The grey autumn clouds have officially settled in Leeds; tans have faded, jumpers are on and long gone are the days of green smoothies… Its time for a hot coffee to keep you awake through the long, tedious hours in Laidlaw.
Everyone knows there’s no shortage of coffee shops in Leeds. They are everywhere, enticing us in with their freshly baked goods and interesting decor. But where can we find the best ground roast in Leeds?
I’m not going to lie, one of my hobbies (perhaps my only hobby) is sitting, having a coffee and a good old chinwag. So, over my past three years in Leeds I have compiled my own unofficial guide to grabbing the best latte in Leeds.
Laynes- if you’re heading down to the station, tired after dragging your heavy bag all the way to town then Laynes is the perfect spot. Just round from the station, on New Station Street it is small with rather steamed up windows which set of the whole ‘little bit edgy’ look perfectly but most importantly, they make a brilliant coffee. Grab yourself a perfectly smooth Americano and if you perch yourself on one of the aforementioned steamy window seats then you can sit snuggly and warm as you watch soggy, windswept commuters hiking their way to the station. It’s certainly the perfect pit stop before facing the arduous train journey ahead.
Hugo (the Coffee van on campus) – The best and most productive thing I did with my first year of university education was get a coffee from the little blue van (Hugo) on campus opposite the Union. When dragging my hungover chubby little self from Henry Price to Conference Auditorium I decided I was in desperate need of some caffeine or I’d have to turn back to bed. I remember being pleasantly surprised at the cost of my coffee (a mere £1.75) and equally happy with the taste of my latte. Cheap and cheerful. To top it off you can also snack on a bag of mini donuts or if its lunch time an entire delicious, fresh baguette! I still reward myself with a coffee from the little van every time I plod through campus to a morning lecture and if you haven’t- I’d highly recommend giving it a try.
Mrs Athas- By night it doubles as part of Hifi’s smoking area but in the day tucked away on Central Road is Mrs Athas, a sweet little tea room which is usually queued out the door. Alas, don’t let the queues deter you, they’re usually very well handled and you’re in and seated swiftly. It was recommended to me by a lecturer who said he loved to head down in the afternoon and settle down in a corner with a book and a coffee. Three years later I can say I’m delighted I took his advice; the coffees are delicious; the staff are lovely but to top it off the selection of home baked goods is exquisite. So now, after every shopping trip when both myself and my student loan are exhausted, I love to settle down in Mrs Athas for something warm and yummy.
Whites- Headingly is home to many coffee shops and the funky deli/bar/café is my personal favourite. Nothing beats settling down on their big comfy sofa ready for a few hours of some squabbling over scrabble while nibbling on some sweet potato fries, obviously with a coffee too. The wonderfully relaxed staff create a homely atmosphere so you don’t feel like you’ve outstayed your welcome and end up burning your mouth downing your coffee and dash for the door. Perfect for a lazy Sunday.
Celio Coffee Roasters- A small local chain with a few shops dotted in and around Leeds. The two in town, one on Duncan street and one on York Place, serve a delicious selection of large coffees. There’s little worse than tucking in to a miniscule shot sized latte and Celio’s don’t disappoint. Their coffee’s come in big mugs complete with some comforting love heart latte art and lots of chocolate dust if you so wish (which I always do.). The past few times I’ve been in town the Duncan street branch has been chock-a-block, not a seat in sight…which can only really mean good things about their coffee but if you’re heading in on a Saturday afternoon, be prepared to walk away with a takeaway.
There you have it, the not so secret whistle-stop tour of best places to keep warm and awake this winter!
Images:
Laynes Image 1 – https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g186411-d2192738-i…”>https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/06/b9/3e/f4/laynes-espre…”/>
This photo of Laynes Espresso is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Whites Image 3 – https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1077139-d7177933-Review…
Mrs Athas Image 4- http://www.keyword-suggestions.com/bXJzIGF0aGFzIGxlZWRz/
Celio- Image 5- http://tasteofleeds.com/venue/cielo-coffee-roasters/