Matt and Helen Carroll's York Place coffee bar in Edinburgh New Town, opened 2014, a 10-seat third-wave room pouring filter and espresso from rotating UK roasters.
Tip: The York Place branch takes no laptops; the South Bridge cafe is the work-friendly sister site.
Address: 3c York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EB
Cairngorm Coffee on Melville Place in Edinburgh New Town, opened 2014, a basement third-wave coffee bar pouring rotating UK and European roasters.
Signature drink: Flat white
Tip: Their Frederick Street branch is brighter and busier; the Melville Place original is the quiet workspace.
Brew Lab on South College Street in Edinburgh, opened 2012, a third-wave coffee bar pouring filter and espresso into a long basement room near the University.
Signature drink: V60 filter
Tip: Their training arm runs Saturday public cuppings at 11:00; sign up online for a week or two ahead.
Machina Espresso on Brougham Place in Tollcross Edinburgh, opened 2015, a tiny espresso-led bar pouring single-origin shots and selling commercial coffee equipment.
Signature drink: Espresso
Tip: No laptop policy; this is a stand-and-go espresso bar. The South Lauder Road branch has tables.
Cairngorm Coffee on Melville Place in Edinburgh New Town, opened 2014, a basement third-wave coffee bar pouring rotating UK and European roasters.
Signature drink: Flat white
Tip: Their Frederick Street branch is brighter and busier; the Melville Place original is the quiet workspace.
Williams and Johnson roastery cafe on Customs Wharf in Leith Edinburgh, opened 2017 by two former Square Mile baristas, an in-house roaster and cafe.
Signature drink: Filter coffee
Tip: Tour the roaster on the public Saturday morning slot; check the website calendar two weeks ahead.
Twelve Triangles bakery-cafe on Brunswick Street in Edinburgh, opened 2014, a third-wave coffee counter making the city's most popular doughnuts and croissants.
Signature drink: Filter coffee and a doughnut
Tip: Open from 08:00; the day's doughnuts sell out by 11:00 on Saturdays. Order on Square Online for collection.
Lovecrumbs cake shop on West Port in Edinburgh, opened 2010, a tea-and-cake counter in a Grassmarket-adjacent townhouse with a sun-filled bay window for laptop work.
Signature drink: Filter coffee and a slice of cake
Tip: Their daily-changing cake counter is a one-glass-each affair; the upstairs nook seats four for quiet sessions.
