Espresso Farm (COVID-19)

Coffee in the sun: my flat white, in my HuskeeCup, sitting in the sun in the farmyard at Espresso Farm.Espresso Farm has been on my radar since it opened in February 2019, but Saturday was the first opportunity I had to pay a visit. Located within Umberslade Farm Park, it’s just south of the M42/M40 junction, making it an excellent alternative to the motorway services if you need a break when travelling in either direction. It’s also worth a visit in its own right and, while it’s easiest to get to by car, if you don’t mind a 35-minute walk along the lanes (or 20 minutes across the fields) it’s also served by Danzey Station on the Birmingham to Stratford line.

For now, just the outside seating is open, but the good news is that there’s plenty of it and the Espresso Farm has the most wonderful setting. It helps that the coffee, from the nearby Monsoon Estates Coffee Company, is excellent, and while Espresso Farm is currently using disposable cups, the staff are happy if you bring your own. As well as the usual espresso-based drinks, there’s batch-brew filter, hot chocolate and a range of tea. If you’re hungry, Espresso Farm can offer an all-day breakfast menu, a selection of toasties and a wide range of cakes.

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

  • The approach to Umberslade Farm/Espresso Farm is down this long, tree-lined avenue...
  • ... which ducks under the railway line before arriving at the car park, which is on the right.
  • From there, it's a short, well-signposted walk to the farmyard and farm buildings...
  • ... where you'll find Espresso Farm on your right.
  • And there it is, looking very fine in the sun.
  • Just in case you were in need of confirmation.
  • There's plenty of seating outside, starting with these two round, four-person tables...
  • ... with two more off to the right.
  • Beyond the last of the tables is the food collection point, which we'll come back to.
  • One of the tables in more detail.
  • There's more seating on the other side of the farmyard (and a bread shop/deli).
  • At the end of the farmyard (as you come in) is the main farmhouse. Going to the right...
  • ... brings you around to the back of Espresso Farm. Again, we'll make our way back here.
  • Carrying on, there are a pair of old barns beyond Espresso Farm...
  • ... with another four-person table should you want to sit out here.
  • Turning left and there are more tables in front of the farmhouse. If you walk down...
  • ... past the farmhouse, you'll find the duck pond on your left...
  • ... and then the hen house. And more tables. You're welcome to come sit down here too.
  • There's more wildlife opposite: a pair of alpacas and a sheep.
  • I think I'm interrupting someone's lunch!
  • This is, I believe, the limit of public access. The fields beyond have grazing sheep.
  • Turning back, there are more tables by this old brick building.
  • Let's make our way back past the farmhouse...
  • ... and back to Espresso Farm.
  • There's a delightful courtyard in the crook of the L of the building, with a lawn...
  • ... and plenty of flowers.
  • Under normal circumstances you could go in here, but for now, it's exit only.
  • These three tables in the courtyard are probably the best of the lot, in my opinion...
  • ... including this one, by the old pump...
  • ... and this one at the other end.
  • Heading back through to the farmyard, pausing only to admire the ironwork on the gate...
  • ... there's one more area to explore. Directly opposite the door to Espresso Farm is...
  • ... this four-person picnic table and, beyond that...
  • ... is the house where the pigs live.
  • Each pig has its own enclosure.
  • This one is, I believe, called Peppa.
  • Right. Let's go get coffee! Back across the courtyard...
  • ... and in through the door. For now, there's a one-way system in place...
  • ... complete with the obligatory COVID-19 social distancing markings.
  • Off to the left is one of two interior seating areas, currently off-limits due to COVID-19...
  • ... while up ahead is a neat machine that automatically reads your temperature.
  • To get your coffee, you need to go ahead and to the right...
  • ... pausing to read the menu on the wall (handy if you are in a queue).
  • Coffee left, tea right and food down below.
  • More menus.
  • This is the all-day breakfast menu, plus toasties (which you can also have as sandwiches).
  • This is also worth admiring. It looks like the door to a safe or bank vault to me.
  • Heading through the opening in the wall brings you to the counter, which is on your right.
  • The cakes come first...
  • ... with the menu on the wall behind.
  • Next comes the ordering/payment point...
  • ... then you go down to the end of the counter to collect your drinks.
  • Looking back along the counter from the collection point. It's all been well thought out.
  • From here, you go out through this door into the courtyard...
  • ... pausing only to admire the second indoor seating area (again, off-limits for now).
  • And here we are outside in the courtyard.
  • I had a flat white in my HuskeeCup (Espresso Farm is only using takeaway cups right now).
  • Coffee in the sun.
  • If you're having food, it will arrive at the collection point off to the right (your name...
  • ... will be called out when it's ready). I had avocado toast, served in a box.
  • I'll leave you with my coffee casting a watchful eye over the entrance to Espresso Farm.
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Espresso Farm is part of the Espresso Station group, a regional chain of five coffee shops, including the Espresso Stations at Birmingham Moor Street and at Dorridge in Solihull, Espresso Barn in Long Marston and the latest venture, Espresso Quarter in Birmingham. The largest one of the five, Espresso Farm closed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but reopened on 1st June and has been open ever since.

