Costa has begun claiming it is the UK’s favourite coffee shop, but I’m not convinced. Having tried their coffee, I find the assertion hard to accept.
The people surveyed for that claim have probably never visited independent spots such as Laynes, La Bottega Milanese or Opposite in Leeds, or Bold Street Coffee in Liverpool.
Bold Street Coffee is a thoroughly independent shop in the same vein as those Leeds favourites, and it stands up just as well.
The coffee is excellent — a rich, fruity espresso with a lively punch — complemented by homemade food from a concise, well-thought-out menu. Everything is served in a simple, stylish space by friendly staff.
It’s exactly what an independent café should be: attention to flavour, care in preparation and a relaxed atmosphere. Vinyl records play through an old Yamaha amp, giving the room a warm, slightly retro sound. I still regret selling my dad’s old Sony amplifier back in university days, but the nostalgia fits perfectly here.
Places like this are genuine treasures, and the best independents can thrive despite fierce competition from chains. The big brands cannot match the product served by dedicated independents — a chain’s poor espresso simply can’t compare to Bold Street’s mellow, nuanced brew. Many people move on from the chains once they tire of uniform, uninspired coffee and discover what real coffee can be.
Think of it as a kind of graduation: once you’ve tasted better coffee, you notice the difference.
There will always be a market for independents. A steady group of customers move beyond the big brands and seek out authentic, well-crafted coffee — and there are those who have supported these cafés from the start. We can take pleasure in the quiet success of places like Bold Street and be glad we knew about them early on.
Bold Street Coffee also made me reflect: outside of major cities, cafés with this level of character and quality are rare. For towns like Saltaire, a place like Bold Street could be something of a revelation.
Find Bold Street Coffee at 89 Bold Street, or follow @boldstcoffee for updates.