coffee

The Best Coffee Shops In Cardiff

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If there’s only one thing you need to know about me, it’s that I’m totally obsessed, probably addicted and very much in love with coffee. I don’t think I’ve gone a single day without a cup since I was about 15, and I don’t plan on doing that soon either. Coffee is just a great excuse to catch up, take some time out or just get out of the house. As it’s such a big thing for me, I thought I would share a few of my favourite coffee shops in Cardiff, incase you wanted to try them out too.

 

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UNCOMMON GROUND

I love this coffee shop! It’s one of my absolute faves, it’s right in the centre and a great space to work or catch up. They have loads of tables and you have the choice of sitting inside or out in the arcade. It’s also quite dimly light which makes it feel cosy and if you love the coffee you can buy a bag of beans to take home.

 

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200 DEGREES

This quirky coffee shop on Queen Street has its own roastery and is perfect if you consider yourself a real coffee connoisseur.  They invited me for a blogger event over Christmas and their chai latte is particularly amazing. They use a special syrup from Jeeves & Jericho that makes it taste absolutely incredible.

 

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BLANCHE BAKERY

If you’re looking to take Instagram pictures then this is THE best place to go, as it was designed for getting likes. From the leafy wall, to the neon sign and the perfectly decorated doughnuts there are so many picture opportunities it’s unreal. Blanche is also vegan so if you have friends with different requirements it’s an easy place to go.

 

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COFFEE BARKER

This is a favourite of all the bloggers in Cardiff because it’s so Instagrammable outside, think Parisienne vibes. They also do great coffee, fancy milkshakes and food so it covers all bases. I particularly love going for breakfast though as they do the best egg and avocado on toast. It’s also in Castle Arcade, which is stunning as it has all its original features and an upper level with cute shops.

 

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HARD LINES

Hard Lines gives me New York vibes and it’s definitely the coolest and most hipster of all the coffee shops. They have a stall in Cardiff market which is the one I go to the most and their coffee tastes really, really good. They also do a beetroot latte which is bright pink if you wanted to push the boat out.

 

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HANDLEBAR BARISTA

If you don’t have time to sit in then the Handlebar Barista will be your go-to guy. This super clever coffee cart is built onto a bike so it moves around the city, which is so perfect if you commute in the morning. As a heads up he’s often outside Queen Street Station!

 

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BIG MOOSE COFFEE CO

I’m so in love with this coffee shop, it’s beautiful inside, has great food and helps to support homeless people in Cardiff. It’s also just off Queen Street, on a really quiet street so it’s nice to get away from the busyness. They do really great cakes if you have a sweet tooth and have a great breakfast and lunch menu, including vegan and gluten free options.

If I’ve missed anywhere make sure to let me know in the comments, I’m always up for discovering new places. Any excuse for a coffee, right?

Rarebit’s guide to STARBUCKS

I have a great love for Starbucks, I know a lot of people don’t rate it, but it’s my favourite coffee chain of all. So to celebrate my deep appreciation, I thought I would do a little break down of my favourite drinks.s1. Skinny Vanilla Latte – This is my number one favourite order of all time. Low in calories (opt for the sugar free syrup!) but still a great sweet treat and the perfect caffeine hit.

2. Toffee Nut Latte – Yes this is seasonal, but my god is it worth waiting 9 months for! Creamy, Christmassy and the ultimate winter warmer.

3. Soy Latte – If you need a dairy free option, then opt for this with a flavoured syrup, as an exciting alternative.

4. Chai Tea Latte – A great coffee alternative, it’s infused with flavours cardamon and cinnamon and has a very aromatic scent.

5. Mocha Frappuccino – It’s coffee and chocolate blended into one super cooling and extra tasty summer treat. Just don’t look at the calorie count.

6. Cool Lime Refresher  – Another for the summer but this is extra low in calories. It has a great refreshing taste, mixing lime, mint and cucumber and is dairy free.

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*Image courtesy of Starbucks UK Facebook

Nespresso Blogger Event #CoffeeWithCurrys

So when I received my invite for this I remembered that George Clooney was in the adverts for Nespresso and I had my hopes up that he might make an appearance. Alas he was a no show but that didn’t seem to put a damper on what was an amazing coffee filled day.

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We started with lunch which was the most incredible and very healthy spread by the team at Waterloo Tea, I’d never been there before but I loved it. They stock every tea imaginable and they also make some pretty wonderful cakes (I sampled at least 3) so if your in Cardiff I would definitely check it out. After that we began the workshops, there were four including coffee cocktails (absolutely!), coffee cupping (not as strange as it sounds) and a latte art workshop (not my strong suit). You can see my Latte creation above, it’s the blobby leaf to the left, so much harder than it looks! Even with the barista trying to instruct me I think I would’ve needed months of practise before I could master the technique.

The coffee cocktails were great fun, we learnt to make some interesting tipples combining coffee with things like Toblerone, cinnamon and Baileys which were delicious. As for the coffee tasting I had no idea, as much as I love coffee I found it hard to guess the different blends however it was really interesting to learn more about the range of flavours and the origins of coffee.

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We also had the opportunity to use the Nespresso machines while we were there to make drinks, I opted for the Vanilla flavour which was incredible but the Ciocattino chocolate flavour was also pretty divine. They were so easy to use and I’ve actually already decided to add the Inissa machine to my Christmas list. It comes with a separate milk frother called an Aeroccino which you can use for things like hot chocolate and works really quickly. Also when you purchase a Nespresso machine you instantly become a member of the Nespresso Club, giving you exclusive contacts with coffee specialists as well as 24hour customer service should you have a problem with your machine or need to place an order.

When it was time to leave we were given some stylish little espresso cups to take home with us which I was so grateful for as once I purchase my coffee machine they will for sure come in handy! Curry’s have also written a post about the event which you can check out on their blog HERE

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