Edinburgh is a city known for its cafe culture, which is to say, it has a lot of cafes. Many are beloved independents – Black Medicine Coffee, Books N’ Cup, Kilimanjaro, and many are, well, Black Sheep Coffee.
The beating heart of Princes Street, the life-force of Haymarket, the jewel of North Bridge: it’s no more than a few metres you have to move as an Edinburgh resident before you reach your nearest Black Sheep Coffee.
But where did they come from? Why are they here? How are there so many? All valid questions in the face of such a prolific herd; founded in 2013 by flatmates at the University of St Andrews, Black Sheep Coffee has quickly expanded to open sites all across the UK and beyond. They have cafes in the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, and France – what the hell, sure.
In the UK, there are 69 locations; nine of these are in Edinburgh alone.
For a city with its fair share of cultural preservation societies, Edinburgh seems to have fallen victim to a surprising onslaught of the decidedly uncultured cafes. In case you’re an Edinburgh resident who hasn’t managed the 20 second commute to your nearest Black Sheep, I’ll paint you a picture: exposed concrete walls, big white lettering, and iPads to order. Think McDonald’s, but with £5 coffees.
I feel like I’m in the Nucleus
In this economy (the one where a coffee is £5, that is), we all know it’s more important than ever to support independent businesses: those that don’t have a secret Dubai site to fall back on. In my opinion, Edinburgh has some of the most unique and gorgeous coffee spots that offer a whole range of experiences. Whether you’re looking for a study date, a catch up with the girlies, or to impress your family when they come to visit, there are many fun spots to go to. Some of my favourites are: Love,Peace and Coffee and August21 in Newington; the Zero Waste Hub off Lothian Road; Cowan and Sons in Stockbridge and Singapore Coffee House in Broughton.
This lovely matcha from Cowan and Sons
Here’s the thing about these local small businesses – they’re far more than just coffee. August21 hosts open mics and art events. the Zero Waste Hub also serves as a charity shop and a place where you can play board games. The coffee culture in Edinburgh transcends a mug and caffeine. Whilst you might be looking for a quick cup of coffee, who knows what hidden gems you could stumble across when in these unique establishments.
However, it’s not only the independent cafes being subsumed by Black Sheep: they’ve even started taking over Starbucks branches across Edinburgh. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there – or should I say Sheep eat Starbucks? The former Lothian Road site is now the city’s ninth Black Sheep Coffee.
As a relatively up-and-coming franchised chain, Black Sheep Coffee receives significant venture capital funding: this gives it a financial advantage that independents could never even begin to compete with. As such, a tiny part of the resistance is where customers are choosing to spend their money. Sure, Black Sheep has some merits. With a store around every corner, it’s convenient, almost like a fast-food option of coffee, but whilst it can be quick and easy, it can never capture the true charm of an Edinburgh coffee shop. That indie folk playlist, quirky trinkets on the table, a barista with a passion for their latte art – coffee culture at its finest. For the same price of a local small business, in my opinion, it’s better to get the authentic coffee shop experience.
Here’s to coffee and a yap
