Fortitude Coffee

Fortitude is yet another very nice independent coffee shop in Edinburgh. I don’t get up to this part of town much, so I was delighted to try somewhere new when I was in the area. Fortitude is in a lovely old building on York Place, and it smells wonderfully of coffee as one enters. The place is small, but there are still about 10 – 15 spaces to have a seat, so sitting in shouldn’t be a problem at most times. Newspapers are provided, which is also nice.
The menu is simple. There are of course teas and hot chocolate, but coffee is king here, with a lovely selection of coffees from various countries. As usual, I just had a simple black coffee and sat down to enjoy the warm atmosphere in the place. The coffee was strong and tasty, the staff were friendly, and the prices were fine. Also on offer, although I didn’t try any, were some wonderful looking sandwiches and pastries. All the usual coffee shop fayre.
Overall, highly recommended, and I’ll be back in future.

This place quite simply does really great coffee. So if you’re looking for an espresso or latte to takeaway I would definitely recommend this place.
Sitting in the shop is totally fine too. I don’t know how I would feel about spending an extended period of time in the shop though. The chairs are like the old school chairs you got in assembly (y’know the ones the big kids sat on. It was like a coming of age when you were allowed to sit on these chairs). They’re fine for a bit of nostalgia but anymore than 30 minutes and you realise they’re not the most comfortable things in the world. It is nice to sink into a big armchair and sip a cup of coffee.
In summary it’s a good place but I just couldn’t see myself staying for anymore than one cup. Other than the not so comfy chairs because the place is so small I felt an obligation to to drink up and get moving to let the next person into my table.

really not sure why it’s taken so long for me to post a review of this wonderful coffee shop. Cool, friendly, high-​end/​serious coffee (all sorts — aeropress, pour over, espresso etc). Delicious cakes (inc doughnuts), excellents soup and wonderful bagels. Also sell exotic beans and coffee paraphernalia. I find the service friendlier than some of the high end coffee competitors. Good place to sit (free wifi). A wonderful business that should be supported.

Its g (O_o)d beans and the staff werkZ em well. So0 far the best cappuccino I had in Edinburgh.
Paired it with pistachio polenta that was topped with a thinly sliced ‘melty’ pair. I don’t really like fruit on my swEetz, but my fork cut through that sliver of pair into a light crumbly buttery grit-​like pistachio cloud. Turns out the sweets is from Lovers Crumbs, another place I gotta check out in EDi.
OVerall the place was cozy with a minimal industrial feel and the staff were chill. It seemed that they get a lot of foot travel from regulars in the neighborhood after w3rk. I’m sure lunch time is similar for those with offices close by.

Another rainy day in Edinburgh. I was sitting in my new favourite spot, just next to the foggy window. My flat white was made with house expresso from Workshop, with a silky layer of froth. If you feel like having a sweet treat, try their pistachio and pear polenta from Lovercrumbs!

Fortitude have got it all right. It’s everything I’d want an independent coffee shop to be, and more.
Everything hits the mark, from the intimacy of the smaller venue, without being so jam packed that you can never get a seat. The coffee menu is simple, but also gives choice with a guest espresso bean and pour over choices. The staff are always helpful, with obvious knowledge, but I never feel intimidated to ask questions. And the food, again isn’t extensive (their focus is certainly on the fabulous coffees) but there’s enough on offer for a snack if you’re peckish.
I really do love it in here, and it’s a great way to spend an afternoon by yourself or with friends.
The only downfall that I could possibly think of, is that it’s not open on Sundays.

Fortitude is an excellent wee spot for coffee and cake whilst in town (preferably after visiting the Portrait Gallery, I think that would form my perfect afternoon.
My mum commented, upon seating, how nice it is that Edinburgh city centre has so many independent coffee shops, whereas Glasgow has to make do with the big tax-​avoiding chains. It must be something to do with the rents. Anyway, she’s correct and Fortitude is a gem.
As well as caffeine to sit in, they sell lots of beans from interesting roasters. I popped by just before Christmas to buy some for my brother (as I had also got him a grinder), and the woman who served me was very helpful — explaining what went best with milk etc. In the end I settled on something by Drop Coffee. She told me it’s the one she’d buy as a gift. Quite possibly everyone gets that spiel but as a customer it made me feel confident in my choice.
I salute you Fortitude, I salute your excellent coffee and your excellent staff.

