Coffee experts have unveiled Scotland’s "first ever" caffeine-fuelled road trip, passing through some of the very best independent coffee shops around the country.
From the Highlands to the Islands, eight "must-visit" destinations for coffee lovers have been picked out by the experts. The road trip will take adventures all the way from Selkirk in the Scottish Borders up to the picturesque Isle of Skye.
The route was chosen by the editors behind the Independent Coffee Guide Scotland for 2023. Releasing this month, the sixth edition includes more than 120 coffee shops and roasteries for locals and tourists to check out in the new year.
To celebrate the release of the guide, editor of the Independent Coffee Guide Scotland Kathryn Lewis has revealed eight stops on the road trip that highlight Scotland's "buzzing" independent coffee scene.
Speaking after the launch of the sixth edition of the Independent Coffee Guide Scotland, Lewis was full of praise for the country's thriving coffee scene, while also calling on Scots to get behind their local coffee shops in tough economic times.
She said: “Although the cost of living crisis is affecting almost everyone, those who can afford to are keen to support local indie businesses as they know how vital their custom is.
“Anthony Bourdain once said something along the lines of ‘Eat at a local restaurant tonight. Get the cream sauce. Have a cold pint at 4 o’clock in the empty bar. Tip your server. Enjoy the ride.’ and I think it’s a mantra we can all adopt. Drop into that quiet coffee shop. Pick up a bag of beans from the retail shelf. Tip your barista. Treat yourself to a Tuesday morning flat white for the hell of it.
“The small independent businesses, such as coffee shops and roasteries, are the ones we should be propping up in hard times – the corporate chains can look after themselves.”
Here are eight independent coffee shops around Scotland worth visiting according to the Independent Coffee Guide Scotland.
Three Hills Coffee Co., Selkirk
Starting from the southernmost part of Scotland, Three Hills Coffee Co. in Selkirk is most definitely worth a visit after crossing the border. Located in the centre of the town's High Street, the "bright and buzzy" cafe includes comfy seating, a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, and an impressive selection of roasted-in-house coffee beans.
Given its name by the triple summits of the nearby Eildons, Three Hills coffee roastery was created by Richard Keeling and Jessica Jericevich in 2016. Following major success, the pair later opened the cafe in 2018.
Cairngorm Coffee, Edinburgh
When heading to the capital, there are countless independent coffee shops to choose from, but according to Lewis, you can't do much better than Cairngorm’s flagship coffee shop on Frederick Street.
The cosy coffee bar invites visitors to "get lost in a Wonka-esque world of flavour", with an impressive selection of own-roasted beans to choose from. Additionally, there are guest options from the likes of Berlin's Five Elephant and Belfast's Lucid Coffee Roasters.
What separates Cairngorm from the pack is its use of a freezer. After being roasted, every batch is left to rest for an optimum number of days before being pre-dosed and plunged to sub-zero temperatures to "lock in every ounce of flavour".
The Roasting Project, Fife
Travelling up the coast north from Edinburgh, it's worth stopping at micro-roastery and cafe The Roasting Project. Founded in 2018 by brothers Mark and Gary Braid, it has become a community hub for the people of Burntisland.
Their house blend, Project X, is the perennial favourite among regulars who stop by for a coffee and a catch-up. It's bolstered by an assortment of single origins and a coffee called Dark Matter – a blend of Colombian and Mexican beans paired in response to customer demand for a darker roast.
The Coffee Apothecary, Udny
While travelling through Aberdeenshire, the village of Udny is worth a visit to experience one of the country's "most charming" coffee shops. The Coffee Apothecary was once a post office, and remains an integral part of the village as a cafe.
Locals and travellers coalesce at the coffee shop to enjoy "expertly crafted" coffee, home-baked cakes, and friendly chat with the baristas. According to founders Jonny and Ali Aspden, they're "on a mission to make people fall in love with speciality coffee", and offer three masterclasses that cover filter coffee, espresso and latte art.
Slaughterhouse Coffee, Cromarty
If you're travelling along the popular North Coast 500, and are interested in wildlife watching as well as coffee, then Slaughterhouse Coffee is a must. Found on the slipway of the Cromarty to Nigg ferry, the cafe offers generous outside seating where visitors may catch a glimpse of a dolphin in the firth.
There is also a cosy indoor seating area where customers can enjoy a slice of cake from local producer Black Isle Baking.
Birch, Isle of Skye
While Skye is known for its rugged and dramatic scenery, Birch is a calm haven, with clean lines, natural colour palette and curated ceramics. Anyone who has been to Skye will be aware of its often wild weather, and Birch is the perfect spot to take sanctuary.
According to Lewis, founder Niall Munro was inspired by Melbourne's renowned speciality scene. He started roasting coffee shortly after opening Birch in the summer of 2020 and now stocks the cafe with a monthly changing selection of house beans.
Hinba, Oban
Returning to the mainland, Hinba in the popular seaside town of Oban is worth a visit for its coffee roasted on the nearby Isle of Seil. Founders Fergus McCoss and Ness Achilles journeyed across the world before opening up this "charming" cafe on the beautiful west coast of Scotland.
The two are not just passionate about coffee, but also about sustainability and Fairtrade. All of the speciality coffee served as espresso or batch brew is carefully sourced and then roasted at the in-house roastery
Outlier, Glasgow
Similarly to Edinburgh, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to coffee in Glasgow. One of the newer coffee spots in the city, Outlier, stands out though.
An industrial-style cafe in a former glass factory, Outlier's award-winning head of coffee Tony Lee Johnson roasts all of the beans himself. If you find yourself enamoured with the house blend, you can also purchase a bag for home brewing.
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