LIFESTYLE: A student's guide to coffee shops in Belfast
Rebekah Williams
Everyone knows that coffee is at the top of the list on many students’ survival guides. However, whilst we all love a good Starbucks and Cafè Nero, there are plenty of local gems in Belfast if you’re looking to switch it up for your next study session or catch-up!
The Lamppost Café
Situated on Upper Newtownards Road, The Lamppost Café is a family-run business with a C.S. Lewis theme, meaning that this is the perfect place to be if you want to be nostalgic and reminisce about The Chronicles of Narnia. With affordable drinks and food, plus a picturesque interior and exterior that is perfect for your next Instagram post, The Lamppost Café is undeniably unique.
Although, as satisfying as a good Instagram post can feel, you may be surprised at just how beneficial coffee can be. Tom Saxon, the founder of Batch Coffee discovered during many years of coffee research that consuming 3 cups of coffee per day reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 19 percent.
The Dock Café
With views of the sea in the Titanic Quarter, The Dock Cafe is a bustling location, but with an interesting twist. It is known as an Honesty Box café, meaning that there are no fixed prices. Instead, you decide what you want to pay. While you might think that a lot of people would use this as a way of getting a free coffee and traybake, The Dock Cafe has been successfully running since 2009. Therefore, this could be the coffee shop that restores your faith in humanity as we enter into a (hopefully) post-Covid world.
While a charitable business can make our hearts feel good, Saxon further commented that drinking three cups of coffee in a day also ‘reduces coronary heart disease by 16 percent and mortality of a stroke by 30%.
Aleksandar’s Bakery and Café
Another independent gem, Aleksandar’s Bakery and Cafe features many niche traybakes and pastries, such as ischlers, spandauer and pecan pie, as well as the classics. They also host an array of events that help support the local community, such as craft fairs featuring the work of local artists, in addition to offering free meals on Christmas Day. It's a business that is fully worthy of your money and is conveniently located on University Avenue. It is the perfect location for unwinding after class.
Additionally, because Aleksandar’s is situated in the Holylands, it is the perfect destination for students who are prone to some alcohol drinking in their free time to counteract some of the negative effects that can have on your body. Saxon further explained that drinking coffee can lead to a lower risk of some liver diseases, including liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Espresso Elements
Their vast supply of coffee and artisanal Italian pastries are enough to make you want to go down to Lisburn Road and make a purchase at Espresso Elements, this business is also extremely environmentally friendly. They sell reusable coffee cups and water bottles, while also offering various milk alternatives for vegans. If that isn’t enough, they are also a dog-friendly establishment, meaning that it’s not just the coffee here that is ideal for stress relief!
While all of these amazing options may leave you feeling overwhelmed with choice, don’t worry! Saxon states that 3 to 5 cups of coffee per day, the equivalent of 400mg of caffeine is good for most people. So why not gather a few friends, and have your next day out be a tour of these amazing, independent businesses that are truly one of a kind?
Rebekah Williams is a health and lifestyle reporter for The Scoop. She is a second-year English and Creative Writing student at Queen’s University Belfast.