As I was passing through Oxford I had to stop at Combibos. The friendly folks claim to serve “probably the best coffee” in town, and, as far as I can tell, they are probably right.
Combibos is at Gloucester Green, by the bus stop… not the most scenic part of this beautiful town. But inside and out, it’s a lovely place, and popular. It was already bustling by 9 a.m. on this sunny Saturday.
The interior is sumptuous, and the seats are comfy. It has a nice atmosphere. There are daily papers, and also plenty to read on the walls (quotes on canvas from film and song).
My flat white was excellent. Combibos uses Union coffee, which I happen to be quite partial to (sorry for the product placement — rest assured I’m not getting paid!). Everything is ethically sourced and the baristas take pride in their work The drinks are beautifully presented, and don’t expect to receive them particularly quickly; an excellent sign that some care is being taken.
There are plenty of seats outside and plenty of space inside. I would be surprised if there is a nicer coffee shop in Oxford.
93 Gloucester Green
Oxford
OX1 2BU
Monday – Friday 7am-6.30pm
Sat, Sunday 9am-6pm
Personally, I have yet to find a better cup of coffee in the UK, never mind Oxford. I’ve lived in many cities throughout the UK and Combibos is still my favourite coffee shop.
It’s friendly, good value and a great place to relax, work and catch up with friends.
Also, I can’t stress enough how good it is to find a place run by a family and not another branch of a globalized chain. It’s actually really hard to find places in the UK nowadays that are not chains. Combibos brings all the good aspects of American coffee culture to the UK.