There’s no way I can have a British blog and not talk about the newly sprang coffee culture we’ve adopted. It’s madness how the country (world?) has gone coffee mad! So, to help you on your adventures, here are the best coffee shops in Colchester!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a lover of all things tea, but when I’m out, it’s coffee, coffee, coffee! I’ve truly embraced the coffee culture, and I absolutely love going for a coffee.
These days, the majority of my friends live in Colchester and London, so I find myself constantly searching for the best coffee shops in the area.
I much prefer independent coffee shops to big chains like Starbucks and Costa. Luckily, there are a number of top-rated cafes to visit in Colchester, and since I’ve been to most of them, I thought sharing them with you would be a good idea!
The Top 3 Coffee Shops in Colchester
I want to start with my top 3 favourite coffee shops in Colchester. The city is a beautiful place to visit, filled with fun activities (like visiting cider mills in the sun), historical attractions and great cafes!
I grew up close by, so I know the area well. Essex is a fantastic place to visit for nature, walking, and coastal exploration; I have written a lot about my home county in this blog.
🌟 I’m also creating custom-made itineraries if you’re looking for a bespoke holiday. These itineraries are detailed and carefully designed to deliver you a perfect trip. I include in-depth route planning, logistics, day-to-day activities, hotel and restaurant recommendations, insider tips, suggested tours, and more. I aim to provide a 5* service; click for more details.
1. Sir Issac’s Artisan Coffee
This tiny coffee shop is nestled on one of Colchester’s busiest streets. The narrow, cobbled, and aptly named Sir Isaac’s Walk (or is it Sir Issac’s Coffee that’s aptly named?) is a pretty place to start your Colchester adventure.
The street runs from Head Street to Trinity Street and is filled with boutique shops — the perfect place for an independent coffee shop.
There’s a small seating area inside Sir Issac’s, but they also have a handful of tables outside, which is fantastic if the weather is good.
The cafe serves over 50 different coffee beans and tea blends with a selection of plant-based milk and freshly baked goods.
It’s got one of my favourite menus in town with an interesting selection, such as beetroot coffee, which goes nicely with a raspberry swirl cookie. For those of you in a hurry, the coffee shop also features a takeaway hatch to speed things up!
👉 Website: Sir Issac’s Artisan Coffee
🕒 Opening Hours: 8 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, 11 am-4 pm
📍 Address: 43, Sir Isaac’s Walk, Colchester, CO1 1JJ
2. Roots and Grooves Cafe
This one’s a vibe. As the name suggests, Roots and Grooves is a coffee shop and plant shop by day and a rave den by night!. It’s an interesting mix, which sounds absurd but actually works well.
These guys do a great job in creating a cosy, welcoming coffee shop with after-hour parties while maintaining a fresh atmosphere (probably due to their plants) during the daytime.
It’s another one we like to visit, albeit for the daytime environment, but I hear the parties go off!
The coffee is the best, it’s in Colchester town centre, and you can purchase plants and vinyl records, too. There’s also outside seating for those warmer days.
👉 Website: Roots and Groove Cafe
🕒 Opening Hours: Standard opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 8:30 am to 5 pm (Sunday closed)
📍 Address: 1 St. Nicholas Passage, Colchester, CO1 1JZ
3. BakeHouse Express Colchester
One of the newer members of Colchester’s coffee scene (although probably not for long, as coffee shops are popping up left, right, and centre), BakeHouse offers a more sophisticated atmosphere.
The coffee shop is in the middle of Colchester town centre, around the corner from Roots and Grooves, and actually, Black Sheep Coffee is pretty nearby too, so they have competition.
But, with an airy, bright vibe, wickered seats and high glass panels overlooking Culver Street, my girlies and I love popping in here for a catch-up.
I have sat and worked from my laptop in the coffee shop before, although it’s not ideal. Nevertheless, the coffee is good, and the cakes are yummy.
👉 Website: The Bakehouse Express Colchester
🕒 Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 4:30 pm, Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm.
📍 Address: 68-72 Culver Street East, Colchester, Essex CO1 1LF
Enjoying this blog? All my content is free, but I do spend a lot of time in coffee shops. If you’re finding my content helpful and would like to buy me a coffee, I’d love that! Thank you 🤗
Popular Coffee Shops in Colchester
These coffee shops are still superb and worth a visit; I just visit them less often. Depending on where you are and what you’re up to, you might find the options below to suit your needs better.
4. No.10 Museum Street
Located right opposite the gates to Colchester Castle, No.10 is the perfect coffee shop with castle views.
It’s a nice little spot away from the hustle and bustle on the high street, although you’ll still get a nearly constant stream of people entering the castle grounds.
But, less disturbed, the coffee shop has a number of small tables outside with additional inside seating. It’s an excellent spot for brunch, coffee and reflection.
