5 Parliament Square, Hertford SG14 1EX
There’s a new place in the centre of Hertford town bidding for coffee supremacy and it’s set it’s stall out early as a hip little brunch spot you might find in East London but with that upmarket twist for families out in the suburbs.
They serve a smattering of bougie sandwiches and I select the vegan option to go with my brew so that I can sit in the square and soak up the sun while I pick at pickles and meat alternative slathered in avocado and embedded in some fluffy focaccia.

Climpson and Sons coffee hits the tongue with the unmistakable hazelnut smokiness that comes with it, easing you in to the marzipan overtones that linger just beneath the surface. Nice that the big indie roasters of London are starting to make their way North to Hertfordshire and in order to raise the palates of locals (or at least force local roasters to hopefully raise their games). 
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I’m not sure if Hertfordshire can sustain another coffee shop but this is good vibes and good coffee so I hope it can hold its own for some time to come.

https://soul-seed.co.uk/find-us
8 Parliament Square, Hertford SG14 1EY

Wellness is not something that is regularly a part of my vocabulary. As such, entering a ‘Wellness Cafe’ feels somewhat off to me, yet here I am, in the pursuit of decent coffee.

This particular spot has been several kinds of deli-come-restaurant over the past few years and has now metamorphosed into Soul Seed, a business that offers health consultations and then products to meet the requirements of the outcomes of those. Around this though, is a cafe that focuses on nourishment, with organic and allergen free food. As a vegan, this appeals to me strongly and I’m over the moon to see they do vegan almond croissants. I remember often buying these first one that came into the cafe I worked in, in the morning when I started out as a barista, and having it with a latte before open, but since turning vegan I’ve not found one I can have.

Still, I’ve wandered in late on a Sunday afternoon so I can’t bring myself to chow down on one of these but file the knowledge away for later as I order an oat latte that sits amongst the smoothies, matcha, kombucha, CBD beverages, and medicinal infusions. 

I’m not sure how much hope I hold for the quality of the coffee given that it’s not the core market here, and yet a mild and smooth drink passes my lips with a touch, warm roast that has me oh so pleasantly surprised. If this is what the non-coffee shop cafes are serving up, the others need to up their game.
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12 Mill Bridge, Hertford SG14 1PZ
https://www.thirteenartisanbakery.com/

There’s a dark part of me that finds the fact the new bakery in town has taken up residence where the funeral directors used to be fascinating. I wonder if they use the same oven that was in place for cremations?

Of course, I know that people get baked at the crematorium and were never set aflame here but it still amuses me as I enter to order my coffee. A tiny space with just a few barstools by the window, it is expanding to have a proper eat-in area, but at the moment it’s a real dinee and dash situation.

As a vegan, I’m rather left out in the cold when it comes to snacking options (unless I want to buy a loaf of bread to munch on) but I can still grab an oat latte to enjoy.

Small Batch Roasters are a company based in Brighton (which I’ve had the pleasure to be able to review one of their cafe's here:www.getbeand.com/brighton/small-batch-coffee). I sip through the foam to find a rich, fruity coffee that is balanced out by a chocolatey undertone as I discuss the merits of different oat milks with my server. They are trying to find the right one that offers good texture and is still cost effective and I muse on this, as a vegan coffee snob, for a while. 
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I’m glad this is a consideration for their coffee but a dairy free pastry wouldn’t go amiss either.
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1 Market Place, St Albans, AL3 5DR
https://www.silverpalate.co.uk/

St Albans seems to have a good handful of delis smattered about the place, offering hams and cheeses, biscuits and bites of exquisite quality that reeks of the sort-of middle class privilege you’d expect from such an area. Silver Palate is just one of these, with a Mediterranean vibe being at the centre of its offering. As a vegan, delis can be a very hit and miss experience for me, depending on what focus they choose to take on their wares. However, I’m not here for the food, there’s one thing on my mind and that is quality coffee. 

Gentleman Baristas beans is what they’re serving, and I wonder if this is a concession to practicality given howe many great, but much smaller, roasters there are in the locality. Still, the mellow tones of the oat latte I order are warm and rounded, ideal for the moment as I take a seat out front of this crisp but chill morning.

There’s quite a hectic vibe inside with the interior being packed with goodies so that every surface is cluttered with something. Flowers and bouquets then fill in the few spaces left so it feels a little less claustrophobic to be out front but it’s a sweet and sensual cup of coffee that starts the day on an upward trajectory and allows me to motor forward with what’s to come.

65 High street, Tring, Hertfordshire , HP23 4AB
https://theespressolounge.co.uk/
65 High street, Tring, Hertfordshire , HP23 4AB
Quaint is a term so often associated with cosiness and imagery of little England; mismatched teacups, Tudor beams, and an overwhelming sense of unhurried movement in time that holds an aura that everything will work out fine. I don’t know if you can truly have anything that’s quaint in this modern day and age but I’d wager the market town of Tring is near-enough-damn-it.

