About CosyCoffeeShops

What it's all about

"We" is actually me (Tom). 

I happen to like coffee shops. If I'm passing through a town with a coffee shop, I try and stop by. I find it's a good excuse to see new places, and I'm relieved to say my partner agrees. It's purely a hobby; I don't make a penny from this website.

I also hope to be of some small benefit to the independent coffee shop trade and to coffee culture in Britain, both of which are terrific things.

I'm happy to admit I am not an expert or a gourmet, although after visiting over 70 coffee shops in the last few years I hope I can tell a good mug of coffee from bad.

I don't like to think of the blog entries as "reviews". I don't write particularly bad things. The simple aim of this blog is to help in the search for good independent coffee shops, though I do give my opinion (for what it's worth) and try always to be honest. 

Sadly, I don't have the time or money to travel to the far corners of Britain, which is why there is limited coverage of (for example) southern England, Wales and Scotland.  

I always like to receive recommendations.  Please do so by getting in touch here, but please don't be offended if I don't visit soon.

What I look for in a coffee shop

1. A traditional "coffee shop". In other words, a place where coffee is top of the menu.
   
   There are plenty of marvelous places which are not featured in this blog because they are more concerned with food, tea, etc. 
   
   Often places are called a "coffee shop" but are in fact more like a tea room or an English café, so they don't qualify.
   
   It's all about the coffee!
   
2. Independence, or part of a small local chain
   
3. Atmosphere, pride, style, uniqueness
   
4. Ethically sourced coffee, for example under the Fairtrade banner
   
5. Really good coffee

....but the entries do not have to satisfy all those criteria. For instance, some of my favourite places don't serve exceptional coffee but have great atmospheres.

Independent coffee shops

In my experience, compared to chains, independent coffee shops offer better value, usually serve better coffee (often much better), typically have nicer atmospheres, show some pride and offer a friendliness that a chain can never provide. In all, they make for a more enjoyable experience.

Photos and text

All text, photos and other images are original and copyright Tom Hiskey.

If you are the owner of a coffee shop, please feel free to use text and photos on your website or elsewhere. It would be nice if you wanted to get in touch and let me know. And please bear in mind that I do sometimes revisit and amend entries.

"Top notch" cosy coffee shops

To see a list of my "top notch" coffee shops, click here.

A number of factors contribute to this much-coveted status, but I can't pretend it's scientific. 

In the beginning

I gained a taste for sitting in cafés around the world a few years ago. A while after returning to Britain I set up this blog, more or less by accident.

Be warned, I only do it because I enjoy it. When I stop enjoying it, the blogging stops!

This used to be Cosy Cafes ( www.cosycafes.com ) but moved and changed its name in January 2008.

Me

I'm Tom, 26 years old, with a proper job by day and a musician (see here) by night. 

Money

This site is advert-free and not about making money (not even a little bit).

And finally: café, coffee house, coffee shop, tea room... what's the difference?

Here's my idea:

• Coffee shop and Coffee house: coffee is top of the menu and they're great places for sitting, sipping, chatting and relaxing. Could be a coffee bar.
  
• Café: primarily food (of various sorts) but also with hot drinks... a broad category.
  
• Tea room: serves hot drinks and simple food. A lot more common in Britain than coffee shops! Not my cup of tea.

Contact or suggest a coffee shop - feel free to get in touch for whatever reason.