Machina Espresso, Nicolson Street

Machina Espresso Coffee Bar: detail from the sign outside the Nicolson Street branchI first dsicovered Edinburgh’s Machina Espresso in 2013, when I wrote about it as part of my first-ever feature for Caffeine Magazine. Back then it was an equipment supplier, in November that year, it opened its first coffee shop in Brougham Place, where it fulfilled dual roles of coffee shop and equipment supplier, its shelves full of (very) shiny home espresso machines, compact grinders, great cups, tampers, pouring kettles and so on. However, that was only the beginning…

In 2017, Machina Espresso took two big steps forward. First, in May, it started roasting its own coffee in a dedicated facility (sadly not open to the public) and then, in the summer, the second branch, the subject of today’s Coffee Spot, opened on Nicolson Street.

In keeping with its roots, there is plenty of coffee kit on sale, although Nicolson Street stops short of grinders and espresso machines. Machina Espresso only roasts single-origins, with two choices on espresso (for drinks with and without milk), while there’s another on batch-brew. If you’re hungry, Machina Espresso has a good selection of cakes, plus a concise combined breakfast and lunch menu available until four o’clock (although the porridge is only available until 11 o’clock).

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

  • There's little doubt where you are while walking north on Edinburgh's Nicolson Street.
  • The view straight on. This is the second Machina Espresso, with the first...
  • ... on Brougham Place still going strong. Nice sign, by the way.
  • Inside there is a seating area to either side of the door, a table on the right and...
  • ... over on the left, this neat L-shaped window-bar.
  • The counter is on the right-hand side, set back from the window...
  • ... with more seating on the left-hand side...
  • ... starting with these two two-person tables.
  • There are more seats beyond the two tables...
  • ... starting with this long, thin table with another little bar beyond.
  • Off to the right, there is more seating along the side of the counter...
  • ... in the shape of these two two-person tables...
  • ... seen here head on.
  • The view of the front half of Machina Espresso from towards the back of the counter.
  • There's a little bit more seating right at the back, starting with this short table...
  • ... while opposite it on the left, there's a final two-person table.
  • Right at the back is this coffee table with its own bench seat.
  • As well as its plants, Machina Espresso has other neat features, such as these syphons.
  • I particularly liked the lights hanging from the ceiling (although I would, wouldn't I?).
  • However, it's not just lights: there are kettles and jugs as well.
  • Joining the plants and the syphons around the walls are various pictures...
  • ... while Machina Espresso betrays its roots with various retail shelves...
  • ... selling all sorts of coffee-making kit. And coffee, of course.
  • There's even some kit for sale on the top of the cakes on the counter.
  • Talking of which, if you want to order, head to the till along the counter's left-hand side...
  • ... passing the aforementioned cakes, which are at the front of the counter in a glass case.
  • If you want something more substantial, there are food menus on all the tables.
  • While there is a batch-brew option, I wanted something from the espresso machine...
  • ... where there are two options, one for milk and...
  • ... this one, a Guatemalan, for espressos and americanos...
  • ... which is what I had.
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The second branch is on Nicolson Street in Edinburgh’s Southside, a few doors up from the venerable Kilimanjaro. In contrast to the original on Brougham Place, with its (now grey) façade, set well back from the street, Nicolson Street is a striking near-black, the name emblazoned across the top, making it hard to miss. The deeply-inset central door is flanked by large floor-to-ceiling windows which form generous bays inside. Like Brougham Place, it’s fairly small, although where that’s a single, open space, this is cleverly broken up with scaffolding-style shelving units, feeling like lots of small, secluded spaces, although since the shelving is open, you can see most of the shop wherever you sit.

Long and thin, it’s almost as tall as it is wide, and, while it’s not that wide, it’s still very tall. Left of the door, the fist of the two window-bays has a two-person, L-shaped window-bar, while to the right, there’s a two-person square table, a bench-seat in the window itself. Next comes multiple retail shelves on the right-hand wall, followed by the counter, long and thin like the shop itself, its short side facing the window. The cakes come first, then the till, followed by twin Mythos 1 grinders and the two-group La Marzocco Linea espresso machine. Finally, there’s an EK43 for the batch-brew (and any retail sales which need grinding).

There’s more seating along the side of the counter, where a pair of square, two-person tables make their home, sitting under the grinders/espresso machine. Meanwhile, there’s more seating on the left-hand side, starting just to the left of the door with a pair of square, two-person tables. Next is a long, thin table running front-to-back, split into two two-person tables by the first of the shelving units. The rear section is directly opposite the espresso machine, part of a cosy little alcove with a three-person bar at the back, level with the end of the counter.

Beyond this, the space on the left is occupied by the toilet, while on the right, stairs lead down to a staff-only basement. This leaves a narrow gap in the middle which houses the remaining seating. There’s another thin, shelf-like table on the right with three bar-stools, while on the left, a final square, two-person table nestles up against the wall. Right at the back is another bench seat with a coffee table, perhaps the best (and certainly most intimate) spot in the whole shop.

Machina Espresso tends to change the coffee twice a week, although the single-origin espresso for milk-based drinks is a little more consistent. While I was there, this was a Los Pirineos from El Salvador, which was the same origin used on the batch-brew, only with a different processing method. The other single-origin espresso was an El Rincon from Guatemalan which I had as a straight espresso, served in a classic black cup. I found this to be quite acidic, but I really enjoyed it, although I suspect that five years ago, I might have pulling funny faces on drinking it…

Laptop users should note that while Machina Espresso is pretty laptop friendly, the (free) Wifi is turned off over lunchtime (from 12 to 3 o’clock). That said, there is reasonable coverage from Edinburgh’s free Wifi service, particularly if you sit at the front.

80 NICOLSON STREET • EDINBURGH • EH8 9EW
https://machina-coffee.co.uk +44 131 629 9825
Monday 08:30 – 17:00 Roaster Machina Espresso (espresso + filter)
Tuesday 08:30 – 17:00 Seating Tables, Window-Bar, Bar
Wednesday 08:30 – 17:00 Food Breakfast, Lunch, Cake
Thursday 08:30 – 17:00 Service Order at Counter
Friday 08:30 – 17:00 Payment Cards + Cash
Saturday 08:30 – 17:00 Wifi Free (with code)
Sunday 09:30 – 17:00 Power Yes
Chain Local Visits 10th December 2018

Liked this Coffee Spot? Then check out the rest of Edinburgh’s speciality coffee scene with the Coffee Spot Guide to Edinburgh.


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1 thought on “Machina Espresso, Nicolson Street

  1. Pingback: Machina Espresso, Brougham Place | Brian's Coffee Spot

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