I make a point of trying to visit all the ‘serious’ coffee shops in Edinburgh (something which is becoming increasingly difficult) and Fortitude has established itself as one of my favourites.
The venue itself is very small with a handful of seats so depending on what time you go it can be a a bit of luck whether you get a seat. It’s a nice place though for a pre-​work coffee and croissant or a generous bowl of granola and yoghurt.
They use Workshop Coffee beans for their espresso which definitely rate as some of the best. The filter coffee is always to a high standard.
The owners/​baristas are warm and friendly in a way that can often be missing from these kinds of coffee places.
For me the real reason to visit is their great selection of beans on sale, and I’ve yet to find anywhere else with such a selection. If you brew or make espresso at home it is definitely worth checking out as they have a wide variety of different beans from various roasters in the UK and abroad. If your bored of buying the same old blends there is always something new and interesting to try and they are happy to recommend one.
They accept contactless payment (such as Apple Pay) for when you want a coffee but are short on change.

Sitting at Fortitude Coffee and enjoying a marvellous flat white is a nice way to escape the random summer Scottish weather.
After a nice little rain shower caught me, I found myself looking to stumble into the first coffee shop I could find –one that had wifi –so that I could get dry and productive again. This was the place that I found.
It is small or «wee» as the locals say, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in quality coffee. I haven’t had a better flat white in Edinburgh. Not yet at least. The wifi is strong, the view is nice, and the people working there are good.
It is a quiet place as well, with ambient-​type of music playing –not too loudly –in the background. This is a place you can get some work done as well, there are plug-​ins EVERYWHERE.
I noticed several other people stopping in to order one of their soft drinks as well. It makes me think that they have some good ones here to choose from. I may try the sparkling apple next time.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this little coffee shop. I will try to get back in when I am in the neighborhood. Especially when their flat white is this good.

Fortitude is a welcome addition to the buzzing coffee scene in Edinburgh. It’s location is ideal for those who want exceptional coffee in the city centre and who want to avoid big and bad chain coffee places. It’s chilled vibe is welcoming as is its friendly staff. These guys are serious about ensuring your coffee is as it should be, I ordered a flat white which was deliciously creamy and served at the perfect drinking temperature and a slice of carrot cake which was moist and fruity. With the addition of free newspapers, wifi and sweet and savoury food selections I could quite happily spend a while here watching the world go by. Trendy, terrific and local this will be a firm favourite.

How have i not reviewed this place?! my favourite coffee spot in town. Still somewhat of a ‘hidden secret’ — i’ve always managed to get a seat, which cannot be said of my other favourite spot (Wellington Coffee). Location is a big factor in this I reckon, as Fortitude is a bit more tucked away.
But tear yourself away from the main shopping strip and get your bum here! Their espresso is TOP NOTCH. They regularly feature single origin and blends from Workshop Coffee in London, and they pull them beautifully
They also feature rotating guest beans from various other roasters, usually of Scandinavian origin — Drop coffee from Sweden and the Coffee Collective from Copenhagen amongst others. Roasters that aren’t stocked anywhere else in Edinburgh, which makes a nice change!
A small food selection, but perfectly formed. Scrummy cakes from Lovecrumbs, soups and salad from Edinburgh institution Union of Genius, Quiche from Archipelago and pastries from Au Gourmand. Go for breakfast, stay for lunch, pop by for a 2pm brownie.

One of the best in Edinburgh for great coffee — fact. Workshop beans and regular guests. Espresso and pour over plus some kit and beans to take home. Highly recommended.

One day, when I’m a real adult, I’ll learn how to hold my coffee. And by that, I mean my inability to process caffeine without seeming like I’m drunk. So this review isn’t about the coffee at Fortitude — I promise to try it when I return though!
We needed some space for a meeting and this place was perfect. It’s small but has a good amount of tables and is bright and airy. The staff are super friendly and helpful. I got a jerk chicken stromboli (we call it a panini on the west coast) which was extremely excellent and just £3.85. They also have a nice range of drinks so I had a ginger ale to wash it down.
This place is super pleasant and lovely, and on my way out I must’ve left my scarf behind. I tweeted them later to check, and they replied quickly to confirm they had it and offered to post it out to me. How sweet is that?! I can’t wait for my next trip to Edinburgh so I can pop back in to say thank you (by way of buying all their food, obviously).

