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For the uninitiated, Taylor St. Baristas is a chain started by three Australian brothers:

Taylor St was founded as a desperate response to the dire state of London coffee

Whilst I still hear the occasional complaint from Aussies and Kiwis as to the lack of quality coffee in London, it is miles better (partly thanks to Taylor St. no doubt) that it was.

The Brighton branch is located near the main station, and no doubt provides many a commuter with their morning mental wake up call.  Whilst it doesn't look much from the outside (often a good thing when it comes to coffee), this coffee house has a very relaxed atmosphere, allowing you to take one of a handful of tables whilst your coffee is made and brought over. As with Redroaster (other side of town), the coffee is served with a small glass of water - and in the case of Taylor St. in Brighton, it is brought over to you by the barista after they have left your coffee. A personal touch that inexplicably warms you to the place.

Again a macchiato was on the cards (single, not double) and I was surprised to be asked if I preferred milk or foam over the coffee (bit of both, actually).  Presentation was excellent, and the small dollop of foam you can see in the photos is pure coffee-seduction.

I didn't notice the beans, but the coffee here was nutty, thick and quite sharp - probably more so than most people ideally like.  This, however, is more a reflection on the supply of beans from Union Coffee Roaster that are used by Taylor St., as I have experienced similarly weighty coffee in the Richmond branch (there are 5 in all).

Overall, a very enjoyable experience and fantastic coffee - but not for the faint of heart.  Opt for a window seat to watch the world go by as you soak up the relaxed surroundings.

Here's an exact map if you need:

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Set just the other side of the Pavilion, Redroaster is said to be the best coffee in Brighton.

Given that I had a few hours to kill, a swift coffee tour of the bustling Brighton seemed like the smart thing to do.  Unfortunately Redroaster is a bit of a trek from the station end of town (where I was deposited), but is not so far from the seafront and Lanes. Fortunately, however, the more tucked away locale means it is full of locals and not day trippers, which helps add to the nice, authentic coffee house experience

The inside of Redroaster is - as the first thing you take note of - a little sparse and bare.  There's not too much in the way of artwork, and the high ceiling and natural-light-flooded roof make it feel more like an atrium than a quality cafe.  The usual "mm, this is nice" feeling of smelling freshly ground coffee beans and cosy atmosphere is absent from the Redroaster experience.

What it may lack in ambience, Redroaster certainly makes up for in coffee.  With a wide variety of beans at my disposal, I opted for a house double macchiato (my current ideal cup).  As you can see, the presentation and barista skill is obviously well honed, and the coffee and milk were served at a pretty perfect temperature, and the mix of coffee, milk and foam were - whilst a touch on the milky side - very good.

Redroaster is a bustling coffee shop dedicated to their coffee and baristas.  Whilst it is not the most relaxing atmosphere (can be loud and crowded), the quality and care of the coffee helps to position it as one of the best coffee places in Brighton.

Note: The map for this post is slightly off; the actual location is here: 
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