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Coffee Overtaking Tea Culture in the UK

Coffee Overtaking Tea Culture in the UK

Asharq Al-Awsat15-07-2025
Discover the hidden gem of the UK's coffee culture, where vibrant independent cafes outshine the chains, offering a unique blend of flavors and atmospheres.
'Fancy a brew?' 'I'll put the kettle on then.' Hearing those words are no longer as familiar as it once were as coffee has overtaken tea in the UK, The Daily Express newspaper reported on Monday.
It said grabbing a coffee either on the go or at a café is as part of British culture these days as it is in Italy.
But while every person has its favorite chain, be it Pret, Starbucks, Costa or Cafe Nero, nothing beats finding a decent independent coffee shop one can call home especially when it can seem high streets are dominated by the same chains.
So with the demand for coffee only growing, where is the best spot in the UK to find an independent coffee shop?
A study by Reviva Coffee reveals the UK city that is the hidden gem when it comes to thriving coffee culture.
And it probably isn't where you'd expect. In fact this county is synonymous with tea. Yorkshire Tea, to be precise.
However the study discovered the best UK city to find independent coffee shops is in the Yorkshire city of Leeds. It has a staggering 584 coffee shops, of which 86.3% are independent, and just under 14% are chains.
Placing second is Edinburgh. Whether you're a coffee connoisseur or just needing a cosy pit stop, Edinburgh has you covered with its outstanding coffee scene with 560 shops, 85% of which are independents.
In third for best UK cities for independent coffee shops is Bristol which has 347 coffee shops, 86.3% of which are independent.
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