Espresso

This is a heartfelt message to all Americans. I know you hate our coffee. But cut us some slack — I actually watched a documentary that stated fair and square the fact that coffee actually began on these shores. Yep, it involved someone who was only about half Italian, and the first recorded coffee shop on London’s streets was somewhere in the 1600s. So stop bullying us about it being swill, because we’ve been trying for the best part of a millennium and we’re obviously still getting it wrong. Except when it comes to Illy.
Yes, the yanks in my life have confirmed that Illy, with its robust strength and its kick-​you-​in-​the-​face wakeup call is the very thing to act as an alternative to the dishwater we Brits try and pass off as the humble Java bean. This is the place to indulge in it. The Bluecoat is an excellent arts centre and shopping boutique area, and here you can get snacks and beverages aplenty. It’s not the warmest and homeliest of environments, preferring instead the minimalist chrome and white look, but it’s airy and spacious and makes a great spot to unwind.
Sandwiches, salads, cookies and cakes are the order of the day, all very fresh and delicious. The free wi-​fi makes it a creative environment so you can chill out with a laptop all day or if evening time (or lunchtime) comes around and you fancy a tipple there’s a selection of wine, beers and other alcoholic beverages for you to sip. Also, the hot chocolate is delish. Open from 8am until 6pm, there are plenty of hours to fit in your caffeine fix so get involved.

You’d think a place called Espresso would serve the perfect cup of coffee, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately, the Americano I ordered on my first visit tasted burnt and the latte on the second visit was weak and watery.
On the positive side, Espresso provided me with a short oasis of calm from the busyness of Liverpool One. Situated on the ground floor of the refurbished Bluecoat, it’s an open space with a high ceiling and about a dozen white tables and chairs. The staff are extremely friendly and for about £3 you can get a number of different snacks from soup and bread to stews and hot pots. Just a shame you can’t get a damn good espresso!