2017 Awards – Best Coffee Spot near a Railway Station

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A series of vertical wooden boards with the words "Faculty" and "speciality coffee & tea" written horizontally across them, with a blue division sign in the centre.Our third shortlist today is the shortlist for the “Best Coffee Spot near a Railway Station”. This was won in 2016 by Faculty and rewards those Coffee Spots serving great coffee to travellers on Britain’s rail network and, increasingly, on rail networks around the world.

When you’re desperate for good coffee, railway stations are rarely the best places to be. But what if there was a great Coffee Spot just outside the station (or even in the concourse!) or a few minutes’ walk away and you didn’t know about it? Then this award is for you…

You can see the shortlist after the gallery.

  • Federation Coffee, in Brixton Market, just around the corner from Brixton Station.
  • Meanwhile, head the other way from Brixton Station, and you'll come to Balance.
  • Timmy Green, increasing the coffee opportunities around Victoria Station.
  • On the concourse of Glasgow Queen Street Station, you'll find Luckie Beans.
  • Lever & Bloom, at the north end of Bloomsbury, is not too far from Euston...
  • ... while For the Good of the People Coffee on the South Bank is handy for Waterloo.
  • La Colombe, Wicker Park, is directly under the Damon stop on Chicago's Blue Line.
  • The (now-ex) Idle Hands Pop-up @Grub was handy for Piccadilly Station in Manchester.
  • Bristol's Coffee + Beer is just across the road from Clifton Down railway station. Handy!
  • Talking of Victoria Station, there's also Crosstown Doughnuts.
  • Technically Porter's not in a railway station, since it's closed, it's but close enough for me!
  • Laynes Espresso, my go-to stop whenever I'm anywhere near Leeds train station.
  • Homeground Coffee + Kitchen in Windermere, where everywhere is close to the station!
  • House of Morocco on London's Caledonian Road is surprisingly close to King's Cross.
  • However, Craft Coffee is right outside King's Cross on Battlebridge Place.
Federation Coffee, in Brixton Market, just around the corner from Brixton Station.1 Meanwhile, head the other way from Brixton Station, and you'll come to Balance.2 Timmy Green, increasing the coffee opportunities around Victoria Station.3 On the concourse of Glasgow Queen Street Station, you'll find Luckie Beans.4 Lever & Bloom, at the north end of Bloomsbury, is not too far from Euston...5 ... while For the Good of the People Coffee on the South Bank is handy for Waterloo.6 La Colombe, Wicker Park, is directly under the Damon stop on Chicago's Blue Line.7 The (now-ex) Idle Hands Pop-up @Grub was handy for Piccadilly Station in Manchester.8 Bristol's Coffee + Beer is just across the road from Clifton Down railway station. Handy!9 Talking of Victoria Station, there's also Crosstown Doughnuts.10 Technically Porter's not in a railway station, since it's closed, it's but close enough for me!11 Laynes Espresso, my go-to stop whenever I'm anywhere near Leeds train station.12 Homeground Coffee + Kitchen in Windermere, where everywhere is close to the station!13 House of Morocco on London's Caledonian Road is surprisingly close to King's Cross.14 However, Craft Coffee is right outside King's Cross on Battlebridge Place.15
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There are 15 Coffee Spots on the shortlist this year, all listed in order of publication.

My piccolo in a glass at Federation Coffee, Brixton, part of a split shot using the Curve house blend, Stardust Vol 2.Federation Coffee

Federation Coffee in Brixton Market for several years and is close to not one, but two stations, Brixton Overground and Brixton Underground. Admittedly, the service is pretty frequent from both of them, so you’re unlikely to have half an hour to kill. Nevertheless, with coffee from Curve and various guests on espresso/filter, it’s definitely worth a visit. Federation Coffee is also shortlisted for the Best Outside Seating and Best Espresso Awards.

My flat white, in a glass, at Balance in Brixton.Balance

Talking of Brixton, if you head the other way (west instead of east), you’ll come to the tiny Balance, another excellent stop worthy of your time, with coffee from The Roastery Department and also Assembly, which roasts just across the road. Balance has also been shortlisted for this year’s Best Neighbourhood Coffee Spot and Smallest Coffee Spot Awards.

The Timmy Green logo from outside Timmy Green on Sir Simon Milton Square near Victoria Station.Timmy Green

Although you always could get good coffee near Victoria Station, your options have been massively improved this year by a number of arrivals at the new Nova development. First out of the blocks is restaurant off-shoot of the Beany Green coffee shop chain, serving espresso-based drinks and pour-overs from the Roasting Party. If the trains are that bad, treat yourself to a cocktail. Timmy Green has also been shortlisted for the Best Breakfast Award.

Detail from the front of the Luckie Beans coffee cart on the concourse of Glasgow's Queen Street Station.Luckie Beans, Glasgow Queen Street

North Berwick’s Luckie Beans became a permanent fixture in Glasgow when it landed a spot on the concourse of Queen Street Station. A handy spot if you want a coffee to go, there’s also a neat seating area if you are waiting for your train. Luckie Beans has also been shortlisted for this year’s the Best Takeaway Coffee and Best Espresso Awards.

My flat white in my Ecoffee Cup on a lovely patterned tile at Lever & Bloom.Lever & Bloom

At Byng Place on the northern edge of Bloomsbury, Lever & Bloom is handy for London’s Euston station. It’s a little bit of a walk (under 10 minutes) but for coffee this good, from Climpson and Sons and made on a lovely lever espresso machine, it is definitely worth it. Lever & Bloom has also been shortlisted for this year’s Best Takeaway Coffee and Most Passionate About Coffee Awards.

