How has my opinion changed so much over the last two years? -They turn off their wifi at lunch time. -The soya cappuccino here is one of the most expensive in the city at £3.30! -They often curdle the soya milk. -The cakes are from lovecrumbs (overly sweet) and the soup is from, yes you guess it, Union of Genius. Yawn. -It gets really crowded and noisy. The interior design is still cool. This is no longer on my radar however as a place to study. I will go somewhere where the coffee is better and cheaper. read more

I love this little & cute place! They serve a range of artisan bread and have a wide range of coffee and tea there. Last time when I went there, I saw they have three kinds of croissant and quite a lot cookies with different flavors. It's a nice place to start your day with: you can either have your breakfast there, or read the newspaper the cafe provides (including Scotsman and financial times). You can also meet people - who share the same habit with you there. read more

Excellent coffee, good pastries, eclectic space. Excellent for breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up. Shop is quiet so it's good for working or starting off your day with a top-notch pour over coffee. Best cup of coffee we had in Edinburgh, and right off the beaten path. Beats Starbucks any day. read more

There's a reason that this place is always busy, not because it's hipster, but because they have some of the best baristas in Scotland banging out what's arguably the best coffee in Scotland. A fantastic wee place which is absolutely brilliant inside. Needless to say one of my favourites, never had a bad coffee and their food is also out of this world! A must visit if you're a coffee lover, even if you're not, try it and become a coffee lover! read more

I loved this place! Not too many places in Edinburgh open early, and this place was one of the earliER birds. I'm a morning person so I wanted to find a place that offered awesome coffee and treats while I could wait for the rest of the city to wake up. They have these big red couch/chairs that face the street (which isn't the greatest view but it's still nice to relax in) and have a little ledge to keep your coffee/treats on. I sat there a few mornings during my solo trip to Scotland and just relaxed with my book... and it was paradise. The place is cozy, fun and clean. If I am back in Edinburgh, I will be sure to come visit again! read more

As someone from the Northeast US I am obsessed with iced coffee. I used to do my own cold brew at home but I left my set up back in my parents' garage so I had a craving. The cold brew latte at Brew Lab did not disappoint. I'm glad it isn't so close to my flat or else I would be spending a lot of dough there. read more

I like this cafe a lot but I don't come here enough. In fact I've probably only been there twice since it opened. I have to say though I like it for the look of the place, rather than anything else as I only recently tried any food there. So I'm not reviewing for the food, but for the look and feel of the place. Its got that look of exposed brick walls, with some plaster in places, like it's not trying hard but in fact looks pretty cool. It's full of trendy looking people on their laptops, drinking coffee, and looking intellectual (in my mind anyway). The place is spacious and feels quite relaxed to me, which I like. read more

arrogant but brilliant coffee... I recommend buying a whole pack and brew it at home... brilliant period-table coffee menu i think they do serve the best coffee in town - but also the most expensive one. Interior design is well-hipstery, such as you might find in Berlin these days: clean-shabby, experimental (?) I am willing to spend my money here because the coffee is really good, i hardly enjoy hanging out here for longer though, firstly it gets quite busy and secondly the staff are a little too much into themselves.... a smile would be nice once in a while.... read more

Fantastic coffee and espresso. They put a lot of effort into crafting drinks and it comes through in the quality of the product. They've got a nice selection of beans from different regions and I was impressed with the flavor profiles of everything I tried. They've got a small selection of sweets and some lunch options as well. Easily the best coffee shop I visited in Edinburgh. read more

This place is hilarious. I went in because I am a huge fan of pour over coffee, and dont mind sifting through a little pretentious behavior to get a good cup. HOWEVER, they dont let you add anything to your pour over, insisting that their brew is so perfectly delicate that if you drink it the way that you want it the pour over will be ruined. I usually add a little cream to my pour over, and would have liked to do the same here, but i obliged and retained my high hopes for the brew. The costa rica was too acidic, and left a bad taste in my mouth. The cup was not up to the quality of the pour overs I am used to in the SF bay area (i.e Phillz) The croissant I ordered was also sub par; a little stale and not flaky enough. The presentation was great though, as is the ambiance of the place. I read the leading Scottish newspaper while cringing between sips, and enjoyed people watching as the university and young professional crowd queued up for their dose of humorously pretentious service and sub par takeaway. read more

