We stumbled across this place while escaping the rain at the Christmas market and it was such a…read moregreat find. A small flat white and small cappuccino for £6 total is a rare find these days and we both loved our drinks. So much flavour and nice, strong coffee. My only reason for giving 4 stars is that the layout was a bit cramped and it was slightly lacking in customer service. If you're just popping in for a takeaway coffee though, this is a fab spot.

I never normally do this anymore but I'm so in awe of this place that I'm writing the review before…read moreI've even finished eating/drinking. I knew I'd love this place as when I walked in, the smell of roasting coffee flew into my nostrils, Faculty literally had me at hello. So more about this love affair, the coffee is brilliant, the cakes taste fantastic and the tea is a relaxing and soothing as the cute little tea pot suggests. The staff working were friendly and happy to offer advice (to me and another customer who had 21 questions about the origin of the coffee) - credit where credits due, the young chap answering knew the answer to every question! They are also linked to next door, a sandwich shop which is perfect for lunch and you can even order from one side and go and sit in the other or vice versa. Owned by the same husband & wife partnership and matched with the same awesome decor. It's not often I'm in Birmingham but one thing for sure is this fling is sure to continue every time I venture in!

My wife, daughter and I stopped by this place to grab a quick, light breakfast before walking…read morearound the beautiful village of Bourton-on-the-water and it was very good. It was busy, so you could tell that it is a popular spot. It is set on the river that runs through the village so you can enjoy your breakfast while the water slowly flows by you. This area and the cafe are beautiful. The staff were very nice, friendly and helpful. Even though they were very busy, they showed no signs of being annoyed or overwhelmed. They seemed genuinely happy you were there and eager to make sure you were happy with your stay. We ordered the sausage rolls and a Cornish pastry and they were very good. I'm sure there are a lot of amazing restaurants in the place, but you would not go wrong stoping by here to grab a coffee and a bite to eat.

Cinnamon roll and your brownie was, brownie, very and pineapple, fruit smoothies, or all just OKread more

Coco is the sort of place that makes you regret years of calories wasted on hard chips and bad…read morepizza. It may even be enough to put curries - the takeaway king - on the back burner for a few weeks until you get cravings for the venue's simple yet tasty Caribbean menu out of your system. Opening in May 2012, there hasn't been lots of time to explore the range carefully, but what's been tried so far will guarantee multiple return visits. The cornerstone of the menu is gorgeous stuffed dumplings with the fillings you may expect - jerk chicken, curried mutton - along with centres perhaps less familiar, such as saltfish with either ackee or spinach-like callalloo. Each dumpling will set you back a measly £1.60. You can buy familiar accompaniments separately such as rice and peas, but the handy Coco Box puts it, or similar, in the same container as your chicken or mutton for £5.50, salad included. Curried patties and soup rounds out the menu and is joined by the standards of chips, tea, coffee and soft drinks. There's even fresh fruit for those whose head can't be turned by fried goodness. Other issues of note are the particularly friendly, helpful staff and limited seating at a small bar in the basic yet not unattractive surroundings, should you find it too hard to wait to take your food home. Cash is the only accepted form of payment. The chicken and mutton is Halal.

A friend who moved to Canada told me that this was coming before I had a clue, and well before it…read moreactually arrived. I don't know how similar it is to the Canadian original, but I ruddy love a doughnut. Yes it's a bit commercial, yes it goes against my hating of chains, but I love it, (and so did my drunk Dad after pizza one time, as a Tim himself, there's a cracking photo of him looking gleeful posing with a box of Timbits- the fab donut holes) My favourite is hands down the apple fritter doughnut- It is just the amount of cinnamon you want.

A little bit of an odd one this but it's such a part of my Birmingham life, I have to mention Tim…read moreHorton's. Canadians (and some Americans) will no doubt jump for joy when they see their coffee institution in the UK. The oddest thing is that Tim Horton's of Canada (Tim Horton was an ice hockey player) is in the Spar shop. In Canada, I guess it's not the coolest place to go but I care more about the coffee tasting good. And like in Canada, it's cheaper than anywhere else and yet famously, they brew new coffee every 20 minutes which in my mind is pretty fresh. Let's not forget their bagels and doughnut treats too; Over the Atlantic there are many varieties to get addicted to but here in Birmingham, there is still a decent selection. If you go in, let me know if they start doing a 'sour cream glazed' and I'll be back in! This is my regular stop if I'm popping to the central library or running down Broad Street to Cineworld. I find a cup last me just till I get to the cinema door.

Breakfast Review: An…read moreimmaculately clean cafe, with mod like artwork. The place was staffed by a couple of young ladies that being honest, didn't seem to want to be there, though they were efficient. They do an array of breakfasts, based on English historical figures, (Nelson, Churchill, Henry VIII). Ingredients are cheap, however, prices are equally cheap. I opted to go for the Nelson, a small breakfast, consisting of a sausage, bacon, an egg, mushrooms, a hash brown, toast and a complimentary coffee, all for just £3.60! Its good value breakfast.

Great experience, delicious coffee, made to perfection will come again. Great service as wellread more

Can't believe I have not reviewed this place before now great spot, brilliant coffee and just the…read moretype of vibe I love....relaxed, none pretentious and friendly! I went in today and had a soy latte while at a meeting. The coffee was the best I have had in Birmingham I think partly die to the beans being roasted on site and partly due to the fantastic soy milk they are using. Truly a great cup of the dark stuff. I had a look at he breakfast and lunch options and they all also look amazing I'll be back in to munch on them all soon I'm sure.....how can you not?! If you haven't been to quarter horse then go asap. The ideal spot to work, relax or just get a coffee to go. Lovely

This place is absolutely lovely. The coffee shop is very cheap compared to the likes of Costa or…read moreStarbucks but doesn't skip on quality. They is ample seating outside, and is highly recommended for young families as there is a brilliant play area that includes pedal tractors and cars and a meet little race track to your kids to race around on while you enjoy you brew and a cake. There is also swings and a junior zip-wire to entertain them. The windmill is great and visitors can go up the spiral stairs all the way to the top. Running parallel to the coffee shop is a number of quaint little farm shops selling nick nacks and shabby chic items. On my last visit there was also a clothing shop. Defo worth a trip to chill and enjoy the lovely country views.

