Lovely 'little' place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.This may have been possibly the smallest coffee shop I have ever visited but my goodness I may just fallen in love with coffee as well as Tea. Relax and listen to the fine selection of music or you can watch and listen to the water installation just outside. On a sunny day why not sit outside and realise what a beautiful city we live in. -Today I tried their latte Artisan coffee in Manchester at its best read more

Grindsmith - I may just fallen in love with coffee as well as tea. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salford, XGM

Ever since seeing 'Grindsmith' on kickstarter months ago, an uber-cool urban eco-pod of a coffee house, I had been eager to venture to Greengate Square to give it a try. I was adamant that given the compact-wooden-pod nature of the place, I should only go in extreme weather conditions in order to make the trip all the more exciting. In beloved but rainy Manchester, blue-skies and sunshine qualifies as extreme conditions. As such, during a sunny June Sunday, I seized the opportunity to sip on a 'Grindsmith' flat white, with sunshine beaming through the open façade (almost entirely made of glass) - I was not disappointed. An excellent decision on my part to go when sunny and excellent brewing skills from Grindsmith as far as kick-ass flat white's are concerned. Grindsmith offers little when it comes to food, there was a very small selection of baked goods but they looked rustic and appealing. I wasn't expecting an extensive food menu, nor was I disappointed by its lack. What is pretty darn cool however, is that Grindsmith stock 'Ginger's Comfort Emporium' ice-cream - absolutely the best ice-cream I have ever tasted! (See my review of the cafe in Affleks palace) Marry this with a Grindsmith espresso and you've got an Affogato sent directly from heaven. £3 well spent I'd say - a delightful weekend treat. Take a walk to Greengate Square. Look, I know the Premiere Inn there is really ugly and a bit of an off-putter, but once inside Grindsmith's coffee haven, you'll forget such an architectural disaster ever happened. You can read more of what I have to say about Grindsmith (and other places) on my new blog: http://thehungrygiraffe.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/grindsmith-espresso-and-brewbar.html read more

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Grindsmith is a little gem, hidden down by the river and situated in a small square just a minute's walk from Manchester's majestic cathedral. At first glance, you'd be forgiven for assuming it's some sort of workmen's portacabin, but take a closer look and you'll see it's actually a very charming micro-cafe, offering a small but cosy and very nicely furnished space in which to shelter from the rain and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. On a warm, summer's day, Grindsmith provides outdoor seating for those looking to catch some afternoon rays and watch people / dogs splashing around in the plaza's water feature. The drinks menu isn't very big but that's probably down to the cafe's size and not having enough room to store things, but you can tell that what they do offer is of a high quality. I'm not a fan of hot drinks so opted for a bottle of Fentiman's Rose Lemonade - very refreshing, tasty and a perfect thirst quencher on a hot June evening. I recommend this place to anyone who wants a coffee / tea / soft drink / slice of cake in a relatively quiet part of the city, without having to stray too far from the main shopping area. read more

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This branch of one of my favourite coffee haunts is a simple, quaint 'cabin' set slightly back from the Manchester Cathedral end of Deansgate. It's very small, with just a few comfy seats and primarily caters to those grabbing a take-out coffee but that doesn't take away from the fact that the coffee at Grindsmiths is excellent. read more

Grindsmith - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salford, XGM

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A great little pop up coffee shop, only a few minutes walk from the centre and in a great location. It sits inside a revamped square just next to the river, far enough from the city hussel and bussel to feel like a real escape. That and you get your own privet water feature - also a win and makes for a good few. So onto the main reason I'm here, coffee. In simple terms, very nice! They have brought in some great rosters and I am hoping that they will keep a ration of different ones to try. They place is very small but works with the space it has very well, as it coffee 'bar' goes it is very well stocked - offering all the excepted espresso drinks they all will do you a porover and syphon coffee. Which makes your coffee look like it being made by a mad scientist! Mahahahaha! There is a nice little seating area but this place really stands out when the sun is out - with its ample outside seating. So this place is a massive +1 to Manchester coffee options (well, Salford technical, it all good) read more

