Artisan coffee shops in our region

We may be known as a nation of tea drinkers, but professional coffee machines are humming and frothing in artisan coffee shops up and down the country. A world away from instant granules, artisan coffee refers to a specific approach to coffee production and preparation that focuses on the highest quality beans and expert craftsmanship at every stage of the process. It is typically associated with specialty coffee, which includes a range of distinct flavours and characteristics.

So, whether your regular barista order is a long black or a flat white, an oat milk latte or a skinny caramel macchiato, these are some of the best artisan coffee shops across our region:

The Forge, 23 The Green, Evenley, Northamptonshire NN13 5SQ

Winner of Sunday Times Top Countryside Coffee Shop 2023, brighten your morning with a visit to The Forge. Overlooking the village green in the bucolic village of Evenley, you’ll be warmly greeted by attentive baristas who take great care in preparing the perfect cup of coffee. A thriving hub for the local community, the shop also sells artisan breads and pastries, as well as local honey, eggs, fresh flowers, and a selection of hand-crafted gifts. Six miles north on the edge of Oxfordshire in the village of Culworth you can find another equally lovely Forge Coffee Shop, with a third shop recently opened in the grounds of Whittlebury Park near Towcester.

Out of Office Coffee House, 38 Market Pl, Olney MK46 4AJ

This specialty coffee house sits on the corner of Olney’s Market Place and the High Street. The well-known hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ was written in this historic market town, and the team here challenge you to create something equally famous whilst relaxing with your favourite coffee in the snug room or secret courtyard of their Scandi-style coffee house. Those in the know are regulars thanks to their Colonna coffee and fresh bakes from local producers Geoff’s Real Artisan Bread and Clare’s Vegan Bakery. Look out for cinnamon swirl Wednesdays and doughnut Saturdays. There are also branches in Stony Stratford, Witan Studios in Milton Keynes, and Newport Pagnell. As the name suggests, remote workers are warmly welcomed.

Hermitage Rd – Coffee and Bagel Bar, 20-21, Hermitage Rd, Hitchin, SG5 1BT

Set in a historic ballroom in the heart of Hitchin, Hermitage Rd. is a restaurant and bar offering seasonal food, bespoke cocktails and fine wines from around the world. Located right next door, the restaurant’s coffee and bagel bar serves rich and aromatic coffee made using only the best, hand-selected and ethically sourced beans from Pact.

Saints Coffee, 62 St Giles Street, Northampton, NN1 1JW

This stylish coffee shop in Northampton is also an event space and pop-up cocktail bar. The team at Saints believe in providing high quality experiences, whether that’s in the form of their specialty coffee, ethically sourced and expertly crafted, their cocktails, or even the regular events they host on site, which include a monthly book club, and group wellness walks.

Norsk, 7a Fort End Road, Haddenham Bucks HP17 8EJ

Norsk is in Haddenham, four miles from Thame. Aside from exceptional coffee, Norsk is open for breakfast and lunch, serving a Scandi-inspired menu that changes weekly, with specials like salmon and egg on rye or its famous cinnamon buns. As well as a café, Norsk is a chic lifestyle shop too selling Scandi style gifts and homeware. The perfect place to pick up a few candles and throws for that hygge vibe as the nights draw in.

Canal St Coffee, 5 Campbell Wharf, Milton Keynes, MK9 4BG

In 2023 the team here set out with a vision to create a space with a vibrant social atmosphere, where they could focus on serving great food and exceptional coffee. Now serving some of the finest coffee in MK, their beans are sourced globally and selected for their unique flavours and characteristics. They are then expertly roasted and packed just five miles away at Doe & Fawn’s local roastery. A second shop is in Leighton Buzzard.

Coffee Plant, Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London W11

With a celebrity clientele and right on the iconic Portobello Road in Notting Hill, Coffee Plant proudly offers one of the UK’s largest selections of dual-certified coffee – both Organic and accredited by the Soil Association, and Fairtrade, ensuring that workers are paid a fair wage and have decent working and living conditions. Knowing this provenance makes it even more enjoyable to sit back and enjoy a cup of their expertly brewed coffee. Open seven days a week, the beans are roasted in their factory a couple of miles away in Wembley, and the coffee is rushed down to the shop twice weekly. The business has a considerable wholesale and mail order business too and sends coffee all over the UK and Europe.

Bluebelles of Portobello, 320 Portobello Road, London W10

Bluebelles of Portobello serves homemade, artisan fresh produce. Their Caravan coffee bean is filtered through a soft water La Marzocco and their Sourdough breads are hand kneaded and baked fresh; attention to quality is paramount. Set in a distressed kitchen living room, this coffee shop has a home from home feeling and is loved for its relaxed and friendly atmosphere.