ Victoria Quarter, and have been fueling the people of Leeds (and beyond) with delicious coffee since 2016. With a people-focused ethos and a passion for tremendous coffee, Rabbit Hole serves up organic milk from Acron Dairy, ethically sourced beans from Caravan Coffee Roasters, and some of the best locally sourced bakes and pastries around.Rabbit Hole, Chophaus, Princes Ave, Oakwood, Leeds LS8 2FA and Victoria Quarter, 107-111 Briggate, Leeds LS1 6AZ

OTHERS 

200 Degrees

Debatably more of a chain than an indie, this place still makes a great place to grab a coffee and meet up with friends. Named after the temperature (centigrade) that they roast their beans at, and the temperature (farenheit) at which they serve their coffee, 200 Degrees has 15 coffee shops and six barista schools across the UK. This bustling Bond Street venue is the perfect place for a morning brew, a sweet treat or a bite to eat – all day long.200 Degrees, 31 Bond Street, Leeds LS1 5BQ