What kind of coffee are you after?

Looking for the Best Coffee in Whitstable? You're probably asking the wrong question.

“Where should I go for a coffee?” is one of the questions I'm asked most.

I'm so lucky that I get to spend a lot of time in Whitstable outside, either walking and swimming with the dog (yes, I'm one of those!) or working at the sauna (and yes it is “work”, I'll have you know). I must look like a confident local because I’m often asked for directions and recommendations. I usually dread giving these because I fear not getting it right, which is important when you have a train to catch, but especially important when we’re talking about coffee. 

People are serious about their coffee (wander past the queue at our local artisan bakery at 9am on Saturday to see what I mean. Although, to be fair, it’s probably an even split between those who are there for the coffee and those who are there for the Instagram-worthy pastries).

Of course I have my own favourite. But that doesn't mean it's the right answer for you. Whitstable is ridiculously well served for good coffee. So my response is always another question:

“What kind of coffee are you after”

Do you want somewhere to sit for an hour and watch the world go by or are you grabbing one before heading back to the beach? Are you secretly hoping someone can persuade you that a cinnamon bun definitely counts as lunch? Is the atmosphere as important as what's in the cup? We have something to suit all preferences, just not always in one place, so we need to get to the bottom of your cup first.

Speaking of which - if you want to be taken seriously, take a reusable cup. My used Keep Cup can be exchanged for a clean one when I buy a coffee in some places (why not let someone else do the washing up for once?). The Yeti 8oz thermal cup is perfect for a flat white and I'm convinced I've single-handedly boosted their sales because baristas are forever admiring it as they add their clever designs.

This goes for reusable pint cups as well. We have accumulated more of these than the number of throwaways we would have used in our lifetime! Take one to the outside pub, make it one from a football team if you fancy a lively chat, or show how cool you are with a vintage festival line-up. My Whitstable Oyster Festival 2018 cup is pretty much the closest I’ll get to proving my local status and I don’t mind admitting I plant that thing down on the bar noisily sometimes just to be sure it’s seen.

Back to the recommendations. I’ve used coffee to demonstrate the need for asking the right questions but really, I’ll apply this same analysis to whatever you ask for. Whether it’s coffee, oysters, food or just drinks, there often isn’t that one place you can go to tick every box. Do you need a sea view, great food with something for everyone on the menu, dog friendly, waitress service, a chair with a back, nice wine in a GOOD glass…

We need to discover which of these you’re willing to let go, and from then on it’s an easy job. For me, I can ditch the waitress service but never EVER the good glass.

As I got you here with a promise of the right coffee, here’s a handy list - just find your style, then find your perfect match.

If you're...	I'd send you to...	Because...
Chasing the perfect flat white	Farm&Harper	Whitstable is full of brilliant coffee. This just happens to be my favourite flat white.
Looking for a sea view	Keith’s at the sailing club	Sit outside or walk with it.
Meeting friends for a long catch-up	Amedea (half Croatian café-bar)	If it’s that long it could run on to beer.
Sneaking in a pastry with your coffee	Grain & Hearth	Go with no lunch plans...
Taking the dog	Anywhere	Whitstable is incredibly dog friendly!
Grabbing one before a swim	Windy Corner Café & Store	Such a short walk you won’t even lose your foam.
Escaping the rain	The Larder	So cosy
Escaping your office to check emails	HatHats	At the South Quay Shed. You can work, see the sea and do a decent bit of people-watching.
People watching	Tea & Times	Great view from upstairs and you get top-deck bus passengers as a bonus.
If you know…you know,	The Alleyway	Great coffee and snacks and a lovely welcome. Stay long enough for cocktails...
Roast their own	Garage Coffee Blueprint Coffee & Books	If you love the coffee you can take a bag home to recreate your own!

Have I missed your favourite?

Whitstable has far more brilliant coffee spots than I could squeeze into one article, and that's exactly why I love it. If you think I've overlooked somewhere special, tell me. I'll happily volunteer to investigate... purely in the interests of research, obviously.

About the author

Hi, I'm Fritha, an independent travel agent and Whitstable local who spends far too much time in the sea and an equally healthy amount of time researching coffee. Through Whitstable Travel Collective I share local recommendations, travel ideas and honest advice to help you get the most from every trip.