Cafés in Chester: things to know before you go

A quick hit of caffeine (or a deliciously crumbling slice of cake) is a great way to break up a day of shopping or a hard day’s graft. We’ve gathered everything you need to know about cafés near you in Chester in this handy Q&A.

Which are the best cafés in Chester?

Chester’s many cafés and restaurants run the gamut from old school greasy spoons to fancy hipster coffee houses. These are some of the best cafés in Chester:

• Crown Plaza Chester is the perfect place to fill your boots in style. Share scones, pastries and delightful finger sandwiches with friends when you call for afternoon tea.
• Marmalade on Northgate is one of those intimate spaces that manages to exude a cool, laidback feel without trying too hard. It serves a great breakfast and mouth-watering array of cakes.
• Burlington’s is a great pit stop when you’re shopping in town. Located in the heart of Chester, it’s the sort of place that greets you with a friendly hum of chatter and the sense that you’re in a local. Hot coffee, great breakfast and good vibes all round.
• Cinderbox prides itself on the quality of its coffee, but it might just be the elaborate ice cream sundae concoctions that keep you coming back. It’s an elegant space with a relaxed vibe – making it a great little weekend stop-off.

What are some good cafes for vegetarians in Chester?

You don’t have to look too hard to find a coffee shop or café in Chester that caters to vegans and vegetarians. Here are three of the best you’ll find in and around town:

• The Blue Bell. Based in Barrow Mere, these guys haven’t overdone it on the décor front because they don’t have to. With a huge conservatory looking out onto trees and bluebells, it offers all the solace you’re looking for in a café. It’s great for kids and with outdoor seating available, it’s one of the many dog friendly cafés in Chester.
• Marmalade. Probably the most central place to grab a vegan or vegetarian bite to eat, Marmalade has a fine selection of cakes, soups and sandwiches suitable for people who don’t eat meat.
• The Cheshire Sandwich Company. Set in an airy space by the cathedral, this little gem offers a huge selection of tasty sandwiches and salads. Vegetarians should give the War of the Roses cheese savoury a look.

How do you make espresso?

Essentially, baristas make the perfect espresso by forcing (or ‘expressing’) a small amount of very nearly boiling water through finely ground coffee beans. Good quality coffee is essential (and if it’s freshly ground, all the better), as is getting the right machine, water temperature and quantity of coffee. The Guardian goes into the geeky nitty-gritty with tips from the experts so you can perfect your technique at home.

How do you make vegan cakes?

Nailing a vegan cake bake isn’t as easy as doing it with the help of eggs, butter and dairy toppings, but it is possible by taking the following these principles:

1. Use gluten to build structure.
2. Forget about the usual consistency of cake batter. Your vegan mixture is going to be much thicker – closer to Mr Whippy ice cream than pancake batter.
3. Ditch the vegan egg replacements. They’re not going to provide structure-building protein – they’re just going to work as binders.

If you want to learn how to make vegan cakes, why not sign up for a cookery course in Chester ? If all else fails, nip into one of Chester’s many vegan cafes and coffee shops where you’re sure to find vegan treats aplenty.