Yeah! This place is unique and original. It looks like a 5 star building construction site with water pipes gently hanging out of the walls, concrete artistically hammered off the wall to perfection and colourful electric cables sticking out right next to you as your visit goes by. If you imagine this surrounding and then you add bran new wooden floors with colour full wooden pieces attached, together as a puzzle, relaxing lights and alternative chill out lounge music gently massaging your eardrums....Original or what?! And amazingly the place looks clean, tidy and every bit constructed with super passion. Now anyone interested in design and architecture would love this place, even if perfect as it is, it leaves so much space for the imagination of 'what would I do with this space'. Open, relaxing, peaceful even when busy, great, I don't like mouth reading and figuring out 50 different ways of saying ' pardon, do you mind to repeat that'. They are also really great on coffees with many options including "glass filter coffee" , not to strong, subtle and aromatic with different options to try, though apparently more caffeinated then an espresso [for us caffeine junkies]. I had a baguette with italian salami, goat cheese and salad that was good, not amazing but good, and they have different salads, vegetable salads, soups and healthy healthy lentil salads that seem mouth watering. I indeedly very much, for sure like this place and will make it one of my regular places for coffee and lunch. read more

I was really excited after reading over the past year what these guys were planing and boy the place is pretty cool. Very cool in fact that its become a bit of a 'ya I love your new Jack Willis outfit' club house - and not to mention you couldn't swing a cat with out hitting a mac book - says she that's currently writing this on one! I have been in a couple of times now and each time I have had a different experience. Nether bad or amazing just somewhere in the middle.. The first visit I had a flatwhite, it was just ok. The milk was the perfect temp but nothing in the flavor of the coffee grabbed me. It was just rather plain. I have been to other places in the UK where I'v had simmer experiences and others where you just want to drink it all in one go and your left with such an amazing after taste that it makes you order another - even though you really don't need another! I'm not blaming the barista I think it just might be the blend.. I don't know to much about Workshop coffee so I really can't compare it to something I'v had from them in the past. But the price for said flatwhite wasn't worth it but I would be happy to pay that if the coffee left me wanting more. The second coffee I had was a Long Black and again it was ok-ish but this time it was really sharp and the crema was really light in color - this time I think it was the Barista.. I also had a Chemex of the Ethiopian - which did blow my socks off! There's nothing better then an Ethiopian made right in a Chemex. - the guy on the brew bar really knew what he was talking about! I think its still finding its feet with the espresso but you can only learn from your mistakes and the best way to learn is to be open to customer feedback. So see you soon! Oh and guys the teaspoons.. you have done such an amazing job with the design and I love the floor but the teaspoons.. read more

Very bad flat white. Too big, wrong kind of foam. Very disappointed in this place. I went with high expectations that were not met at all

Best cold brew I've ever had. Service was fast and friendly. I'll literally be dreaming about that cold brew for the foreseeable future.

Don't like it. The coffee is weird tasting. I tried again, and again, unimpressed.

Brew lab has a great coffee chop ambiance, casual but nice and perfect for an hour's chat with a friend. I've tried their cappuccino and chicken curry soup, the latter of which was amazing. The soup was hearty, flavorful, and chock full of veggies. Despite wanting to try out as many different places as possible in Edinburgh I will likely be back here. read more

Bangin'! Do a great job with food and coffee. Space is killer! From one coffee shop owner, these guys are doing it right.

A friend brought me a take away coffee from here, which was indeed a well-made coffee, although generally smaller then you would find elsewhere, but that is essentially what a Flat White is. I ended up going to lunch here the same day and it was indeed pretty busy. After recently visiting London, his place looked like a place straight out of Shoreditch, with a funky and unfinished look, it had a old and modern feel. I had the soup on special, which was a chickpea stew, it was very good and came served on a wooden food board. The bread was good, but very crusty and could have been a mission to eat had there been lots of it. The coffee set-up is very trendy and they over the up-and-coming pour over coffee, which I saw heaps in London. It is extremely trendy I would say based on the look, but is a very cold car and definitely somewhere I would go to get some work done. read more

