A coffee and cake crawl through Edinburgh

Edinburgh's independent coffee scene

Edinburgh has built one of the strongest independent coffee scenes in the UK. Several cafes run their own roasteries, which means you can follow a single bean from roaster to cup without leaving the city. This crawl hits six stops where the roaster and the machine behind the bar are both known and worth your attention.

1. Cairngorm Coffee Roasters

Cairngorm runs its roastery just outside the city and pours its own coffees on a La Marzocco Linea. The bar is clean and focused, and Cairngorm has earned a reputation for its toasties as much as its espresso.

2. Lowdown Coffee

A basement cafe that rotates European roasters week to week, regulars including Koppi from Sweden. The machine is a Slayer and the grinder is a Mahlkonig EK43, a pairing that signals serious intent on both the espresso and the filter side of the bar.

3. Fortitude Coffee

Fortitude opened in 2014 and roasts in-house at a site in Granton. The bar runs a Modbar, a through-counter machine that keeps the front of the bar clear and puts the focus on the barista. Single origins only.

4. Brew Lab

Brew Lab opened in 2012 near the university and has been one of Edinburgh's anchor specialty cafes since. It now pours Union Hand-Roasted Coffee from London and runs a Slayer, with single origins from Union and guest roasters alongside. The training lab at the back runs courses for baristas and enthusiasts.

5. Roundsquare Coffee House

A husband-and-wife cafe on Morningside Road that roasts its own seasonal single-origin coffee on site. The machine is a San Remo, the grinder a Mahlkonig. Alongside the coffee there are toasted focaccia, sourdough sandwiches and cakes from local artisans.

6. Williams and Johnson Coffee Co.

Williams and Johnson share a space with an art gallery at Custom Lane in Leith. They roast in-house on a 12kg Probat that sits in full view of the cafe floor, one of the few spots in the city where you can watch the roast happen while you drink the result.

Common questions

Which Edinburgh cafes roast their own coffee?

Cairngorm, Fortitude, Roundsquare and Williams and Johnson all roast in-house. Cairngorm has its roastery just outside the city, Fortitude roasts at a site in Granton, Roundsquare roasts on site in Morningside, and Williams and Johnson run a 12kg Probat in full view of the cafe at Custom Lane in Leith.

What espresso machines do Edinburgh specialty cafes use?

Cafes on this crawl run a La Marzocco Linea at Cairngorm, a Slayer at both Lowdown and Brew Lab, a Modbar at Fortitude and a San Remo at Roundsquare. Lowdown pairs its Slayer with a Mahlkonig EK43, which is also the grinder at Roundsquare.

Is Brew Lab Edinburgh still independent?

Brew Lab now pours Union Hand-Roasted Coffee, a London roaster that took ownership. It still trades as a specialty cafe in its original space near the university and continues to run guest roasters and barista training alongside the main Union menu.

Where is Williams and Johnson Coffee in Edinburgh?

Williams and Johnson Coffee Co. is at Custom Lane in Leith, where they share a space with an art gallery. They roast in-house on a 12kg Probat that customers can watch from the cafe floor.