Situated in a gap in the Chiltern Hills, amongst an area of outstanding beauty, Tring is dominated by 19th century architecture giving it a sense of being frozen in time, if it weren’t for the 4x4s and high end cars that trundle down the tiny high street. It’s here amongst the higgledy-piggledy backdrop of rolling hills and wonky rooftops that The Espresso Lounge sits. It is then, perhaps, striking at how modern and sleek everything seems on the inside with a glass countertop serving up a signature espresso blend, homemade cakes and a seasonal produce menu largely derived from  goods of local suppliers.

It’s not quite lunchtime yet so I settle for a slice vegan blueberry Bakewell tart and an oat latte that complement each other with exquisite elegance as the coffee offers up a fruity punch that morphs into chocolatey tones on the tongue before settling into a nutty finish. Pair this with sweet blueberry baked goodness and the match sets you up for a day of wandering and wandering, whether it be in the nearby Natural History Museum or over the fields, woodland and canal that encircle the area.

TLO, St Peter's Street,
St Albans AL1 3LF
https://www.tlocoffee.com/

​St Albans seems to be slowly building itself up as a premier coffee hub just outside of London, and as another café launches itself onto the scene, competition will soon be very fierce indeed. Opening around three weeks ago, TLO Coffee were originally based in Primrose Hill, London and seem to be creeping out into the suburbs with their St Peter’s Street shop. 

Opposite the Church of St Peter, you can sit at the window bar and watch the comings and goings of the church yard as you stir your coffee, making it a prime place to pick up and a pastry and while away a few moments, away from the hustle and bustle of the hight street. Gorgeous British Racing Green colouring entices you in with its sense of sophistication and elegance with a shiny new counter of goodies to peer at. My friend has found the new location via Instagram and directs me slightly up the hill to this quiet place of caffeination. 

Asking after vegan options for me (probably knowing all too well I’m unlikely to do so myself) there seems to be some confusion on whether the dairy-free items could also be classed as vegan, and since baked goods typically contain egg, I choose not to partake this time. They also lack any syrups at this time, which isn’t a deal breaker but does force me into a regular oat latte as opposed to the sweet, vanilla treat I’m craving right now. No matter as we take up corner space with the church view and sip gently at toffee-esque coffees that carry a striking sweetness through the milk alternative making the a bright drink for a drizzly afternoon. 

​Gently basking under the neon sign, it is a place of serenity to chat and so the time inside seems all too fleeting but with hope, there will be more opportunities to visit and see how its offering develops.

Unit 16a, Dicker Mill, Hertford SG13 7AA

The likelihood of finding me in a gym is slim to none, so when my friends over at coffeefiltered.com asked me if I could drop off some leaflets at a local CrossFit gym I was sceptical of what I’d find there. Slightly out of town, on a trading estate by the river, there’s no exterior sign that hints there may be speciality coffee hidden away here (although, something is apparently in the works for that) but I plough on armed with the knowledge of a secretive hideaway that should give me all the energy I need without having to lift a finger.

Step in via the front door and you’re greeted by a room of equipment and exercise enthusiasts but, you can creep around the edge of the training mat, so as not to bother them, and ascend the stairs set to one side to discover a landing area that overlooks all of this strenuous activity. Here you’ll find a green bar beset with protein powders and creatine but the chrome machine and piled high paper cups hint at its true purpose- an espresso bar. Despite all the hustle and bustle below the bar has a sort of elegant feel to it in the chic style it puts forth. Dark, calming tones make it ideal as a place to escape to if you need a quiet coffee that’s out of the way.
Serving coffee from Ninth Roasters in Saffron Walden, Essex, you get a strong, smoky coffee that has hints of hazelnut to it and I opt for a rich and creamy oat latte that complements the beans well. The whole experience hasn’t quite convinced me to sign up for a gym membership just yet but I may well visit again when I’m down by the river.

https://www.hertfordcakeco.com 
91 Fore Street,
Hertford
SG14 1AS
Previously a small unit on the fringes of town, the ever popular Hertford Cake Co. seems to have moved up in the world with a larger space that brings with it a seating area perfect for coffee and cake moments which, lets be honest, are often all too few in life. I once stepped into their previous premises to order an oat latte, and spy if they had any vegan goodies but was out of luck on that front being told I should keep an eye on their Instagram for brownies and the sort, that I might be able to pop down and consume. 
Now, catching up with a friend, I step into their new spot and chance my arm with the confectionary, again without any internet insight. I’m not so lucky this time either but my friend has an array of delectable looking cakes and bakes to choose from as I settle down to an oat latte with beans from award winning speciality coffee roasters Camper Van Coffee - a Hitchin based outfit that supplies across the county.

Rich toffee notes and a caramel-esque mouthfeel, it certainly feels appropriate for a cake shop to be serving sweet and smooth coffee that feels like a delightful sweet treat itself, and so I’m less bothered by the lack of edible options for me. It serves as something different in a town that’s slowly building a reserve of coffee shops and yet can still compete with the best of them in the caffeine department. One day my cake will come and then I’ll truly be able to savour all that they have to offer.