There seems to be something about Chester, speciality coffee and bakeries, which, you could argue, all started with the Jaunty Goat bakery. The third Jaunty Goat, it joins the original on Bridge Street and the vegan Jaunty Goat on Northgate Street. Opening in July last year, the same month as Kookaburra Bakehouse, the pair were then joined by newcomer Fika⁺ in December that year.

The bakery has an interesting location, almost directly across Bridge Street from the original, although it’s completely different, a small spot with a simple counter offering takeout coffee and pastries, with the ovens at the back. You can also buy bread and coffee beans (either loose or in packets). While the bakery only uses disposable cups (so don’t forget to bring your own), there are pair of tables outside on the broad pavement, where you can watch the world go by as you enjoy your coffee.

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

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Jaunty Goat’s bakery occupies a small, white shopfront underneath Chester’s famous Rows on the west side of Bridge Street, almost directly opposite the original Jaunty Goat. Like the original, the front is almost all glass, with the door in the centre, recessed between two large windows. While the door to the bakery is actually wider than its parent across the street, the windows are a good deal narrower, although each has a round, two-person table in front of it.

Inside, the white décor continues, complimenting the wooden shelving and floorboards. The layout is simple, with a counter set back from the door, running the full width of Jaunty Goat. You’ll find the pastries in a glass, counter-top display case on the left, while the coffee set-up is on the right, a gleaming steel single-group Victoria Arduino Prima espresso machine and a pair of Mythos grinders (house espresso and decaf).

Behind this, visible through a broad, low arch, is the bakery itself, where all of Jaunty Goat’s bread, cakes and pastries (for all three locations) are baked. Along with the pastries displayed on the counter, you can buy loaves of bread, displayed on shelves on the wall to the right, along with bags of coffee. Alternatively, if you bring your own bag/container, several long tubes of coffee beans on the opposite wall allow you to help yourself to the house espresso and decaf.

Jaunty Goat is currently using a naturally-processed Brazilian, the Eldorado, for the house espresso, while the decaf is another naturally-processed coffee, the El Eden from Colombia, decaffeinated using the Swiss Water Process. For now, that’s it, with Jaunty Goat offering a standard, espresso-based menu, but in the summer there’s also batch brew filter, while if you want more choice, you can always pop over the road.

I opted for an espresso in my Kaffeeform cup, which I enjoyed sitting outside in the sun at one of the tables. The Eldorado is designed for milk-based drinks, with the other two Jaunty Goats using a second espresso (currently the Aquiares Estate from Costa Rica) for straight espresso, long blacks and Americanos. Despite this, the Eldorado was gorgeous on its own: rich, smooth and well balanced. I also bought a morning bun to enjoy on the train later on that afternoon. This too was gorgeous, a rich pastry, with a hint of stickiness, and an absolute treat as I sped towards London.

Liked this? Then take a look at the rest of Chester’s speciality coffee scene with the Coffee Spot Guide to Chester.

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