Cafe Hopping: Exploring Some of the Best Indie Coffee Shops in Cambridge
Cafe culture is at the beating heart of Cambridge, alongside bicycles, punts and riverside Pimms. You can’t walk far down the pretty historic streets without stumbling across a cafe or two. Whether you want to nestle down in a cosy corner with a book and a steaming cup of Joe, flex those work from home perks with easy access to coffee and pastries, or even just meet a friend for a chat, there’s a cafe for all occasions. So join Compendia as we take you cafe hopping through a selection of our favourite indie Cambridge coffee shops.
Bould Brothers Coffee
From its beginnings at the Round Church in the heart of Cambridge, Bould Brothers have recently expanded to a second location on Regent Street, providing the perfect stop off on your way from the station into the heart of the city. However, this cafe isn’t just a stop off point, it’s a destination.
Founded by brothers Max and Alex Bould, this coffee shop has featured in the likes of Vogue and Vanity Fair, with an emphasis on quality, passion and customer experience. With perfectly curated, charming and characterful interiors, you really do feel like you are getting a premium cafe experience as you sip on one of their carefully crafted speciality coffees and bite into one of their delicious cakes and pastries.
The Espresso Library
Inspired by the interests of its founders,The Espresso Library effortlessly combines two concepts: a love of good coffee and food, and a love of cycling. With cool industrial-style furniture, the occasional bike hanging from the ceiling, and heaps of natural light from its large windows, The Espresso Library is a unique and vibrant hot spot in the city.
For those looking to get their head down, this spacious cafe has plenty of plug sockets, work-friendly tables, and a welcoming attitude to long stays. Not to mention their specialty coffee, delicious collection of pastries, and homemade food.
Hot Numbers Coffee Roasters
With three sites across Cambridge, Hot Numbers is a staple of the Cambridge coffee scene. Fast becoming a Cambridge institution, here you can expect to find jazz on heavy rotation, popular live music events on Sunday afternoons, and changing exhibitions by local artists lining the walls.
As an independent speciality coffee company, they take pride in every cup of coffee, sampling roast weekly at the Hot Numbers Roastery in Shepreth to ensure the most exciting yet ethical Arabica coffee goes directly into their cups.
Whether you’re at the Hot Numbers café on Gwydir Street set in a former Victorian brewery, or where the magic happens at The Roastery, complete with a tranquil outdoor seating area and coffee training facility open to the public, there’s a Hot Numbers to suit all moods.
Stir Cambridge
Set in the CB4 neighbourhood of Cambridge, this independent and locally-owned coffee shop is the stylish social hub of the community. Using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible, and serving speciality coffee, freshly baked treats from its very own Bakery next door, and with an extensive seasonal brunch menu, it's not hard to see why Stir is loved by both locals and visitors alike.
This bright and spacious coffee shop is perfect for settling down with a laptop, newspaper or book. Meanwhile the large seating area means they can also accommodate more sizeable groups - there’s even room to comfortably fit a few pushchairs for the parents in need of some caffeine!
Fitzbillies
We couldn’t conclude our cafe hopping without calling in at Fitzbillies. Having recently celebrated its 100 years, Fitzbillies’ ultra-sticky Chelsea buns continue to be their most famous and most popular product, and they have been since 1920. So if you are looking to curl up with a book amongst a little bit of Cambridge magic then look no further.
In addition to its longstanding home on Trumpington Street, Fitzbillies has now opened up a second branch located on Bridge Street. So no matter which end of town you find yourself in you can treat yourself to a coffee, a Chelsea bun, and a healthy slice of Cambridge history.