Small St Espresso: Update

The exterior view of Small St Espresso on a rainy December day in BristolIn another new development for the Coffee Spot, today’s Saturday Supplement is an Update Spot. This is where I go back to an existing Coffee Spot to see what’s changed. Now, of course, I could just update the original post, but chances are, no-one would notice. Or I could re-post the whole thing, which I feel would be cheating. Hence the Coffee Spot Update.

The subject of the first ever Update Spot is Bristol’s Small St Espresso. When I made my first visit back in December 2012, it had only been open for a few days. Things were still bedding down, and changes were promised, so I was keen to see how things had shaped up in the last four months.

April 2017: I’ve been at it again and there’s a new Coffee Spot Update for Small St Espresso, which now has more seating in a cosy alcove off the main shop.

You can see what I found after the gallery.

  • Small Street Espresso, now with a bench outside, looks far better on a sunny spring day than it did on a gloomy winter's one!
  • Inside the side window has been opened up to let some more light in.
  • For sale, Keep Cups, V60 filters and the Coffee Map of London (in case you are lost and ended up in Bristol by mistake!)
  • The carpenter has also been back and finished making the little tables for the seating in the windows.
  • I like the light bulbs, even though I have to duck to avoid bashing my head on them...
  • The final adidtion: pastries and sandwiches from Hart's Bakery!
Small Street Espresso, now with a bench outside, looks far better on a sunny spring day than it did on a gloomy winter's one!1 Inside the side window has been opened up to let some more light in.2 For sale, Keep Cups, V60 filters and the Coffee Map of London (in case you are lost and ended up in Bristol by mistake!)3 The carpenter has also been back and finished making the little tables for the seating in the windows.4 I like the light bulbs, even though I have to duck to avoid bashing my head on them...5 The final adidtion: pastries and sandwiches from Hart's Bakery!6
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The first thing to say is that Small St Espresso is as delightful as ever and, when I was there, absolutely heaving, with a steady stream of customers both sitting in and taking away their coffee. I also got to meet John, who together with Chris (who I met the first time), owns and runs Small St Espresso.

Since I was last there, Chris and John have added pastries and sandwiches from the ubiquitous Hart’s Bakery. They tell me that the sandwiches are proving so popular that they have to keep upping the order every week! They’ve also finished kitting out the shop, opening the side window to let in some more light and adding a couple more of their clever little tables to the seating area. Payment by card has also arrived.

The final change isn’t actually a change. Small St has (whisper it quietly) wifi! Chris confessed that he’s always had wifi, he just didn’t tell me about it on my first visit. He explained that he was worried about people turning up and staying all day and he’s got a point. Given wifi, a power outlet for my laptop (or a tablet with a long battery life), a flat white in the morning, a sandwich for lunch and an espresso & cake mid-afternoon, I’d be set for the day and he’d never get rid of me!


There’s a full write-up of Small St Espresso, including a complete gallery, in its main entry. You can also see what I made of it in my original write-up, from December 2012, and what I made of it after this update, published in June 2013.

23 SMALL STREET • BRISTOL • BS1 1DW
smallstreetespresso.co.uk +44 (0) 7928 098827
Monday 07:30 – 16:30 Roaster Clifton Coffee + Guests (espresso + filter)
Tuesday 07:30 – 16:30 Seating Benches, Bench Outside
Wednesday 07:30 – 16:30 Food Cake, Sandwiches
Thursday 07:30 – 16:30 Service Order at Counter
Friday 07:30 – 16:30 Cards Mastercard, Visa
Saturday 09:30 – 16:30 Wifi Free (with code)
Sunday CLOSED Power No
Chain No Visits Original: 19th December 2012
Updates: 30th April 2013, 30th March 2017

Liked this? Then don’t forget to check out the Coffee Spot Guide to Bristol for more great Coffee Spots.


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12 thoughts on “Small St Espresso: Update

  1. Pingback: Small St Espresso | Brian's Coffee Spot

  2. I live in North Devon where there is a lack of good coffee shops. It’s a 250 mile round trip to get up to Bristol but it’s well worth it. I visited Small St Espresso in March and thought it was brilliant. The coffee was excellent and it’s such a friendly place. I have Full Court Press and Didn’t You Do Well on my list for the next visit. Colonna & Smalls has been one of my favourites for a while but good to see that there is now becoming a choice of coffee houses to visit. Interesting to read your opinion, thanks for sharing.

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