Haus opened in 2018, bringing speciality coffee to the North Wales seaside town of Colwyn Bay for the first time. It’s been on my list ever since and while Amanda and I stopped by for lunch in September last year, I didn’t have the time for a full write up. However, I got my chance for a return visit exactly one week ago today when I hopped on a bus to Prestatyn before catching the train to Colwyn Bay, where Haus is a two-minute stroll from the station (and five minutes from the beach).

Offering full table service, Haus has a combined breakfast/brunch menu, backed up by daily lunch specials and a selection of sandwiches, all available until 14:30. There’s also plenty of cake (displayed on the counter at the back) for those with a sweet tooth. When it comes to coffee, Haus uses the ubiquitous Espresso Yourself blend from Liverpool’s Neighbourhood Coffee, with a standard espresso-based offering on its main menu. However, if you look closely, there’s a board on the wall at the back, offering batch brew and pour-over from a selection of Neighbourhood’s single-origin range, along with loose-leaf tea (Brew Tea Co) and hot chocolate (Harry’s Chocolate).

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

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Haus is about halfway along Penrhyn Road, on the right as you approach from the station, with a modest shop front on the ground floor of a lovely terraced row. A large window occupies almost the full width of Haus, with a recessed door on the left-hand side. Outside seating is limited to a single narrow bench and round table tucked away under the window on the broad pavement.

Stepping inside, Haus goes a long way back, its lovely interior full of dark woods and exposed brick, while a high ceiling gives it a surprising sense of space. Despite the only natural light being at the front, it’s very bright thanks to multiple light fittings. The seating starts with a window-bar and its three tall bar chairs, which run across the window to your right, before continuing along the right-hand wall, which is at an angle of about 30°. There are another three seats here, this time simple black stools.

The rest of the seating lines the left- and right-hand walls, leaving the middle of Haus clear, although I suspect that this is a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing the remaining tables to be well-spaced out. A padded bench runs along right-hand wall with four square, two-person tables, while the left-hand wall is home to a pair of high, four-person tables, a water station between them.

The counter is at the back, running almost the full width of Haus. Since there’s full table service, you only need to come back here to admire the cakes (displayed on the counter top), peruse the retail bags of coffee (on shelves on the wall to the left) or to pay. Finally, through a gap between the right-hand side of the counter and the wall, a door leads to a staircase which gives access to the first-floor toilet, where you’ll also find office space to let.

Amanda and I visited for lunch last year, Amanda opting for a cream cheese bagel with salmon, while I had the vegetarian breakfast, although I made the rookie error of not ordering extra toast. Despite this, it was excellent, with two perfectly-poached eggs, accompanied by smashed avocado on toast, sweet potato, tomatoes, halloumi and a mushroom (topped with sweet caramelised onions). Amanda’s bagel, meanwhile, was DIY, the cream cheese in a pot, with the salmon off to one side, which Amanda appreciated.

Amanda had a flat white, while I had a cortado, the classic notes of the Espresso Yourself blend going well with the milk. We both enjoyed our coffees, although I really appreciated my cortado, which, at 4oz, offered the perfect balance between milk and coffee.

On my return, I just popped in for coffee, decided to opt for filter. Although not on the main menu, Haus offers both batch brew and pour-over through the V60, with a variety of single-origins, all from Neighbourhood Coffee, to choose from. During our first visit, an El Salvador was on batch brew, while on my return, it was a Burundi.

However, I wanted a V60, the barista offering me three options, the batch brew Burundi Brew Got The Love, a Brazilian Voulez Brew (Ah-Ha) and an Ethiopian The Only Way is Cup, Baby. To help me decide, the barista also provided me with a sample of the batch brew to try. As I continued to dither, the barista offered me a fourth option, an anaerobic natural from Nicaragua Halle-Brew-Jah, and I jumped at the opportunity.

Served in carafe with a cup on the side, it was an outstanding coffee: even the smell of it was amazing. In the cup, it was really fruity, but with lots of subtle notes, rather than the punchy fruity flavours I associate with a natural. Just perfect.

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