The final shortlist of the day is for another of my favourite Coffee Spot Awards, that of “Coffee Spot with the Happiest Staff”, won last year by Coffee Notes. In my opinion, staff are probably the most over-looked part of any Coffee Spot. Good staff can make a place and bad staff, no matter how great the coffee and wonderful the location, can kill a place.

Everywhere that features in the Coffee Spot has great staff, but these were exceptional, with some infectiously happy staff. However, this award isn’t just for happy staff; it’s for any staff who go that extra mile to make their coffee shop a special place.

You can see the shortlist after the gallery.

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There are eight Coffee Spots on the shortlist this year, all listed in order of publication.

Haus

Let’s get started with Haus in Colwyn Bay. Haus has already made the shortlists for the Best Filter Coffee and Coffee Spot with the Best Lighting Awards, but it’s on this shortlist for wonderful staff, particularly on my last visit, when all the stops were pulled out to ensure that I got a really great pour-over.

Time & Tide Coffee

From Colwyn Bay to Biddeford in Maine and Time & Tide Coffee. This Award is partly for the staff in the coffee shop, whose enthusiasm for Time & Tide and for speciality coffee in general shone through. However, it’s also partly for Jon, Time & Tide’s co-owner who came into the shop while I was there and took me on an impromptu tour of the coffee roastery across the road.

The Barn Schönhauser Allee

Our third entry finds us in Berlin with The Barn. This is the original coffee shop/roastery on Schönhauser Allee, although it applies equally to all three of The Barn’s coffee shops that I visited, where the staff couldn’t do enough for me. The Barn has also been shortlisted for this year’s Best Physical Space Award.

Crosby Coffee, Lark Lane

Back in the UK, this time in Liverpool, we’re with Crosby Coffee on Lark Lane. While Crossby Coffee has already been shortlisted for the Best Cake and Best Filter Coffee Awards, this shortlist entry is to give a shout out to my baristas, Ben and Bex, who looked after me during my visit and who were lovely.

Ditto Coffee, Baltic Triangle

Staying in Liverpool, I had another excellent experience at Ditto Coffee in the Baltic Triangle. Having arrived very close to closing time, I was nonetheless very well looked after by the lovely staff, Annie and Cam. Ditto Coffee has also been shortlisted for the Coffee Spot with the Best Basement Award (ironically for its lovely mezzanine).

The Coffee Movement

We return to the USA for our last three entries on this year’s shortlist, starting with The Coffee Movement in San Francisco. A multi-roaster with an emphasis on providing the very best coffee, The Coffee Movement is a very special place, but with a very down-to-earth, friendly staff who were very helpful.

Patent Coffee

Switching coasts to New York City, Patent Coffee occupies a small basement in the Radio Wave building (earning it a place on the shortlists for both the Smallest Coffee Spot and Coffee Spot with the Best Basement Awards). However, it’s made it onto this shortlist thanks to barista Lorenzo, who was outstanding in his service.

Sump Coffee, Nashville

Our final entry this year takes us to Nashville and Sump Coffee. When I presented the staff with a gift of a bag of coffee, they insisted on brewing it up there and then so that I could try it, which is the sort of customer service I really appreciate! Sump Coffee has also been shortlisted for the Best Filter Coffee Award (although that was for Sump’s own coffee!).

The winner will be announced on Monday, 2nd January. In the meantime, don’t forget to check out the other 19 Coffee Spot Awards for 2022.

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