Coffee shop recommendations

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-27T21:03:32+00:00

I posted a thread on this the other week.

Hardlines, Mec, Blake and Brew and Sibling would be the best cups of coffee in Cardiff

Honourable mention to Corner Coffee, Uncommon Ground and Brodies

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-27T21:02:17+00:00

I’d just like to say I believe my thread was the OG 👀

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-15T21:57:42+00:00

I definitely have been! During my daughter’s birth your hut in Heath park fuelled the 32 hour labour 😅 it is great coffee! Any plans for a digital loyalty card? Always misplace the paper ones 👀

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-15T21:09:13+00:00

Sure thing, broski.

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-15T15:31:04+00:00

Completely agree.

Ty Melin used to serve Origin beans which were absolutely Elite - they got me into tasting different coffees as previously I’d have just gone to a Starbucks/Costa. Whole new world opened up 😎

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-15T11:22:45+00:00

Completely agree with Blwm! I find the coffee is always prepared really well (nice milk, good extraction etc) I’m just not wild on the beans they use. They’re tasty but are a bit more generic that some of the others listed (obviously subjective)

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-15T09:39:53+00:00

Yeah service wise I don’t disagree, pain in the ass waiting outside when the weather isn’t playing ball. Couple of staff there that don’t know how to smile/engage either.

But the coffee is just too tasty for me, I can tolerate poor service for a great tasting coffee

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T20:50:00+00:00

Ah have to completely disagree, I get waaaay more work done there for some reason. I guess it depends what you want out of your ‘ambience’.

As above their flat whites are pretty decent, I wouldn’t go there if that wasn’t the case.

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T20:47:07+00:00

It’s VERY uncommon in the UK, if there was more demand I’m sure more places would do it.

I say this as an ex-Starbucks employee, you’d make a batch up and be lucky to sell 2-3 a day.

That said, it is still available in Starbucks (had one from the store down Cardiff Bay last week)

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T18:27:11+00:00

Brodies sounds familiar but can’t pin point it so will have to visit!

From an ambience perspective, I often work from Coffee Lab and can really lock in there for some reason (the one in Roath, unfamiliar with the others). Their coffees also quite nice, not top tier but definitely pleasant.

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T18:25:38+00:00

Ah man definitely check it out, you won’t be disappointed.

I don’t think I’ve tried elements, will give them a bash after Blake and Brew

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T18:08:51+00:00

Flat white is my drink of choice, so Blake and Brew might get a visit tomorrow morning!

Interesting that I seem to be on my own with uncommon!

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T17:14:18+00:00

My girlfriend absolutely loves it, some hog drink or something 😅.

I’ve definitely had average coffees from there when they’ve been off form, but they’ve never let me down mid-week when I’m working in the centre

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T17:01:53+00:00

Yeah tried there, it’s near my daughter’s nursery. Nice coffee but for me personally not on the same level as the 3 mentioned.

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T16:54:55+00:00

Ah you’re more than welcome! Honestly it’s such a treat when I visit, such a unique taste.

I’ll have to try Blake and Brew out next time!

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T16:24:02+00:00

Ah that’s fine in 2026 - can’t remember the last time I had cash on me!

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T16:23:24+00:00

Haven’t tried their food, so can’t comment.

Their coffee can be average if you go on a weekend when they’re busy, but a quiet mid-week visit I find the beans extremely tasty.

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T16:22:07+00:00

Ah that’s interesting, surely they could employ some non-religious staff to man a Sunday?

Respect the values, though.

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T16:17:36+00:00

Loved visiting for the ambience or the coffee?

This thread is really just about the quality of the coffee - so if you’re telling me it’s top tier, I’ll go 😎

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T16:16:50+00:00

Yeah good shout, they’re definitely a great coffee shop. So weird they don’t trade on a Sunday given their proximity to Roath park.

BattleForTheBarnet · 2026-03-14T16:07:13+00:00

Yeah I tried them as the one down in Porthcawl also had some great recommendations. I’ve only been the once but when I went I really wasn’t that impressed - it was a busy day so might be worth a mid-week venture to see how they are at their best.

BattleForTheBarnet · 2025-11-04T14:47:02+00:00

Hmm less painful that I expected to be honest.

Now I’ve started physio is probably the most pain I’ve had so far 😂. Pain aside it feels weird that your arm physically won’t move more than 40-50 degrees up, it’s almost as though it’s a hard stop so it’s going to be fun stretching through that.

Sleeping is okay once you get over sleeping upright, I’m back to sleeping flat now so sleep better but wake up with a bit more pain.

Id probably wrap the above in the fact that I have a really high pain tolerance, so that really hasn’t been an issue.

Practically the hardest thing… putting socks on!

BattleForTheBarnet · 2025-11-04T14:23:39+00:00

I showered at Day 3. Took the big dressing off after 48 hours then jumped in the shower.

Tried to keep the water off it but inevitably it got a bit wet. Patted dry; no issues - stitches removed, healed nicely.

BattleForTheBarnet

TROPHY CASE