Concocting the perfect coffee is an art only a few can master. Grinding the beans to an appropriately sized powder, boiling the milk and water to the right temperature to ensure it froths, choosing the correct quantity of other ingredients like sugar or spices at times, and lastly, making certain all the ingredients come together in a perfect blend to produce the beautiful revitalising coffee is a seemingly simple process that requires perfection itself. Evidently, the cafe culture in Manchester is booming, with the popularity of coffee and coffee spots increasing amongst the youth. That brings along a flurry of young folk with disposable incomes, looking for quality coffee shops in Manchester.
A true coffee aficionado is always on the quest to find places that sell the most delicious coffee, however, most students are usually on a budget to make ends meet. Here are a few of the best yet most affordable coffee shops in Manchester, which are particularly grasping the eyes of the young.
Top 7 Coffee Shops in Manchester
1. Pot Kettle Black
Phone: 0161 806 0045
Address: Barton Arcade, Manchester M3 2BW, United Kingdom.
Best known for: A gourmet dining experience.
Absolutely perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and your daily dose of coffee, Pot Kettle Black has three locations across Manchester, all of which are designed with beautiful interiors in aesthetic places.
The synergy of the best coffee machines and quality-passionate baristas is what produces the best espresso any of the coffee shops in Manchester have. And when it comes to food, the chefs use seemingly simple yet tasty ingredients in their wide range of internationally inspired menus. This menu is vibrant, colourful, fresh and healthy along with quirky twists on the dishes. They also offer several vegan and gluten-free dishes envisioned along with certain classic breakfasts and brunches.
2. Takk
Phone: +44 7985655669
Address: 6 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF, United Kingdom.
Best known for: Brew bar.
Another cafe with three outlets across town, this is one of the few Icelandic-inspired coffee shops in Manchester. Their approach to minimalistic design towards interior decor perfectly aligns with the straightforward attitude adorned by the young these days. Takk has the most comfortable ambience for anyone who wants to compose their thoughts or work with their laptop while sipping coffee because one thing is for certain, the baristas at Takk know their coffee inside out.
They hold a brew bar where a range of single-origin coffees are served to their patrons. These also change on a weekly basis. Of course, along with this, top-notch breakfast and lunch options are always available where the chefs have vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options as well.
3. Grindsmith
Phone: +44 161 408 4699
Address: 5-6 The Garage, MediaCityUK, Salford M50 2BS, United Kingdom.
Best known for: Espresso Blend.
Grindsmith is both a roastery and cafe, situated in the heart of Manchester, that serves its own special blend. They have a classic, laid-back decor which gives a calm and casual energy to the customers and are welcoming for people stopping by for a quick grab too. At first glance, the cafe looks like a lab of experiments which produce a symphony of coffee flavours and a wafting aroma. Along with the wonderful coffee, food options like pancakes, toasties, and breakfast and lunch meals are offered to the customers. In recent years, Grindsmith has formed a cult-following as compared to the other similar cafes in the city.
4. Just Between Friends
Phone: 07818 022169
Address: 56 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LG, United Kingdom.
Best known for: Ambience and Instagram attraction.
As the name suggests, this is a quirky hole-in-the-wall cafe, with limited seating available. They offer some of the most delicious coffee blends across town alongside a few awesome brunch and lunch options. The owners of this cafe often post different guest filter coffees from across the globe on their official Instagram page.
More intriguing than their coffee is their collection of items for sale in this cafe. They sell coffee beans, reusable coffee mugs, and ethically made beautiful jewellery, made by Big Metal London. This, as well, makes the cafe one of the most interesting coffee shops in Manchester.
5. Ezra And Gil
Address: 20 Hilton St, Manchester M1 1FR, United Kingdom.
Best known for: Breakfast options and being dog-friendly.