Well isn’t this a little charmer?!
To prove how smitten I found myself with my first visit to Fortitude, that the very next day, I trekked there once again… and then once on the weekend… and again for a business meeting… all in a span of a week. When I like something, I like something.
As many a Unilocaler has eloquently put it before me, this place is pretty minimalistic but in a cozy way. For one, it’s wee — and therefore automatically 10x more cozy. This also means it may be a hard spot to find a seat if it happens to be surainowing (sun-​rain-​snowing… at the same time. Only in Edinburgh.). But if you do find a place to pop yourself, they serve up great coffee and it would be a darn fine place to read a book and snoop at all the stylist people under your lashes that pop in and out of here every few minutes.
The chairs aren’t the slink-​down-​into-​it coffee shop variety but they get the job done. If I had a choice, i’d pass on the stools though… I get it, they looks really neat in the space but show me a person who actually enjoys sitting on a stool. The wifi is patchy but that seems to be the norm at most spots in town and I still tip the hat to them for offering it.
When it comes down to brass tacks: they have wifi, cake and the folks that work here are super pleasant. If that’s not enough for you — you’re complicating coffee shops too much and probably need a hug.

From the outside this wee place looks like a hidden gem, but stepping through the doors you soon realise that it’s not so hidden, greeted with the hustle and bustle of what’s clearly a very busy speciality coffee shop. Flat white to go it was as we couldn’t get a seat, service was great, coffee was decent but a wee bit too hot for me, however that’s a personal preference. The interior is really nice to and the place has a really good atmosphere. Hopefully get to sit in next time, have a coffee and try some of their delicious menu.

A lovely little, hipster style coffee shop. Clean, slick design and beautiful décor.
Free wifi combined with exceptional coffee… Awesome. I had a flat white & will try a loose leaf tea next time.

Botique coffee shop offering a delightful fresh look on York Place. Not only that, they supply cakes from Manna House and have excellent coffee.
A great flat white and a morish almond crossiant later and I want more. Yeap it’s that place, that you could get hooked on!
The staff were friendly and knowledgable too. It’s ashame i don’t live nearer as this is a highlight for being in town for!

I loved this wee spot on Queen Street. I went on a bank holiday and it was completely empty, but the guy behind the counter was very polite and very carefully crafted my take-​away flat white. The interior isn’t too big, but with so many nice places to sit outside during these spring days, taking away is a great option. It is a very cool looking counter and it is basically a help yourself pastry counter, with a few options for nibbles supplied from Manna House off Easter Road. With only one person making coffee this totally makes sense.
Now the coffee it self, is delicious! A very hearty, strong, but not too overpowering blend, with no fruit or citrus flavors. Very smooth and so easy to drink! They use Workshop coffee out of London and also sell these as well as other local beans. They also have a neat range of teas for those who don’t drink coffee. I am so tried of everywhere serving Artisan Roast, it is great to find a unique bean and friendly service. A must if you are in the New Town area as it is one of the tastiest coffees I’ve had in Edinburgh!

I love having a ’boutique’ coffee shop on the East side. It’s so nice not having to trek across town for a good cup of coffee.
It’s true that if they pared this place back any further you’d be sitting on upturned crates but I like the minimalistic ‘no fuss, no muss’ look which is ‘oh so trendy right now’.
It’s a coffee shop, they sell fantastic coffee. What else do you need?

It’s mouse-​wee and, with bare wood everywhere and a Wes Anderson coffee-​table book there for the browsing, well, you could say it was hipster as hell. But who cares? Is that actually a perjorative term anyway? They are a coffee shop, and so they have coffee, good coffee, although despite my recent CoffeeEpiphany™, I am very glad that I chose the hot chocolate, because… kids, let me tell you about that hot chocolate.
It was a marshmallow in a cup.
Now, you know and I know and the whole world knows that hot chocolate ain’t worth squat if it doesn’t come with marshmallow goodness, but what the world was waiting for Fortitude to show it is that putting the marshmallow on top is DOING IT WRONG. I know this now. I have seen the light.
It was a marshmallow… In. A. Cup.
The hot chocolate came in a little jug beside it. And as I poured that creamy yum into the cup, the marshmallow began to gooify and disintegrate, becoming one with the liquid, until only part of its mass bobbed around on the surface. And the hot chocolate was rich, and viscose, and sweet, and… revelatory.
Now then, it wasn’t a big cup, and it did cost me £3. Likewise, a very slim sliver of lemon drizzle cake, dense and moist though it was, set me back £2.60. In all honesty, this is more of a 3.5 star review, because mighty fine though those things were I didn’t feel they entirely justified the price… but heck, I’ll go back for another, and a blueberry bundt while I’m at it, and if that doesn’t qualify for a spot of enthusiasm in the starring then what does?