I’d been meaning to revisit Quarter Horse Coffee for a while, having repeatedly come across its roasts at various cafes across Brum, including Kanteen.
The cafe itself, located on Bristol Street, is a light and airy space with wooden furniture and white washed walls. Decoration is kept to a minimum but the place feels inviting and looks pretty. Upon entering a gentle waft of toast and roasted coffee filled the air, and I was greeted by a glorious array of cakes and sweet treats.
Drinks
Coffee is the focus of this cafe, and the staff are more than happy to talk customers through their homemade ground roast, created right in front of you. Better yet, you can buy a bag to take away with you, should you want the unique Quarter House flavour in your own home. The house blend is so good I’ve since bought some to use in my espresso machine. QHC also offers numerous dairy free and vegan-friendly milk alternatives, making it accessible for everyone.
Food
A concise food menu reveals a limited but classic choice of low key breakfast plates; you’ll find no fry ups here. Instead you can enjoy various topped toasts including smoked salmon or smashed avocado, plus freshly baked pastries or honey-topped granola. At the weekend there’s additional brunch options, including Siracha Avo and Eggs on Sourdough (£7.50) and some bacon based fodder if that’s your thing. Seeking a midweek light bite I opted for the Avocado Smash Sourdough with Goats Cheese (£5.60) and an Americano (£2.30) which all arrived quickly and the topped toast was actually quite generous in size. My pal went for the Salmon on Sourdough with Cream Cheese (£6.10) and a Coconut Milk Cappuccino (£2.75).
The generously topped toasts made for tasty snacking, with the flavour of the freshly baked sourdough (shipped over from Peel & Stone) ringing through the rich, oily fish and avocado. As well as light breakfast there’s sourdough sandwiches and toasties available to eat in or take away, plus warming bowls of soup.
We both enjoyed the food, however, it was the coffee we left raving about. So much so I’ve been back twice armed with my laptop as it’s also a great space to get some work done with a lovely brew. The staff are all friendly, chatty and full of enthusiasm for their coffee. Don’t forget, Independent Birmingham card holders get 10% off the bill.
Quarter Horse Coffee, 88-90 Bristol Street, Southside, Birmingham, B5 7AH
Disclosure: I paid in full and all words and photos are mine