Food Review Laynes Espresso, Leeds review
Leeds gets a new independent coffee shop next to the train station
Food Review: Laynes Espresso, Leeds review
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Laynes Espresso must be a haven for Leeds commuters. Positioned just a stone’s throw from Leeds train station (next door to Leeds Brewery’s The Brewery Tap), we can only imagine that every weekday morning a legion of bleary-eyed workers troop off their trains, head into town and call into Laynes for an early morning pick-me-up.
Now I’m not a commuter, so I’m only guessing, but New Station Street must be a great spot for a quality independent coffee shop. And quality really is the word here. The cafe may be small – with just a few benches to sit on and a little bar for serving coffees, sarnies, teas and cakes – but what they lack in floor space, they make up for with stunning coffee and interesting grub.
We’ll start with the coffee, because this place is an espresso bar. They have their own brand of coffee selected and made especially for them. Your shot of espresso will set you back £1.20 or £1.50 for a double, which is what we opt for. Our coffee is richly aromatic, smooth but packing a punch and with floral, almost fruity notes. Beautiful stuff, too good really to compromise with extra water or frothed milk. My partner takes a decaf Americano and I’ll be damned if it didn’t taste better than many ‘real’ coffees.
The sandwiches here aren’t dirt cheap (around the £3.40 mark), but they’re good. On the day we visit the only choices are vegetarian – but boring old roast Med veg or hummous they are not. My sandwich boasts plentiful big chunks of halloumi with roasted tomatoes and salsa verde, while my partner’s is a boursin-esque cheese with mushrooms. They come in big, soft torpedo rolls, either toasted or cold, and if you eat in they’re presented in neat wooden plates-cum-bowls.
If caffeine isn’t enough to give you a pick-up, then you could always chuck in something sugary too. I get a slice of pecan pie (£1.40) which is just ridiculously tasty, sweet, but not in the way that hurts your teeth, with huge pecans and soft pastry holding it all together.
Coffee lovers in Leeds are increasingly being spoilt for choice. Without even leaving the city centre, we’ve now got several good independent espresso bars, including two La Bottega Milaneses, Opposite Cafe and Anthony’s in the Victoria Quarter, the newly opened Cafe 164 and plenty of other sandwich shops and bars now getting smart to serving proper coffee well.
The only thing to worry about now is how many espressos per day counts as too many.
@LaynesEspresso, www.laynesespresso.co.uk
Posted on Wednesday 14th September 2011
TG
Laynes Espresso
16 New Station Street, Leeds, LS1 4DT
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Comment by Jonny Atkinson
Posted on Wed 8th Feb 12 1:56 pm
I’ve been a fan of coffee for a while but Laynes are to be guilty as charged for turning me into a full on fanatic.
The staff are great. Very friendly, easy going and what they don’t know about coffee isn’t worth knowing. The new addition (Jan 2012) - of a large bench and tables makes the places feel so much bigger and whether it’s a quick commuters pick-me-up or a lazy lunchtime I always enjoy the atmosphere.
Best of all the coffee is superb, treated with the utmost care (affection even) and changes regulary enough to keep you interested and helping you to discover what coffee you like and what coffee you love.