Grindsmith - Coffee bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salford, XGM

This is one of the coolest cafes I have been without a doubt. The owner is passionate about coffee and explained to me all the different brewing methods including V60 and Syphon(bunsen burner). I was greeted with a warm and welcoming smile just like the ambience of this small little quirky cafe. The price their charging you for a cup of coffee questions big corporate chain such as Starbucks, let alone the taste. Grindsmith has an interesting story to tell and I am going to be a regular here. The coffee sourced here have been roasted all over England! Yay for local businesses! read more

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It's a tiny little coffee house but caffeine & co has proven that can still thrive in MCR. I'll be interested to see what roasters they regularly stock but right now the stuff from Notes is pretty tasty. It might not look like much yet but once the warmer weather hits this place is going to be a real hotspot! read more

Grindsmith - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salford, XGM

TL;DR Flattie flattie flattie. Summer time spot. They have a full on spot on deansgate, but mark my words, if you ever start seeing this location filled with more vendors, you can credit this little tiny cottage of a coffee shop. They had an entire funding campaign just to build this. They make great coffee and is located at a very good spot for just having a friendly chat outdoors or holding your loved ones. The prices are what you would expect from a coffee shop that is not pret, eat, or nero. I would come here everyday for my flat white if it was as cheap as pret. read more

Now THIS is a cuppa! Thinking my friend was mistaken when she told me there was a coffee house located in what was clearly a storage shed, I decided we ought to check it out anyways. Glad we did, as this tiny (and as mentioned, slightly hidden) surprise is like the little box at Christmas - sometimes the smallest things are the best gifts! The staff are extremely friendly and chill. Up for chatting about nonsense if you're in the mood, or if you'd rather stay to yourself and zone out, there's no pressure there. The coffee...was...AMAZING. I've got a new favourite in Manchester! Tried an espresso and a cappuccino, both done to perfection with wonderful taste and mouthfeel. It's a cool little place with room for maybe 8 without starting to feel over-crowded. A rustic interior belies the state-of-the-art equipment used to make the drinks. Comfortable couches to lounge on, and great treats are readily available if you're looking for some grub. I got a New York-style deli sandwich and was beyond happy with the taste. Followed that up with a brownie (because, c'mon, brownies guys!) and got a delicious chocolate morsel with layers of flavour. My wallet will thank that this cafe is a bit out of my way for a daily cuppa, but I'll certainly be back whenever I get an excuse to be in the area! read more

The first time I saw Grindsmtih was the mobile unit inside a space within Greater Northern Warehouse on Deangate when I was running. I have an intuition on what I would like on the indie coffee shops. So I felt this place is something I would like to come back and try. I searched online for their opening time to arrange a visit. I saw their success on kickstarter and a few very positive reviews. It's an independent coffee pod in the Manchester City Centre just behind Manchester Cathedral and the Triangle Square. The two founders are passionate about providing the perfect coffee in Manchester. It sounds very intriguing and I can't wait to pay a visit to see it myself. I paid my first visit on a Sunday afternoon. This place is just off Deansgate, located on the north bank of River Irwell. There were fountain installations outside of Grindsmith coffee pod. It's nice to sit outside sipping coffee while listening to the water when the sun is out. For me, I would prefer to sit inside the coffee pod in a rainy day (sounds more likely in Manchester) to smell and just watch the coffee making. They have normal classic coffee menus. There are also brew methodologies for the coffee like Syphon and V60. With all the brewing gears and funky light bulbs installed inside the coffee pod, this place is more like a science laboratory, only with pleasant smell. It's a tidy place inside and only 8 seats maximum with two coffee tables. Every cup of coffee cost around a few minutes but the wait will be paid back in the taste of the coffee. The one I had was a pot of black coffee brewed in V60 by using the Acaia Pearl Scale and bottled Buxton Mineral water. The barista served my coffee with a glass of mineral water on a funky Grindsmith board. It tastes brilliant and the whole experience is very pleasant. The barista behind the brew bar is extremely friendly. He greets every customer with a big smile and informs that the brew time would be a few minutes in advance. They have cakes and biscuits on the food side at the moment. Since then, I had been twice with friends and got one of the loyal tokens they designed for their customers. I love the idea of this loyal token and the design of this little thing. It's my way to show a little support to people who make Manchester more lovely and beautiful. Each wooden engraved loyal token graded 1, 2&3 (which enables 10P, 20P &30P off your order and valid until the end of this year). It cost £5, £10&£15. It also can be as a great souvenir since the design of the token are really special. I really hope they do well since it's a great addition to the Manchester Indie Coffee Shops. It has a unique style with unbeatable quality in the coffee. I heard they started serving wine and beers and open late in Thursday night. Do pop in and have a nice coffee. read more

