By Tracy Griffen
Jump up if you love coffee. Southsider's Brew Lab have been percolating
only the finest for nearly eight years. Now, with Union Roasters by their
side, they may well be unstoppable.
There are a plethora of cafes in Edinburgh, but only a handful serving
excellent coffee. Union Brew Lab is one of them and has now opened an in-cafe coffee boutique.
It's a self-contained shop of gourmet coffee beans (you can buy beans loose), coffee making equipment (Brew Lab owners Dave and Tom first introduced me to the
Aeropress back in 2012), reusable cups, and even some coffee-themed, coffee-table books; a coffee lovers' utopia.
Their downstairs Training Lab is an impressive setup, where you can
try an espresso or latte art masterclass or even line up some private
barista training. Perhaps a Christmas gift idea for the caffeine fiend in
your life? You can order a masterclass gift box from their website at
www.brewlabcoffee.co.uk/shop
Situated right next to the University of Edinburgh, it's often packed with
students being studious, focussed concentration with not-too-loud
background music. The cafe itself has a nice buzz, with wooden bench
seating and a daily selection of baguettes, soups and salads, plus a
regular brunch menu.
Being ethical and green are essential values to Union Brew Lab, and
they will be trialling a reusable cup scheme in the not-too-distant future (think Indian tiffin tins). They always know what's on the horizon in the world of coffee.
Union Brew Lab look at coffee in the same way that a sommelier looks
at wine. It's the detail that counts.
Union Brew Lab
- 6-8 South College St, Edinburgh EH8 9AA
- 0131 662 8963
Opening hours
8 am-7.30 pm seven days
Tracy Griffen