Top 10: Best value independent coffees in Manchester

Ditch the chains and try one of the brews on our list of best value coffees in the city. Not only will you save a few pennies but your taste buds will thank you with some of the best beans in the city going into your cup.

Stomping Ground – from £2
A van that sells coffee is either excellent or truly terrible, thankfully Stomping Ground is the former. Though the nature of a van is that it moves, this one can generally be found next to New Bailey in Spinningfields. They get their beans from Passion Fruit Coffee, which is just down the road in Chorlton (see below). If you’re dairy free then the van offers “non-dairy milks galore”, and if you don’t like coffee (who are you?) try a tea from Brew Tea Co. Cheapest drinks are espresso and Americano for £2.
New Bailey, Salford, M3 5JL, Tel: 07917 717769, www.facebook.com

Idle Hands – from £2.30
A great place for breakfast/brunch/early morning meeting, Idle Hands prides itself on serving great pie and coffee. To keep things interesting they change their roster of roasters frequently so you won’t get bored of drinking the same cup every visit. A double espresso costs just £2.30 with 3-7oz of milk (dairy, oat or almond) adding 10-50p.
Dale House, 35 Dale Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M1 2HF, www.idlehandscoffee.com

Rapha – from £1
Not just a cycling shop, Rapha has a cafe hidden inside that sells great filter coffee for just one pound. If you put all of the money you’d have otherwise spent on syrups and logos to one side in a year or so you might just be able to buy a jersey from the clothing side of of the clubhouse. They use Allpress – a coffee roaster which originated in New Zealand which currently supply independents around the world with their ‘hot air’ roasted coffee which they claim gives it exceptional flavour.
5 St Ann’s Passage, just off St Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 6AD. Tel: 0161 834 6748, www.rapha.cc

Grindsmith – 50p off when you bring your own mug
Some of the best coffee I’ve ever had came from Grindsmith. The beans came from Burundi and it tasted like highly caffeinated toffee apples. If you bring your own mug not only are you helping the environment by reducing plastic waste but Grindsmith will give you 50p off the price of your drink.
Shop: 231 – 233 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN. Pod: Greengate Square, Victoria Bridge Street, Manchester, Uk M3 5AS. Media City: Unit 5&6, The Garage, Media City Uk, Salford, Uk M50 2EQ, www.grindsmith.com

North Tea Power – from £2.30
A bit of a misnomer North Tea Power also sells great coffee. They cater for hardcore coffee aficionados as well as the more casual drinker. If you’re not sure what to get then you can’t go wrong with a long black for £2.30 made with the house Deerhunter blend, made by Staffordshire’s excellent Has Bean. However if you like your coffee niche they have rotating guest specials and gadgets galore to make you your perfect cup.
G22 Smithfield Building, 36 Tib Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1LA, www.northteapower.co.uk

Heart and Graft – from £2
Many of the best coffee shops seem to be tucked away beneath railway arches; Heart and Graft is no exception. They roast some of the best beans in the city and offer a wide choice both to drink and to take away from the shop. Don’t miss their Barnraiser Espresso with its heavy chocolate and brown sugar notes. They pride themselves on sourcing the best beans in the world and are passionate about their brews so do stop for a chat and a drink, you won’t regret it!
70 Yorkshire Street, Salford M3 5EG, www.heartandgraft.co.uk

Rare Mags Stockport – from £1
Book shops that sell good coffee are the dream. Rare Mags in Stockport has it all – as well as a cute, cobbled street location. Run by a couple – Martin Wilson and Holly Carter – they sell magazines, books and prints with a strong selection of rare editions. Aimed at supping on the go (or on the browse), the shop serves £1 espressos to their customers  – and that’s it.
17 Lower Hillgate, Stockport, SK1 1JQ, www.raremags.co.uk

Gingers Comfort Emporium – espresso £1.80
Not just the best place for gourmet ice cream, Gingers Comfort Emporium serve excellent coffee at even better prices. They get their beans from Heart and Graft so you know it’s going to be good. Look out for Miriam Perez’s latest Hondurian Microlot. If you want to combine coffee and ice cream then look no further than their affogato (£4.50).
Affleck First Floor, 52 Church Street, Manchester M4 1PW, Tel: 07980 628 868 www.gingerscomfortemporium.com

Barbecue coffee shop in Chorlton – (pictured) – prices vary. 
Local coffee roasters, Passion Fruit Coffee, are behind Chorlton’s Barbecue cafe. The shop serve a rotation of beans, roasted in house. On the counter are cakes and bread from Trove and there are rumours of a new outlet in Old Trafford too. Watch this space for details…
486 Wilbraham Road, Manchester, M21 9AS, www.passionfruitcoffee.co.uk

Lupo Caffé Italiano – From £1
Lupo’s tagline is ‘PROPER ITALIAN COFFEE FOR PIAZZA DREAMING’ which is an apt description. The house blend is are roasted in Italy in small batches, so small in fact, that they only roast 9kg at a time. They want to encourage proper coffee drinking so only offer single espressos to be savoured the iItalian way. If you want an extra pick me up, their tiramisu is widely considered to be the best in town.
Boat Shed, Exchange Quay, Salford, M5 3EQ, Tel: 07950 468 333, www.lupocaffe.co.uk