Life Story
It’s very hard to predict when you’re going to have moments of great revelation unless your name is Saul and you’re ambling towards Damascus. I had my coffee conversion in the Hula Juice Bar in October 2011.
Exterior
The espresso that owner Susan Doherty made me that day was so different to all of the “coffee” I’d sampled before that moment that I was honestly unsure what it was I was drinking.
Many coffee adventures later, it was lovely to be able to visit Susan’s latest coffee enterprise on its first day in the shape of Life Story, the gift and lifestyle shop on Broughton Street.
The shop has been trading in its most recent incarnation for many months, but plans have been afoot to remodel it and install a small coffee bar. This has now come to fruition.
Espresso and cake
The Nordic aesthetic has been enhanced through an almost doubling of the shop’s space, with it now fully extending to the rear of the building. Their modular display and storage feature is extremely smart.
From a mini La Marzocco machine, Susan is serving coffees from London roastery The Roasting Shed. I sampled a first rate espresso (£2), which was accompanied by some gluten-free chocolate and pistachio cake. I was impressed.
So overall, Life Story’s new coffee offering looks to be starting life right on track. I wouldn’t have expected anything less, though, as Susan is one of Edinburgh’s smartest business brains with an approach and ethic that’s just great to be around. Make sure to visit soon.
4 Comments
Heard that a little caf was now open at the back of this place so thought I’d give it a try this arvo. Took a seat. Saw a free power point as lady asked me if I wanted a tea or coffee. I said yes, and asked if it was ok to use my laptop in the free power point. She said yes, this time, but in future: no. So it was like, yes, but really no. That just made me feel awkward. So I left. Went to Broughton Deli round the corner. Better. Chill.
Hannah, this is a cafe with two seats. I just don’t think it’s the territory of laptop lingering. Glad you found a better fit at the Broughton Deli 🙂
BKR, It’s not really fair to assume my intention was to “laptop linger”. I simply wanted to support a newly expanded independent business. Which had zero customers in either the shop or the cafe. And which is why I deliberately went back there after finding it closed an hour earlier. Round the corner I ordered my loose leaf tea, potteres on my laptop while I drank it (‘cos people drinking tea on their don’t tend to just sit there and think while they do it. In this century anyway…). And then I left and got on with my day. Just like I would have wherever I was. The only difference was this time I didn’t feel weird about it.
No offence meant, Hannah – thanks for taking time to read our review and comment 🙂