From bean to cup, which buzzy coffee lovers’ venues offer the best caffeine fix in the county
Brew freaks, bean geeks – and the simply curious – take note - the coolest places to get a quality caffeine fix in Dorset have been revealed. The latest edition of the South West and South Wales Independent Coffee Guide reveals a hand-picked selection of distinctive and original coffee shops and cafes which are flying the flag for great coffee. Strict criteria for entry – coffee expertise and the use of the highest quality UK roasted beans – means only establishments selling top-notch coffee have made it into the collection. Here is a taster of some of the most sought-after cups in the county.
The team roast, drink and love coffee at Café Boscanova – and the great thing is they want to share it with their customers. With global tunes pumping into the atmosphere and a joyful jumble of caffeine-themed decor, it’s easy to see the appeal of this inviting, eclectic and slightly eccentric café at 650 Christchurch Road. Coming to a mug near you are single origin beans and blends, freshly roasted in-house.
From hand roasting green beans for flat whites to creating freshly made sourdough sandwiches and cakes every morning, Finca takes homemade to delicious new heights at its shop on Great Western Road in Dorchester. All of the single origins served at this serious coffee shop are roasted in-store and whittled down from a vast selection of green beans on the sample roaster, ensuring only the tastiest crops feature on a constantly-evolving menu.
Amid Giants & Idols, Lyme Regis
There’s a new era evolving at Lyme’s much loved speciality coffee shop on Silver Street. Steve and Elaine Naylor took over in July 2016 in a quest for a lifestyle change and an eagerness to embrace the world of speciality coffee. Alongside their own specially roasted Coast blend, they offer a regular variety of single origin coffees from top local roasteries like Exeter’s Crankhouse and Somerset’s Brazier Coffee.
With gorgeous graffiti scribbled over the walls and a blackboard laden with luscious lunch options, Soulshine Café has many attractions. However, it is the speciality coffee served at this family-friendly cafe on South Street in the heart of Bridport that shouldn’t be overlooked. Extract Coffee Roasters supplies a stonking house blend to be savoured on espresso, while roasters from all over the UK make guest appearances.
Coffee Saloon, Canford Cliffs, Poole
A stable of enthusiastic baristas behind the bar eagerly await caffeine-hungry travellers at this Deep South inspired hangout on Haven Road. Armed with a handpicked seasonal blend from Cornwall’s Origin Coffee, some slick barista skills and acute attention to detail, their mission is to create a darn good cup every time. The crew in the kitchen put just as much passion into the food served at this quirky, up-cycled joint, with Western flavours dominating the dishes.
Francesca Silvestre’s background in costuming and design lends plenty of quirky personality to her cosy Bournemouth café at 69 Commercial Road. Surf boards suspended from the ceiling and vintage newspapers adorning the walls all add to the general kookiness of this coffee shop which attracts health-conscious regulars seeking raw, vegan and gluten-free treats as well as those desiring seriously good espresso from a variety of top roasters.
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