Hmmmm bit divided on this one as I can't fault their java and I get the whole premium artisan thing and it is achingly hip with it's lovely distressed walls but I think it's just a little on the pricey side for what you get refreshment wise especially if you go with a tea jenny as almost hitting £3 for a small pot of tea with no hot water top up. Cakes and treats are all high end scrumptious so although I'd like to swing by more, the price points make me keep on walking more times than not. So more of a treat than a regular hangout for me. Plus probably not possible due to licencing but it's the kinda place you'd want to be still open at 8 or 9pm. read more

i'd heard the hype about Brew Lab for ages but due to the fact that it was in a part of town i never frequent, i hadn't yet had a chance to visit. however as fortune would have it, my HR away day was in Surgeon's Hall just across the way so i thought a brief stop for some fancy early morning coffee was in order. i have no idea what the premises used to be but i do like the exposed brick and big glass windows at the front that Brew Lab have refurbished the place with. it's hipster without being over the top i think. i'm sure it's a nice place to linger over a coffee and chat but as i was getting take away i only really stood by the front counter briefly. i got a flat white which has become my coffee of choice and at over £2 i was expecting it to be amazing! especially after all the amazing reviews i'd heard. but it was just ok. a perfectly nice flat white but with high expectactions i was a bit let down i didn't enjoy it more. i think scotland sometimes struggles to do coffee well so i keep my amazing standards for coffee in europe and perhaps had my hopes a bit too high for Brew Lab. overall it was a good coffee and better than a lot of other places i've gotten coffee from. as it's on the opposite side of town to where i live i probably won't rush back but if i'm nearby and fancy a caffeine boost i'll likely pop in. read more

Great coffee, great croissant. Was delighted to get a delicious pour over coffee that was delicious, with friendly service!

Cool atmosphere, decent coffee, mediocre food. I came in for a bit of lunch. I ordered a cold brew latte which was surprisingly good. They managed to avoid the bitter edge on the coffee and it was tasty and completely palatable without added sweetening. I also ordered the curry lentil soup but was disppointed. The vegetables were oddly crunchy, implying they were undercooked, and the soup itself was decidedly lukewarm. The bread that came with the soup was the best part. Come for the coffee, avoid the food read more

Ha! Ok, so it's not open yet! But it does look AWESOME (due to the fact that I like the "rustic charm" of old walls!) and I am very excited to see it as it gets a lick of paint/pva, brew bar & seating areas installed... Plus or minus a few walls here & there! Very exciting project, very exciting indeed! read more

I've found it's bloody hard to find good coffee in the UK, but Brew Lab is a happy exception. I'm from NZ, and since coming over to the UK to live, Brew Lab is the only place I've found that does coffee as well as back home. The staff are really friendly and quick with service, and despite knowing their coffee inside and out, they're really approachable and not pretentious about it. The single origin coffees are amazing - seems like every week, there's something new to try. It's really comfy too, and though the decor is pretty modern, they've kept the character of the building intact - there's a really cool bit at the back where you can see all the old, exposed stonework of the building. Like everything in Edinburgh, it's really old, but Brew Lab has, I think, kept the character of the building intact pretty damned well. The sandwiches are a bit expensive... but well worth the money, Really, really tasty. I'm a bit of a nerd, so it also helps the wifi here is really fast and you get pretty much full signal throughout the place. Basically, yeah, my new favourite hangout. You have to try this place. read more

Finally got round to visiting Brew Lab after a walk back from a local DIY establishment in the city, and oh my the coffee was just fantastic. Not too fantastic as the cafe scene in When Harry Met Sally, but pleasant enough tasting to raise an eyebrow, and nod agreeably. Upon looking around for seating as the beans were brewed I noticed a few alcoves and bar facing tabletops that you could position yourself, your laptop or friends at. I had no choice(really I didn't) to treat myself to a takeaway cup of latte type blend as the rest of Edinburgh folks were there. Obviously they, like Carrie in SATC who knows shoes, the chaps in here must know what's great coffee? On my next visit me thinks I will either try first thing in the morning or last orders to possibly get a comfy seat. The only thing is since I'm new to trying Brew Lab; and it's decent enough to merit a second visit, is what regular who's seat I might sit on will be left out in the dark. Perhaps I could ponder this as I enjoy the smell, taste and texture of my next latte, green tea or earl grey hot. In all nice place guys but you need to make it bigger on the inside! read more

I haven't been to enough coffee shops in Edinburgh to say for sure, but this has to be one of the best. The coffee itself is superb, whether you like it near or as a cappuccino or mocha, the latter of which is served delightfully without much sweetness. They have a good amount of seating and you can usually find a place during all but the busiest times. read more