As an alternative to the motorway services, Espresso Farm is best accessed in either direction from Junction 3 of the M42, a round-trip detour of about 25 minutes. Head for the small village of Tamworth in Arden, where you’ll find the entrance to Umberslade Farm Park clearly signposted. A delightful 500 m tree-lined avenue, which ducks under the railway line, leads to the car park, from where it’s a short walk to the farm buildings.

Espresso Farm occupies a single-storey brick building on your right as you enter the farmyard. For now, a one-way system is in operation, customers entering from the farmyard and exiting on the far side into a lovely, sheltered courtyard. Once the COVID-19 restrictions are further eased (hopefully in May), then the two gorgeous interior seating areas will be reopened, but for now you have to sit outside, with tables in the farmyard, courtyard and, if you want to wander further afield, dotted around the farm.

Returning to the courtyard, there are four round four-person tables, two on either side of the door to Espresso Farm. Alternatively, on the far side of the farmyard, opposite the door, you’ll find a picnic-style four-person table (in front of the pig house). Meanwhile, if you have ordered hot food, this is delivered to a clearly-marked collection point to the right of the tables.

Going inside to order, you’ll find that Espresso Farm occupies an L-shaped building, with the entrance on the downstroke of the L. To your left is the first of the two indoor seating areas, which is off-limits for the moment. Meanwhile, directly ahead is another door, this one leading to the courtyard, and also out-of-use for now.

Instead, go ahead and to your right, where an open doorway leads into bottom half of the L. This section holds the counter, then, at the far end, the second indoor seating area (also off-limits). The one-way system takes you past the counter, which is to your right, where you order and pay, before collecting your coffee at the end of the counter. Then, with a lingering look at the indoor seating, which looks fabulous, you exit into the courtyard through a door on your left.

There’s more seating here, in the shape of another three round, four-person tables, all in a line along the upstroke of the L. This is probably the best of the bunch: while the farmyard is pretty, it is effectively an expanse of concrete, while the courtyard is more secluded with a garden setting. There’s a pair of old barns directly opposite, with another round, four-person table in front of them, while off to the left is the farmhouse, complete with another two of the round, four-person tables.

I was there for lunch, having the excellent avocado on toast, two slices of crunchy sourdough toast, topped with finely-mashed avocado. I paired this with a flat white in my HuskeeCup, made with the seasonal Monsoon Estate blend which produced a very sweet drink, the boldness of the coffee coming strongly through the milk, although in perfect harmony with it. I’m already looking forward to retuning when the indoor seating is reopened and sampling more of the menu!


December 2021: Espresso Farm was a runner-up for the 2021 Best Outdoor Seating Award.

UMBERSLADE FARM PARK • SOLIHULL • B94 5AE
www.espressostation.co.uk +44 (0) 1564 742251
Monday 09:00 – 16:00 Roaster Monsoon Estates (espresso + batch-brew)
Tuesday 09:00 – 16:00 Seating Tables (outside)
Wednesday 09:00 – 16:00 Food Breakfast, Lunch, Cake
Thursday 09:00 – 16:00 Service Counter, Order at Counter (Food)
Friday 09:00 – 16:00 Payment Card Only
Saturday 09:00 – 16:00 Wifi Free (with code)
Sunday 09:00 – 16:00 Power N/A
Chain Regional Visits 24th April 2021

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5 thoughts on “Espresso Farm (COVID-19)

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