Check out our recommendations for a seriously good coffe on the South West 660. Looking for somewhere to stay? Browse our accommodations partners.
Dorset
The bustling seaside town of Lyme Regis isn’t short of great places to stop for a cup of speciality coffee, but if you’re looking to pair your caffeine hit with something deliciously carby you’ll want to head straight to Town Mill Bakery.
Visitors, whether sitting at one of the sociable refectory-style tables or picking up goods to-go, are greeted by the intoxicating scent of freshly ground coffee followed by the arresting aroma of hot-from-the-oven bread. Once your nose is over the Town Mill threshold, there’s no choosing one over the other.
East Devon
Named after its founders’ ambition to create a more circular economy in their home county of Devon, Circle is a celebration of local artisans, artists and creatives.
After slinging shots at Exploding Bakery in Exeter for almost a decade, co-owner Fay knows a thing or two about crafting great coffee. Beans are sourced from local roasteries, including Crankhouse in Exeter and Roastworks in Willand. There are a couple of benches outside on which to enjoy a takeaway brew, or wander along the estuary and spot local wildlife as you sip.
There’s no questioning the freshness of the coffee and bakes at this city centre favourite, as visitors get a live-action stream of cakes emerging from ovens in the open kitchen and beans chugging away in the adjoining roastery.
In the basement cafe, the experienced baristas transform just-roasted beans from the Crankhouse roastery into spot-on espresso, batch brew and drip filter. Accompanying the first-class coffee is a collection of cakes, pastries and savouries made daily by the in-house bakers.
South Devon
If you’re the kind of person who dreams of having enough space for a larder but, in reality, spends more time in cafes than your own kitchen, you’ll love this Brixham coffee shop.
The coffee’s great, but visiting without ordering something to eat would be like opening the biscuit tin and leaving empty handed. The team use top-notch seasonal ingredients to compile tempting brunch and lunch dishes such as the delicious mushroom benny, and halloumi shawarma with tzatziki and pickled cucumber.
Exploring the South West 660 on two wheels? You’ll be right at home at Rockets & Rascals, the Plymouth cycling scene’s much-loved pit stop offering bites, brews, banter and bike repairs.
R’n’R has worked with The Devon Coffee Company to develop a house espresso that’s as smooth and uplifting as coasting along a country lane on a summer’s day. The team serves the occasional filter too, but most of the regulars fuel up from the espresso menu. They pair their picks with something delicious from the newly expanded breakfast and lunch offering.
Cornwall
Origin Coffee Roasters, Porthleven
Origin Coffee Roasters is at the core of Cornwall’s speciality scene and its roastery cafe – at the immaculate HQ a stone’s throw from Porthleven harbour – is the beating heart of the operation.
The industrial solidity of concrete and wood is softened by verdant plants, bright daylight and friendly baristas. This is somewhere you can get really close to the roasting action. An expanse of glass behind the counter is all that divides the bronzing beans from their destiny in the cafe.
Yallah Cafe & Kiosk, St Ives
There are loads of good spots in Cornwall to try Yallah coffee. However the roastery’s own harbourside cafe in St Ives is hands-down the best place to sample its single-origin beans.
If the sun’s out, join the queue of locals and tourists picking up espresso-based coffees from the takeout hatch that overlooks the water. However, for the full spectrum of Falmouth-roasted goods, head inside to the cosy cafe where skilled baristas prepare a range of the latest roasts via espresso, hand brew and batch.
Since 2013, this indie cafe has been a haven for day-trippers and staycationers travelling along the Atlantic Highway through Cornwall. Unlike many other roadside stops in the country, Strong Adolfos is the kind of place you dream of stumbling upon to break up a long journey.
Founders John and Mathilda Friström Eldridge have created a welcoming, contemporary space where you can relax and revive. Quirky additions to the sleek decor reference their passions for surf and motorcycle culture, adding a personal touch to the experience.
North Devon
51 Degrees North Coffee Company, Braunton
Discerning caffeine fans in need of a coffee-to-go are always delighted to spy Justin Duerden’s black van outside Tesco in Braunton. Those requiring a more leisurely sit-and-sip experience head to his community-minded coffee shop at a nearby gym.
Whether looking for a drink-and-dash coffee or a longer dalliance, at 51 Degrees North you’ll find award-winning coffee crafted from expertly extracted beans that have been roasted by Origin in Cornwall.
Thanks to its spot on a side street just off Woolacombe’s incredible beach, Meraki’s loyal local following is supplemented by a stream of tourists who seek it out for speciality coffee by the sea. Its proximity to the shore influences its laid-back vibe. Expect sandy-toed beachgoers, surfboards propped outside and dogs snoozing by the wood-burner after morning walks through the dunes.
The Devon Coffee Company supplies a cracking house blend for espresso-based drinks, while Roastworks usually headlines the guest option and provides something a little more out-there.
Find more fantastic places to drink speciality coffee in The South & South Wales Independent Coffee Guide. Featuring more than 200 venues in the region, it’s a travel essential for coffee fans who don’t want to compromise while exploring the South West 660.