A shot of espresso from For the Good of the People at the Southbank Centre Food Market in my Kaffeeform cupFor the Good of the People Coffee

On the opposite side of London, the Bean About Town coffee van was always a good option for London Waterloo. These days its mantle has been taken on by For the Good of the People Coffee, which has inherited the old van, the espresso machine and my favourite barista, Claire. For the Good of the People Coffee has also been shortlisted for this year’s the Best Takeaway Coffee and Happiest Staff Awards.

A pour-over from Myanmar, made at La Colombe in Wicker Park, Chicago, and served in one of La Colombe's much-loved cups, complete with matching saucer.La Colombe, Wicker Park

I normally don’t feature places on this shortlist that are near tube/metro stations, but since La Colombe is directly under the Damen stop on Chicago’s Blue Line, I thought I would make an exception. Best of all, if you decide to sit in, you can hardly hear the trains. La Colombe has also been shortlisted for this year’s the Best Filter Coffee Award.

The Idle Hands logo, taken from the A-board outside the second pop-up on Dale Street.Idle Hands @ Grub

This is the second Idle Hands pop-up near Manchester’s Piccadilly Station, when it had a brief residency over the summer at the Mayfield Road site (itself an old train station) of street food kings, Grub. Grub has moved on (one street over) while Dave & Lucy of Idle Hands have taken some time out to have a baby. Idle Hands has also been shortlisted for this year’s the Best Filter Coffee and Best Takeaway Coffee Awards.

The reflection of the skylight in the ceiling above, captured in my coffee at the back of Coffee + Beer in Bristol.Coffee + Beer

Bristol’s Coffee + Beer does what it says on the tin: retail sales of coffee beans, off-licence sales of craft beer and some lovely coffee to drink in. It also happens to be across the road from Clifton Down Station on the branch line out to Avonmouth. This makes it a handy hideout should you miss your train. In fact, it’s so good that it’s almost worth missing your train for… Coffee + Beer is shortlisted for the Most Passionate About Coffee Award.

The Crosstown Doughnut logo from outside the coffee shop in Soho.Crosstown Doughnuts, Victoria

Joining Timmy Green in the new Nova Development is Crosstown Doughnuts, serving Caravan coffee on espresso. Crosstown has also been shortlisted for the Best Takeaway Coffee, Smallest Coffee Spot and Best Cake Awards.

A chalk outline of an old fashioned porter, case in hand, from the sign of Porter, in Madison.Porter

Technically Porter, in Madison, isn’t in a station. However, it is in a disused station and that’s good enough for me, particular since you can sit on the platform and admire some old rolling stock that all adds to the atmosphere. It helps that Porter serves some excellent coffee from Counter Culture. Porter has also been shortlisted for this year’s Most Unlikely Place to Find a Coffee Spot and Best Overseas Coffee Spot Awards.

The original facade of Laynes Espresso on New Station Street, Leeds, before its expansion.Laynes Espresso

Ever since I first visited it in 2014, Laynes Espresso has been my go-to spot whenever I’ve been passing through Leeds train station. Serving Square Mile‘s Red Brick on espresso and a single-origin pour-over, it also turns out an awesome all-day breakfast menu. Laynes has also been shortlisted for this year’s Coffee Spot with the Best Basement and Best Breakfast Awards.

Some lovely latte art in my flat white at Homeground Coffee + Kitchen, made with the seasonal espresso blend from Carvetii.Homeground Coffee + Kitchen

This one is a little cheeky since, although Homeground Coffee + Kitchen is near Windermere train station, the same can be said of anywhere in Windermere town centre. Still, it’s as good a place as any to wait for your train and you can enjoy some excellent Carvetii coffee while you’re at it. Homeground has also been shortlisted for this year’s Most Unlikely Place to Find a Coffee Spot and Best Breakfast Awards.

House of Morocco (HoM for short) with its slogan "HoM is where the heart is" is a new addition to London's coffee scene, occupying the site of what was Pattern Coffee.House of Morocco

Back in London, House of Morocco is a new name in a familiar spot, having taken over from Pattern Coffee on Caledonian Road. Surprisingly close to King’s Cross station, it makes an excellent alternative to the usual suspects in the immediate vicinity. House of Morocco has also been shortlisted for this year’s Best Neighbourhood Coffee Spot Award.

Some beautiful latte art by Craft Coffee at King's Cross in my Therma Cup.Craft Coffee, King’s Cross

Talking of King’s Cross, Craft Coffee is another taking over from a familiar name, in this case, Noble Espresso, having inherited the pitch outside the back of the station on Battle Bridge Place. If you are there any time from early morning to just after lunch, allow an extra 10 minutes to pay Craft a visit. Craft Coffee has also been shortlisted for this year’s the Best Takeaway Coffee Award.

A special mention also needs to go to the following:

Town Square: just across the road from Belfast’s Botanic Road train station.
Flat Cap Victoria: another option near Victoria and one that’s been there for years.
Flat Cap Borough: if you’re ever stuck for coffee at London Bridge, head for Flat Cap.

And the winner is Craft Coffee, King’s Cross
Runners-up: Laynes Espresso and Luckie Beans, Glasgow Queen Street

Don’t forget to check out the other 19 Coffee Spot Awards for 2017.

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  1. Pingback: 2017 Awards – Best Outdoor Seating | Brian's Coffee Spot

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