👉 Website: No.10 Museum Street.
🕒 Opening Hours: Monday closed, Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm.
📍 Address: 10 Museum Street, Colchester, CO1 1TN
5. Two Brews Colchester
Whether Two Brews counts as a coffee shop is up for debate, but a coffee shop by day and craft beer haunt by night sounds about right. It’s another of my favourites; even though I tend to visit here in the evenings, they still do a banging cup of freshly brewed coffee!
Two Brews Colchester is ultimately an independent bottle shop with indoor seating. They focus on serving craft beer, cider, spirits, cigars and, of course, coffee – it’s in the name!
It’s a fun and innovative spot to visit near Colchester High Street, and if you fancy adding something different to your regular coffee hang-out, head here!
They stock a range of local coffee blends that can be mixed and ground. Upstairs, there is a small but cosy lounge area. They even throw a selection of events throughout the year, so watch out for those.
👉 Website: Two Brews Colchester
🕒 Opening Hours: Monday closed, Tuesday & Wednesday 12 pm to 8 pm, Thursday 12 pm to 9 pm, Friday 10 am to 10 pm, Saturday 10 am to 9 pm and Sunday 12 pm to 8 pm.
📍 Address: 11 Church Street, Colchester, CO1 1NF
6. The Passage House
Tucked away along Bank Passage at the top of Colchester’s High Street is this cosy little cafe. The Passage House is actually my favourite place to go if I need to get a few solid hours of work done. It doesn’t seem to get too busy, meaning I can concentrate, and the wifi is good.
They are open for most of the day, which is great if you’re looking for an early-morning coffee hit.
The Passage House serves a selection of fresh paninis, pastries and cakes with a Turkish twist. I found the staff to be friendly, and the coffee was good. It’s a comfortable and relaxing coffee shop in the heart of town but away from the chaos.
👉 Website: The Passage House
🕒 Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 6 pm, Sunday, 10:30 am to 4 pm.
📍 Address: 2 Bank Passage, Colchester, CO1 1HZ, United Kingdom
7. Sip and Tuck Cafe Bistro
Sip and Tuck is a lovely independent cafe bistro in Colchester. It’s an excellent option for locally sourced produce and homemade dishes.
You’ll find it tucked away at the bottom of the high street. The cafe bistro is more spacious, with plenty of tables and an outdoor patio.
It’s been a while since I was last there. I might need to stop by soon, but they always have a great vegan menu (some of our friends are vegan) and do a banging fry-up. They serve speciality coffee and teas with a selection of alcoholic beverages, too.
It’s got a nice, chilled and casual atmosphere, with a log burner to boot!
You can find it at the very bottom of Colchester High Street, so it’s slightly out of the way but near enough to the town centre that you can easily pop in for a quick pick-me-up.
👉 Website: Sip & Tuck
🕒 Opening Hours: Monday and Tuesday, closed, Thursday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm (evening drinks 4 pm to 7 pm)
📍 Address: 67 High Street, Colchester, CO1 1 UE
8. Crema3 Coffee Shop Colchester
It’s opposite the Romano Lounge (another good place to grab a coffee in Colchester) on Long Wyre Street and features a large, bright seating area. I went in here early in the morning and managed to get a few hours of work done.
There’s a little music playing, but it’s a nice place to chill with comfy seating. There’s lots of seating, and it’s a good place to meet a big group of friends.
👉 Website: Crema3 Coffee
🕒 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 6:40 pm; Saturday, 7 am to 6:30 pm; Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm.
📍 Address: 14-16 Long Wyre Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1LH
Practical Advice For Visiting Coffee Shops In Colchester
Colchester town centre is quite spread out and therefore there are a number of coffee shops. The best coffee shops directly in the town centre are Crema3 Coffee for big groups, Roots and Grooves for a quirky pick-me-up or Sir Issac’s Artisan Coffee.
There are a number of coffee shops located along the street. The best coffee shops close to Colchester High Street are the Passage House and No10. Museum Street, both are tucked away down small alleyways just off the high street.
Yes, Colchester does have a market. Market stalls line the cobbled high street on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Colchester Market since 1189: Map
The Best Coffee Shops In Colchester
For me, these are the best coffee shops in Colchester. By no means have I visited them all, but for those that I have, these eight are my favourites and worth visiting.
They all provide a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, comfortable seating and the best coffee in Colchester.
If you know of anywhere else that you think I should add to the list, I’d love to hear from you. Otherwise, I hope this article has helped you find a place to break up your day exploring the city.
Thank you for reading my post! For my latest stories, head over to my homepage, or you can find all my Essex guides here. Follow me on Instagram (@abigailcarolina.dalton) and Facebook to find out where I’m heading next!
Helpful? Please help me share 🤗