The word ‘Ezra’ means ‘helper’ and the word ‘Gil’ signifies bliss. Thus, it’s an up-and-coming evolutionary cafe whose name itself is self-explanatory of the comfort this cafe emanates. As mentioned on their website, it’s a true neighbourhood hangout, dedicated to serving its patrons simple yet delicious food. It is the perfect place for freelancers or remote workers to plug in and spend their time at the cafe while indulging in the perfect coffee along with a delectable light pastry. Keeping up with the lifestyle, they also offer vegan and gluten-free dishes. They sell coffee beans, cups, straws and other such merchandise at their shop as well. Also being dog-friendly, Ezra and Gil is truly one of the best coffee shops in Manchester.
6. Idle Hands
Phone: 07966 145651
Address: 35 Dale St, Manchester M1 2HF, United Kingdom.
Best known for: Pies and breakfast choices.
The incredibly delicious Moreish Cream Pies, which have gained Idle Hand a loyal following, are just a glimpse of the huge assortment of pies and coffee that this cafe serves. The chefs and baristas there are under a constant cycle of experimentation beginning right from the crop to the final product in a cup, in order to find unique and palatable roasters. Their consistency in maintaining the speciality of each cup reflects in the taste of the coffee itself.
Idle Hands also offer coffee training to anyone interested and eager to learn. The cafe has a cosy atmosphere and a collection of plants and artwork too. Their modern approach and laid-back ambience can be seldom found in the coffee shops in Manchester.
7. Foundation Coffee
Phone: +44 161 238 8633
Address: Sevendale House, Lever St, Manchester M1 1JB, United Kingdom.
Best known for: Espresso and french toast.
Extremely minimalistic in its design and decor, the owners at the Foundation Coffee House have created a comfortable ambience where customers can socialise, hold meetings or get-togethers, showcase artwork, hold workshops, and above all, learn more about coffee. Not only do they offer delicious food, but their continual rotation of single origins also reflects that they are consistently working on still bettering the end product.
Patrons often exclaim that, unlike some other cafes, the Foundation Coffee House perfectly captures the essence of the surroundings where it is located, being both quirky and creative. The motto at this cafe, “Coffee is Everything” suits their approach and dedication towards serving the finest quality coffee, which is quite apt as well.
Apart from these, there are several other coffee shops in Manchester like Heart and Graft, Fig and Sparrow, Two Brothers, Ancoats Coffee, Bold Street Coffee, and Flour-Water-Salt that serve the most excellent coffee and latte in town alongside equally delicious food. Each of these places are comfortable and welcoming to their customers while also being pocket-friendly and affordable. The cafe scene is still developing quite rapidly which leads to the establishment and opening of such shops quite often. Their modern approach and creative line of thinking in mastering the art of food and restauranteering make each of them worth a visit.
FAQs
Q1. Which are some of the popular coffee shops in Manchester?
Ans: Bold Street Coffee, Flour-Water-Salt, Grindsmith, Idle Hands, Takk, Just Between Friends, and Foundation Coffee are some of the famous coffee shops in Manchester.
Q2. Is there coffee cupping in Manchester?
Ans: Coffee cupping, or coffee tasting, is the practice of observing the tastes and aromas of brewed coffee. Public coffee cuppings are quite occasional in Manchester, while majorly being hosted by coffee roasters like Grindsmith, Ancoats, Mancoco, Heart and Graft, and Blossom.
Q3. How much does a coffee cost on average in Manchester?
Ans: Although the prices of coffee differ from shop to shop based on its popularity and expertise, on average, a cup of flat white at any speciality coffee shop would cost around £2.50 – £3.50. Lattes, cappuccinos and espressos are also usually around the £3 mark.
Q4. Can you sit and work at any such cafe at your leisure?
Ans: Most cafes in Manchester are designed with a welcoming and comfortable ambience in mind. Hence, you can sit for as long as you want in these cafes and work at your pace while indulging in their delicious food and beverage options.
Q5. Do the coffee shops in Manchester always offer takeaways?
Ans: Yes, the maximum number of cafes almost always have the option of dine-in, takeaway or ordering online for their customers.
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