Coffee-lovers rejoice! You may be closer to brilliant blends than you think. Two UK roasteries have been highlighted in the Top 100 Coffee Shops worldwide.
The award, sponsored by Oatly, lists excellent stores all over the world. Twenty-eight of the spots can be found in South America, famed for its coffee bean production, while the USA also dominates, with 14 coffee shops making the cut. The ranking is determined using eight metrics including barista expertise, customer service and sustainability practices. Coffee enthusiasts vote online, and these votes are counted alongside the evaluation of an expert panel made up of renowned baristas, coffee roasters, and connoisseurs.
The UK has managed to slip two shops onto the list – one based in London, and one in Birmingham.
Yorks, born in Birmingham in 2012, now has three stores including one in Stratford-upon-Avon. The company has been hand-roasting coffee on site since 2016, and has previously been hailed by both the Sunday Times and the Observer as a top brunch destination. The shop’s coffee blends frequently sell out online, so it’s no wonder it’s been recognised as number 32 worldwide.
London’s Workshop takes the 75th spot. While Worshop’s Fitzrovia store closed a few months ago, the brand has been roasting in the city since 2011, and has an active presence in the London coffee scene, supplying many cafes and hotels. Workshop’s blends are available online, and the company even runs a coffee subscription service which lets customers sample beans from their predominantly South American and African growers.
If you’re a coffee snob, you’re in safe hands with these roasters. Put down the Starbucks and consider supporting one of the world-class shops for a more elevated caffeine-hit.
Browse our guide to the London’s best coffees here.
Plus: Time Out’s ultimate guide to London’s high-street flat whites.
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