Ordered again on just eat and the food was 10/10 my favourite breakfast!! Best around.read more

Breakfast Review:…read more Gopping. The place is desperate for a scrub. It looked like the tobacco stained walls from the 60's/70's and 80's had been touched up with grease. My intention was to have a Full English, however, because of the smell of grease and the filthy state of the place, I just ordered a bacon butty. The sandwich was OK, but I couldnt get the thought of the grease and filthy floor out of my head. I quickly escaped.

As it'd been suggested to me, Urban Cafe on Church Street was to be my breakfast destination before…read moreI started heading back to London. It's a good location just a short walk from Colmore Row and St Philips Cathedral square (also known as Pigeon Park by the locals). The cafe itself is actually really nice. It felt lively but not busy when I walked in. I had a quick look at the menu and, as I was really rather hungry, I went full on hipster and had the Avocado Smash with bacon and poached eggs. I tell you what - this cafe is not cheap. The avocado smash and a coffee cost me more than £10. Can you believe that? In Birmingham! It did taste good but for that amount of money I would expect to have had 2 slices of toasted sour dough with avocado along with the bacon and eggs.The coffee was delicious so I would go back for that alone (and it wasn't extortionately priced).

Another great venue in the Urban Coffee Companies very respected string of cafes around Birmingham…read more Every time I have been in here I have not only left with a great cup of coffee I have also had great service from their team of smiley friendly baristas. This branch of Urban Coffee has a small mezzanine area where they sometimes have events or private hires making it more versatile than some of the other cafes. Due to that and its location you get a real mixed crowd of people in the store all the time. Everyone from young creatives right through to suited and booted businessmen are regularly enjoying a cup of the dark stuff in the chilled out and laid back space. My personal favourite beverage from here is a skimmed hazelnut latte....if you are into hazelnut flavoured drinks they syrup they are using here is AMAZING.

Excellent Cappuccino, nice and smooth - passed the no sugar test…read more Service is great and the cakes are well up to snuff. Probably the best coffee in town.

I've followed Under Pressure for quite a while, even before it opened when the idea was a mere…read moretwinkle in the eye of the owner. To visit tho' from where I live and work is such a mission I hadn't bothered until today, despite the good reports from a couple of people who's views I'd respect. So there's maybe 4 buses go direct from the city centre to right outside the door and the trip is may 25 minutes or so to Sutton Coldfield. The owner seems a very nice, quietly dedicated chap and he's crafted a chilled place to hang out. When I was there the small room, maybe seating for 14 at a squeeze, was largely full and folks were chatting away. It was a reasonably mixed bunch from yummy mummies (is that a term!) and assorted babies, two laptop types and a few couples. It felt good and that is way harder to achieve than good crema! But it's not that comfortable truth be told, with small, hard stools and chairs, so it's maybe not I place I'd stay in for too long. I liked the simple approach to coffee selection. You can have espresso (black, a bit pricey!) or same with silky smooth, steamed milk. For the milk option you can have 6 oz (to me a flat white) or, I think, 12 oz (so pretty much a Latte). No cappuccino ... but let's be honest, very few staff in Brum can be bothered creating a classic cappuccino: the bigger flat white with half-ar*** latte art impostor has become ubiquitous in most 'third wave' coffee establishment! You can also have a brewed coffee - I think he uses the Kone, which is a very good choice once you know how to use it. He has different beans for brews but I didn't notice what as not my tipple. Beans used for the espresso drinks on my visit where the excellent Workshop Coffee 100% La Ilusion, El Salvador v13 Cult of Done. It's almost a Winter espresso to my mind:a thicker, darker, chocolate, nuts and mildly fruity option than some of their previous efforts and so much more to my own taste. Milk was nice, very smooth; if not quite the best I've had, certainly up to par and at least as good as anywhere in the Birmingham area. Workshop beans ain't cheap even wholesale and really a highly competent barista like this guy could squeeze a great drink from a less expensive, still quality option. He uses a Victoria Arduino which is an interesting change to the La Spaziale and La Marzocco machines more often seen about the city. I'm pretty sure it's a Nuova Simonelli brand these days, but that's a good thing. I had a slice of Beetroot and Chocolate cake ... sounds yuk but is pretty much a Red Velvet if you know that one. Nice and moist, over sweet creamy topping but the base made up for that. Both together £4.50 which was OK. Everything was served with care and unrushed. Customers all seemed happy with the slow pace. Nothing much to eat there tho' so I had to go elsewhere for lunch (bad choice - Cambaz Bar & Chargrill over the road which was snooty and mediocre!) And therein lies the key challenge for Under Pressure! How do you make a viable business, not just flog yourself to stay open, when all you sell is nice coffee and cake? I guess the answers include a limit on customer numbers/covers, work long hours yourself and keep all costs as low as you possibly can. Ideally, you need to attract 'regular people very regularly' not just the once off coffee geeks and offer rather more than cake and coffee. I'm not sure what else he can do, given location, space and number of covers but some lunch time options would work. At the end of the day the balance of running a viable business while keeping standards super high and yourself rested, happy and healthy is a difficult one. I wish him all the luck in the world!