Among the few places I found in Edinburgh where I could escape the tyranny of illy and nespresso. They serve great espresso, and might be the only place I found in the entire UK that makes a pour over. The baristas were all quite friendly, and the space has a dilapidated yet cozy charm. read more

Very good place. Always a plug for your computer and a yummy sandwiches and soup. Its more than a coffee bar :) p.S the coffee its one of the best in town ;) read more

cozy vibe . vintage comfortable interior but cake and coffee wasn't good and expensive. read more

Brew Lab - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

This is an excellent addition to the Edinburgh landscape. Both style and substance from the "demolition chic" interior to the unpretentious food on offer, although not too overboard, I would be happy to take my mum in for wee treat. I heartily recommend this place. read more

Everything a coffee/tea shop should be. The brownies are to die for, the various different specialty teas they have are great, and the coffee is amazing. Very friendly and helpful staff, and they have sofas that you could get lost in. Worth every penny of the price, which is average for coffee, but a tad expensive for food. Try their soup to cure a hangover- delicious and a miracle cure. read more

A great cafe, close to the university, serving good coffee and food. Can really recommend their prescrito croissant. The staff are friendly and the service is fast. I suppose the decor can best be described as "hipster", but the interior is thought-through and it's a great place to read, study and chat. read more

The peanut butter shortbread is amazing! You have to taste it! The ambiance is cool, it's a great place to chill, talk, hang around and enjoy the day! read more

Brew Lab - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Ermagerd!!!! The espresso is sooooo good! I like to consider myself a bit of a coffee snob coming from Seattle and all so I was a bit skeptical when everyone told me this was the greatest coffee in the world. But I have to admit it might actually be the best! I finally got into the shop today and I ordered the house espresso which was recommended to me. WOW the flavours hit you like a left hook from Rocky Balboa . I didnt even think that this was coffee I was drinking. It was so smooth like silk, with berry hints and no bitterness. Like none, I kept expecting it at the end but it never manifested. Its really hard to get a espresso shot that is not a little bit burnt but these guys did an excellent job of not burning it at all! The place was busy full of college kids and there was no where to sit. They turn the internet off during the busy time of the day to stem people from sitting there all day mooching the free internet but that didnt seem to dieter them for no one left while I was there. But thats ok for the coffee I will stand on my head if they want! So I believe I have found my new haunt , for this place is just like a coffee shop in Ballard or Queen Ann in Seattle and I can see myself spending some time there studying. Sorry Brew Lab you have a new leech thats going to attach itself to your espresso machines, or you can make it easy and give me an IV. read more

Fantastic spot - great quality coffee, yummy small eats, and cool hipster vibe. Highly recommend!

Went here twice. Fantastic space - lots of tables, brick walls, and generally a cool vibe, though it tends to be rather crowded. And while it's nice to find somewhere with filter coffee, it's pretty over-priced for the quality (i.e. I've had much better). The staff also isn't particularly friendly. Again, not bad, but there's much better in the surrounding area. read more

Okay, this place is hipster. Very, very hipster - exposed brick and plaster everywhere, wooden chests as tables, I saw five macbooks within seconds of sitting down. That being said, I did like it a lot - little bit pricey, but it was a very good latte and I was a big fan of the cream cheese brownie I tried. I would return and try more of the other treats they had, it was a very appealing selection. Got a good sofa to sit on, seating is ample - more than I expected when I walked in. Service was fast - they did bring my boyfriend an espresso rather than the cappuccino he ordered, but they quickly fixed this. Would recommend and return. read more

Very nice atmosphere. They clearly take a lot of pride in the their coffee. I have, so far, only had drip coffee from them. Each time, carefully weighed and slowly (in the appropriate way) poured. The beans are of good quality, if a bit lightly roasted for my taste. The disappointment is how *weak* the resulting coffee is. They simply do not use enough beans for the amount of water. read more

Good coffee, also a good place to study/hang out. I got a chocolate banana donut that was very good as well.

We tried the flat white and the Ethiopian drip coffee (which as you might expect was made very meticulously!). Both were very good and I'd definitely visit again when I'm back in Edinburgh especially given it's location. We had our coffees to go, but the cafe itself seemed nice and cosy :) read more