The Nottingham Coffee Guide: Where to Find Specialty Coffee in the City
Nottingham doesn't always get mentioned in the same breath as London, Manchester, or Edinburgh when people talk about UK coffee cities. That's a mistake. There's a proper specialty scene here - local roasters, independent cafes, and a community of people who genuinely care about what's in their cup.
I've spent a fair bit of time exploring coffee in Nottingham, and this guide covers the spots worth knowing about. Whether you're visiting, new to the city, or just looking for somewhere better than the usual chains, hopefully this helps.
The Roasters
Cartwheel Coffee Roasters
Cartwheel is one of the oldest specialty roasters in Nottingham and still one of the best. They're based in Beeston with a roastery and cafe, sourcing traceable coffee from individual farmers and washing stations around the world - over 50 new coffees a year.
What I like about Cartwheel is their focus on flavour over trends. They're not chasing whatever processing method is fashionable this month. They've got multiple Q-graders on the team (the fancy accreditation for professional coffee tasters), and they actually know what they're doing.
They're also serious about sustainability - 100% renewable energy, recyclable bags, waste chaff going to local allotments for compost. It's not just marketing.
Location: Beeston
Website: cartwheelcoffee.com
Outpost Coffee Roasters
Outpost used to have a cafe in the Lace Market but they've since moved to wholesale only. Which is a shame for casual visitors, but great news if you're a cafe owner looking for excellent beans and genuine support.
They describe themselves as "life long coffee learners" which sounds a bit cheesy but actually reflects how they operate - proper investment in training, development, and helping their wholesale partners succeed. If you see Outpost beans on a menu somewhere in Nottingham, that's usually a good sign.
Website: outpost.coffee
Stewarts of Trent Bridge
Stewarts have been roasting in Nottingham since the 1980s - long before "specialty" or "third wave" were terms anyone used. Founded by Stewart Falconer, who was hand-roasting coffee when most of the UK was still drinking instant.
They're based in Sneinton Market and supply several cafes around the city including Blend Coffee. Their direct trade model means growers receive 25% above Fairtrade rates, which was progressive decades ago and still matters now.
Location: Sneinton Market
200 Degrees
I have to mention 200 Degrees because they're Nottingham's biggest coffee export - started here in 2012 with three people in a garage on Meadow Lane, now running 20+ shops across the UK.
Their flagship on Flying Horse Walk is in a beautiful 17th-century coaching inn, and they still roast everything in Nottingham. They also run barista schools if you want to learn the basics.
Are they specialty in the purest sense? They're more "quality accessible coffee" than single-origin-obsessive. But they've done a lot to raise the general standard of coffee in the city, and their beans are consistently decent.
Locations: Flying Horse Walk, Carrington Street, West Bridgford, and more
Website: 200degs.com
The Cafes
Effy
This is my number one choice for coffee in Nottingham.
Effy is a small specialty espresso bar and micro bakery that was featured in Sprudge's 2024 Build-Outs of Coffee - which, if you're not familiar, is kind of a big deal in the coffee world. The interior incorporates historic Nottingham lacework design, and they take their coffee extremely seriously.
Rather than sticking with a single roaster, they showcase beans from multiple world-class roasters, rotating regularly. Their approach to extraction is almost scientific - they're thinking about puck thickness, flow rates, and extraction yields in ways that most cafes don't bother with.
But here's the thing: it's not pretentious. They're committed to making great coffee accessible. You don't need to know anything about extraction to enjoy what they're serving.
The pastries are excellent too.
Location: 20A Heathcoat St
Instagram: @effy.notts
Økende
Økende is a West Bridgford favourite that's been going since 2018, and it's one of the best specialty spots in the city. The vibe is Scandinavian-influenced - warm, friendly, community-focused - and the coffee reflects that.
Rather than roasting their own, they source beans from world-class roasters on a rotating basis. You might find La Cabra (Copenhagen) on the hopper one week, something else equally impressive the next. It's a showcase approach that means you're always getting something interesting.
The bakery is excellent - the cardamom buns get mentioned a lot, and rightly so. They also do wine, and pizza and pasta nights if you're there in the evening.
Location: 22 Gordon Road, West Bridgford (original)
Website: okende.com
Instagram: @okendecoffee
Cosmos
Cosmos is a newer addition to the Nottingham scene, taking over the space that Outpost's cafe used to occupy. Worth checking out if you're in the area.
Instagram: @cosmos_notts
Vibe With
Another newer spot that's caught my attention. Vibe With positions itself as more than just a coffee shop - it's trying to create an experience and atmosphere alongside the coffee.
Worth a visit if you want to see where the Nottingham scene is heading.
Website: vibewithcoffee.com
Cartwheel Cafe
Attached to Cartwheel's roastery in Beeston, this is the obvious place to try their beans. Seasonal menus, freshly baked pastries, and staff who actually know the coffee they're serving. If you want to nerd out about where your beans came from, this is the place.
Location: Beeston
Blend Coffee
Blend has been doing solid work in Sneinton Market for over five years. They use Stewarts beans, which keeps it local, and their East West location is specifically designed for laptop workers - good wifi, power sockets, and a relaxed atmosphere for getting stuff done.
Locations: Sneinton Market and East West
The Bean (Beeston)
Operating since 1998, The Bean is one of the UK's first specialty coffee shops. That's not a typo - they were doing direct trade and caring about quality when most British coffee shops were serving burnt espresso from industrial machines.
They're still going strong in Beeston, with a commitment to paying growers fairly. A bit of Nottingham coffee history.
Location: Beeston High Street
Specialty Coffee & Eatery
A laid-back spot on Friar Lane that's been quietly doing good work since 2015. They partner with Lilac Eatery for food (the Turkish eggs are apparently excellent), and the coffee is well-made without being fussy about it.
Good filter, good milky drinks, no pretension.
Location: Friar Lane
Punch Coffee
Opened in early 2022 on Mansfield Road. Yes, it's uphill. Yes, it's worth the walk. Great coffee, unreal brownies.
Location: Mansfield Road
Honourable Mentions
Yolk on Goose Gate in Hockley is a solid breakfast and brunch spot with good coffee - though they use North Star from Leeds rather than a local roaster. The coffee is genuinely good, but if you're specifically after Nottingham-roasted beans, look elsewhere.
Delilah Fine Foods is primarily a deli but has an upstairs cafe serving excellent coffee using beans from local roasters Lee & Fletcher. More of a special occasion spot - great for a treat.
The Notts Coffee Festival
If you want to experience Nottingham's coffee scene in one hit, the annual Notts Coffee Festival is worth putting in your calendar. It brings together local and international roasters, baristas, and coffee enthusiasts for workshops, tastings, and live music.
It's a good snapshot of how much the city's coffee culture has grown - and a chance to discover new roasters and cafes you might not stumble across otherwise. Keep an eye on their socials for dates and tickets.
The Scene Overall
Nottingham's coffee scene is smaller than some cities but punches above its weight. There's a healthy mix of established roasters who've been doing this for decades (Stewarts, Cartwheel) and newer spots pushing things forward (Effy, Økende, Vibe With).
What I appreciate is that it doesn't feel oversaturated or pretentious. These are cafes run by people who care about coffee, serving people who want something better than the alternative. No gatekeeping, no snobbery, just good coffee made well.
If you're visiting Nottingham and only have time for one stop, make it Effy. If you've got longer, work your way through this list. And if you're a local who's been meaning to explore beyond your usual spot - now's the time.
To see all cafes and roasteries in Nottingham, check out the Coffee Map.
Know a Nottingham coffee spot I've missed? Get in touch. This guide is meant to grow.