A slam dunk on the coffee front is a sure thing at this Bristol based coffee shop and roastery.

Stained glass windows, an artistic aesthetic, and exceptional coffee all make for an enchanting spot on Bristol’s Broad Street. Full Court Press, who promise a no compromise approach to coffee, left us with a deep rooted desire to have access to this spot on the daily.

In Medieval Bristol, the heart of the city was at the convergence of its four main streets, Corn Street, Broad Street, High Street and Wine Street. Despite developments to the structures of cities in modern times, Bristol has stayed true to the layout that historically was, within the realms of the old town walls. Situated on one of these four original streets is Full Court Press.

Founded in 2013, there’s an enchanting appeal to this coffee shop, surrounded by soft sandstone buildings and cobblestones. Early morning sun suffused the street with a hazy golden light as we approached the cafes front, cyclists and families milling about on stools and tables outside. Stepping inside, attention is instantly drawn to the tall rectangular stained glass window that sits at the back of the shop. Multifaceted light streams in onto the coffee bar below and stretches out to the rest of the room. Large and square, shelves line the right wall and a long bench sits on the left. A spiralling staircase descending down is tucked away in the corner. A few people are queuing up before us, the baristas chatting away to them as they make their drinks. It gives us ample time to examine the coffee menu that is spread out over a few boards next to the shelves.

On their website FCP explain that their approach to coffee is one that involves an ever changing coffee menu. Offering up two espresso options and two filter ones, they strive for a variety between unusual and traditional coffees, roasted by both themselves and other speciality roasters based in the UK and around the world. They hope that this diversity will encourage a more approachable attitude towards speciality coffee.

Coffee Jargon

Ordering a flat white and a filter coffee, we opted for two of FCP’s own roasts- Izuba, a Burundi anoxic washed coffee for the flat white and Finca Chelin, a black honey processed Mexican variety for the filter. Anoxic was a word we hadn’t seen much of too date. Our barista explained that it was almost interchangable with anaerobic, meaning that the coffee was fermented in a controlled oxygen free envioronment. He went on to say that coffee jargon is often as much to do with marketing as detailing the product. His taking the time to explain things to us highlighted the accessible nature of coffee that FCP are honing in on. Heading outside, we grabbed the seat by the window, embellished with illustrations by local artist Rosi Tooth, and eagerly awaited our coffees.

Served up in notNeutral glassware, we were soon sipping our way into happiness. The Burundi flat white was exceptional. It had a cake-like quality, reminiscent of vanilla and sponge but without any cloying richness. Light and creamy, it had a soft full texture that was truly divine. In a lovely accompaniment to that, the Mexican filter was zingy and refreshing. Notes of lemonbalm and honey were at the fore, mellowing out into zesty brew with a lingering sweetness. We were both immensely impressed by the quality and flavour of these coffees.

Summary:

We left feeling we’d struck gold with our coffee choice while visiting Bristol. Before we departed from the city we stopped by once more to pick up a bag of beans for our aeropress. Asking the baristas which one they’d recommend, they offered up two choices, giving us insights into the unique flavour profiles and processes of each. We opted for Halo Beriti, an Ethiopian natural processed coffee roasted by FCP. The artwork on the bag is a close up shot of the stained glass window. Each coffee features a different section on the bag. ‘We’re really milking it’ the barista told us with a laugh.

Brewing up the Ethipian on a rainy campsite in Cheddar Gorge the next morning, a juicy balanced blueberry cup of deliciousness came forth. With a floral aroma and fruity notes lingering on, it further consolidated FCP as one of our favourite coffee shops and roasters.

When in Bristol, do yourself a favour and visit this exceptional coffee shop.

Where to find Full Court Press

59 BROAD ST,

BRISTOL,

BS1 2EJ