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Always love this mini cafe , the difference between this one and the one in deansgate is that the one here is more cozy and local vibe. Good for being alone or for a re-focus/ re-energize. read more

Grindsmith - A morning cafe and mini treat - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salford, XGM

A true (almost) hidden gem in Manchester/Salford In the hinterland between the twin cities is this new-ish square and its coffee shed. Don't let its bare bones put you off - on a summer's day, this is the perfect place to get away from the city, lulled by the dancing fountain and warmed by excellent coffee. They have all kinds of espresso-based drinks here as well as pour-overs, as well as snacks and cakes. A forerunner to the spot at the other end of Deansgate, this Grindsmith is worth finding to show off your local knowledge. read more

A great location for a little coffee shop away from the busy city centre. The saddest thing to happen is all the roadworks so I no longer walk past everyday before work to get my caffeine fix but I certainly make the effort to go on the weekend. My favourite is the iced coffee with the vanilla milk. SO good! I'm looking forward to summer purely so I can grab one of these again. They also stock the yummiest ice cream from 'Gingers' as well. Roll - on - summer! read more

Went here whilst me and friends waited for the Escape Room over the road to open up. It was a drab and rainy morning and it was nice to find an inviting cabin to have coffee in. The friendly and knowledgeable barista was chatty and the atmosphere was quaint and warm, whilst the flat white I had was done well. Excellent place. read more

Grindsmith - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salford, XGM

OMG my new fave coffee spot in Manchester. Happened to come across it when I parked the car opposite the cathedral and saw a sign. So glad I found it! It's set in an open square with fountains...a little wooden hut with a cool vibe- wooden benches outside and inside it's decked out with comfy seating and a couple of glass tables. The guy in there (sorry I didn't get your name!) is so so nice and is really knowledgeful about coffee. Really chatty and didn't mind me photographing pretty much everything! Had the syphon coffee which is always entertaining to watch being made...looks a bit like a science experiment with a Bunsen burner haha! Anyway it tasted amazing...served black with a sweet fruity taste. One thing I love is when coffee shops give you a glass of water with your coffee, like in Italy. Helps keep you hydrated. He said in the summer they are considering having bands playing outside, would be great to see them do something with that big square they have. Would be nice to see more seating outside- I vote BEANBAGS- but he said they have a bit of a storage issue with it being only a small hut. On a sunny afternoon I felt like I was in San Francisco or Copenhagen and not in Manchester! they have one of those Paypal machines for accepting credit cards, which I love as I don't carry cash much. read more

Grindsmith - Syphon coffee-try it!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salford, XGM

Such a cute place!!! The coffee was amazing and well worth it! A small little shed but cosy and as it was a sunny day it was lovely to sit in the sun and chill. read more

Really lovely place. We've been living in the building across the road for about 6 months and only got to go there last weekend... We were eyeing at the square in the morning as it was really sunny and looked really nice and warm. By the time we actually made a move, it was dark and freezing - I love Manchester, really! We managed to sit down on the couple of (cool looking) sofas and enjoyed an amazing coffee. It's really good quality stuff - coffee is ground on demand, and the staff were really friendly and knowledgable about coffee and stuff. All good really. read more

Best coffee I've had in ages!!! It reminds me of a place I used to work at in Australia that turned my appreciation of coffee into a bit of an obsession! read more